Belize operates with a parliamentary democracy
modeled on the Westminster system. The Belize Constitution
divides the government into three branches: executive,
legislature, and judiciary.
Executive Branch
The constitutional head of the Belizean state is Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, who is represented in the
country by a Governor-General. The Governor-General, who
must be a citizen of Belize, serves at the pleasure of the British
monarch and is not subject to a fixed term of office. According
to the constitution, the Governor-General is appointed on
the recommendation of the Prime Minister and must “act in
accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or a Minister acting
under the general authority of the Cabinet” except in cases
in which the constitution or law specifically states otherwise.
The executive branch is made up of a Prime Minister
and Cabinet. The constitution states that “the Cabinet
shall be the principal executive instrument of policy with
general direction and control of the Government and shall
be collectively responsible to the National Assembly for
any advice given to the Governor General by or under the
general authority of the Cabinet and for all things done by
or under the authority of any Minister in the execution of his
office.” Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance
must be elected members of the House of Representatives,
while the remainder of cabinet members may come from
either the House or the Senate. Typically, cabinet ministers
are members of the majority political party who concurrently
hold seats in the assembly. Ministers are formally appointed
and assigned portfolios within the cabinet by the Governor-
General in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.
Legislative Branch
The Belizean legislative branch is a bicameral
National Assembly composed of a 31-member elected House
of Representatives and a 12-member appointed Senate.
As stipulated in chapter six of the Belize Constitution, the
National Assembly is responsible for making "laws for the
peace, order and good government of Belize." The National
Assembly has a maximum life span of five years following
general elections, and must meet for at least one session each
year. The Prime Minister has the right to advise the Governor-
General to dissolve the National Assembly at any time in this
period and thus determine the date of the general elections.
The qualifications to hold office as a National
Assembly representative and as a Senator are similar. To be
eligible for either chamber, one must be a citizen of Belize,
at least 18 years old, and have resided in Belize for at
least one year immediately prior to his or her nomination
or appointment. Both chambers bar members of the armed
forces and the police from serving as representatives.
All 31 members of the House of Representatives are
popularly elected to terms that are not to exceed five years.
The 12 members of the Senate are each appointed by the
Governor-General: six in accordance with the advice of the
prime minister and three with the advice of the leader of the
opposition. Additionally, The Belize Council of Churches and
the Evangelical Association of Churches; the Belize Chamber
of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau;
and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society
Steering Committee each advise the Governor-General on the
appointment of one senator. The Senate is headed by a nonvoting
president who is appointed by the governing party.
Judiciary
The Belizean legal system establishes the judiciary as
an independent branch of government. Each of the six districts
(Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek and Toledo)
has a Summary Jurisdiction Court that hears criminal cases as
well as a District Court that hears civil cases. Both of these
courts are referred to as magistrates’ courts, and may impose
fines and prison sentences of up to six months. These courts
have jurisdiction in less serious civil and criminal cases, but
must refer to the Supreme Court more serious criminal cases,
as well as any substantive legal questions.
The Supreme Court has unlimited original
jurisdiction in both civil and criminal proceedings, and
hears appeals from magistrates courts. The Chief of Justice
is appointed by the Governor-General, "in accordance with
the advice of the Prime Minister given after consultation with
the Leader of the Opposition." The Governor-General is also
responsible for appointing the other justices, called puisne
judges, "in accordance with the advice of the judicial and legal
services section of the Public Service Commission and with
the concurrence of the Prime Minister given after consultation
with the Leader of the Opposition."
Appeals of Supreme Court decisions are handled by
the Court of Appeal, which is headed by a President. The
President, along with the two other justices who serve on the
court, is appointed by the Governor-General in "in accordance
with the advice of the Prime Minister given after consultation
with the Leader of the Opposition." Though the Belize
Constitution sets no fixed term of office for these justices, it
stipulates that terms of office be fixed in their instruments of
appointment.
Regional Authorities
The territory of Belize is divided into six administrative
districts: Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek
and Toledo. Each district is administered by a locally elected
council from that district’s capital city, called a “district
town.” Additionally San Pedro, in the Belize district, Benque
Viejo del Carmen and the national capital of Belmopan, both
geographically located within the Cayo district, operate with
their own town councils. While the Belize City council is
composed of nine members (a mayor and eight councilors),
the remaining eight town councils are made up of seven
members (a mayor and six councilors).
As per the Town Councils Act, the chief executive
officer of every town council is the mayor, who is responsible
for providing effective leadership and direction for the council.
Their responsibilities include “developing sister-city or sistertown
relations with other cities or towns within and outside
Belize and supervising the town administrator and ensuring
that the town administrator implements the decisions of the
Council.” The councils have jurisdiction over various areas
of town affairs such as: environmental protection, revenue
collection, town zoning, planning and urban infrastructure,
town sanitation, public health and market management,
tourist promotion and development, coordination of
public utilities, crime and drug reduction and prevention,
recreational planning and development, development of
sports and culture, traffic control and management, and
coordination of relations and activities between the town, the
Government of Belize, non-governmental organizations and
civil society organizations. |