I go over Belize's system of government from the influence of the British Monarchy, executive government, legislative and how elections work in the country.

1. January 27,
2020
The Government System of Belize
theweeklyrambler.com/the-government-system-of-belize/
One of my recent blog posts to do with close encounters with the paranormal was
featured on a creature and sighting from this country. And now we will see how its
government system works.
Belize is a small country on the east coast of Central America, a strip of land containing a
number of nations that sits between the North and South American continents, some
consider it apart of South America while others specifically just call it Central America.
The small nation of Belize is bordered with two countries, Mexico and Guatemala and its
capital city, Belmopan, is located in the central portion of the country. Belize City on the
coast is more attractive for tourists though and the country also has a few islands dotted
in the Caribbean Sea of which its coast runs along. The country is also known for its
jungles and Mayan artifacts and ruins.
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2. The Spanish Empire originally tried to settle the land but were driven off by lack of
resources as well as hostile tribes. Eventually the area was incorporated into the British
Empire where it was called British Honduras, after World War 2 the land was hit by
severe economic problems which led to calls for independence which it eventually
achieved in 1981 and became Belize. Neighboring Guatemala has long disputed Belize
even while it was under the British Empire, believing it belonged to them, the territorial
dispute between the two countries has continued to this day.
The country’s currency is the Belize dollar and its population is just under 374,700 as of
2017. Roman Catholic is the largest religion, but Protestantism is also prevalent, more so
than in any other Central American country due to British influence.
Government Type
Belize Coat of Arms
Belize is part of the Commonwealth Realm meaning it still recognizes the British
Monarch as Head of State despite being independent. The British Monarch is
represented by an appointed Governor-General in the country, it is mostly ceremonial.
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3. The country is a multi-party system and has a Prime Minister as Head of Government.
There is a bicameral parliament with an upper and lower house that forms the legislative
government in the country.
Monarchy and Executive Government
Belize Former Government House. Photo byKLOTZ from Wikimedia. License.
The Monarchy includes the British Monarch as Head of State who is represented by a
Governor-General that they appoint for life. The Governor-General is mostly a
ceremonial position that acts on advice from the Prime Minister or other officials per the
constitution.
Such powers the Governor-General has include appointing the Senate (upper house of
parliament) every 5-years on advice from the Prime Minister, leader of the Largest
Opposition and certain organizations, explained in more detail later on. The Governor-
General also appoints the Prime Minister from the largest party after parliamentary
elections. They can call a state of public emergency if there is threat of war or if war has
broken out or due to unrest or natural disaster or disease outbreak, this can be revoked
or extended by parliament.
The Governor-General can remove the Prime Minister from office who refuses to resign
after losing a no-confidence vote. They can also dissolve parliament on advice from the
Prime Minister per the constitution or for elections. Appoint a Deputy Prime Minister on
advice from the Prime Minister. Appoint and remove Ministers or Cabinet members on
the advice of the Prime Minister and appoint other officials such as the Attorney General.
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4. Also appoints the leader of the Opposition from the largest opposition party. The
Governor-General can also strip powers from a Senator of the upper house he deems
unfit and replace them on advice of those relevant.
The Governor-General can also grant pardons or give respite from punishment, give less
severe punishment or remit length of punishment, on advice from the Belize Advisory
Council.
This Advisory Council is appointed by the Governor-General on advice from the Prime
Minister and Leader of the Opposition. Members can remain on the council until they
reach the age of 75-years although this can be extended. Members can be removed if
deemed unfit by a vote of two-thirds of the lower house of parliament. The council
advises the Governor-General on decisions and matters. The Prime Minister and
National Assembly is kept annually updated on the Advisory Council’s activities.
The Governor-General appoints the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on advice from
the Prime Minister who has consulted with the Leader of the Opposition. The other
Supreme Court justices are appointed by the Governor-General on advice from the
Judicial and Legal Services Commision in concurrence with the Prime Minister and
Leader of the Opposition.
The Governor-General gives royal assent to bills passed by parliament.
The Prime Minister is Head of Government and is charged with leading government
functions and a Cabinet that determines governing policy and is accountable to the
Governor-General and the legislative parliament. Members/Ministers of Cabinet can be
appointed from either House of Representatives or Senate, but no more than two-thirds
of the elected members of the majority party in the house and no more than four
members from the Senate. The Speaker of the House and President of the Senate can
also not be part of Cabinet or a Minister.
Legislative Government
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5. Belize National Assembly. Photo by Haakon K from Wikimedia. License.
The legislative government is made up of a bicameral parliament with an elected lower
house called the House of Representatives and an appointed upper house called the
Senate.
The lower house, House of Representatives, currently has 31 democratically elected
members and is overseen by a Speaker of at least 30-years-old who can either be elected
from among themselves or elected from the populace. The number of members can
change if constituencies are amended by law.
The upper house, the Senate, has a set 13 appointed members and is overseen by a
President that is at least 24-years-old and elected from the general populace and also
elect a Vice-President from its own members. The Senate has final say on ratification of
treaties and approving military bases for foreign forces, on approval of certain officials
appointees and can hold enquiries.
The Speaker and President make sure members follow rules and regulates debate, they
also decide on voting agenda and has powers to keep order in the houses.
Altering the constitution has various requirements depending on what part is being
amended, such as needing a unanimous vote, a vote of at least three-quarters, two-
thirds or in some cases a simple majority, some cases the Senate will also need to give
consent.
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6. Both houses can introduce, amend and revoke bills, although certain bills cannot be
amended. Money bills cannot be introduced to the Senate, Money bills will also
automatically pass through the Senate within 1 month if it isn’t voted through by them.
The Senate can also only send back a bill two times before being overruled.
Electoral System
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7. Photo credit: TUBS, MacedonianBoy and Kaldari from Wikimedia. License.
Parliamentary elections happen every 5-years to elect the members of the lower house
of parliament, the House of Representatives, who are elected from single-seat
constituencies using the first-past-the-post system. The Prime Minister is appointed from
the largest party by the Governor-General and the Leader of the Opposition also
appointed by the Governor-General from the largest opposition party.
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8. Eligible candidates for the House of Representatives or appointees for the Senate have
to be at least 18-years-old, be a Belize citizen and have been living in the country for at
least 1-year. Certain conditions can disqualify a candidate such as allegiance to foreign
states, bankruptcy, person of insane or unsound mind, under death penalty or prison
length over 12 months or being a member of a disqualifying office among others.
The lower house has 13 members who are appointed every 5-years, six members are
appointed by the Governor-General on advice from the Prime Minister, three on advice
from the Leader of the Opposition, one on advice from the Belize Council of Churches
and Evangelical Association of Churches, one on advice from the Belize Chamber of
Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau, one on advice from the
National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee and finally one
on the advice from the non-governmental organisations. If an organisation fails to give
advice then the Belize Advisory Council will take up the job of advice instead.
To vote in parliamentary elections a person must be a citizen of Belize or of a
Commonwealth Country and who satisfies the requirements of the Representation of
the People Act and be at least 18-years-old. Voting is not compulsory.
Thank you for reading, next up will be the country of Benin, in Africa.
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