The powers of the government, by virtue of this principle are divided into three (3) distinct classes: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. They are distributed, respectively among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches or departments of the government.
Under the principle of co-equal and coordinate powers among the three (3) branches, the officers entrusted with each of these powers are not permitted to encroach upon the powers confided to the others. If one department goes beyond the limits set by the Constitution, its acts are null and void. The adoption of this principle was motivated by the belief that arbitrary rule would result if the same person or body were to exercise all the powers of the government.
Dynamism of Philippine Administrative System and its Role to National Develop...Mhd Faheem Aliuden
The administrative system of the Republic of the Philippines is comprised of a central government and its territorial and political subdivisions, which enjoy local autonomy: the provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays (smallest administrative unit) and the autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.
The cost of federal legislation in nigeriastatisense
How PRODUCTIVE is the National Assembly?
This presentation explores budgetary allocations to the National Assembly since 1999 till date, and compares it with States Budgets, Federal Ministries & Agencies Budgets, as well as determine its ranking on a national budget scale
The powers of the government, by virtue of this principle are divided into three (3) distinct classes: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. They are distributed, respectively among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches or departments of the government.
Under the principle of co-equal and coordinate powers among the three (3) branches, the officers entrusted with each of these powers are not permitted to encroach upon the powers confided to the others. If one department goes beyond the limits set by the Constitution, its acts are null and void. The adoption of this principle was motivated by the belief that arbitrary rule would result if the same person or body were to exercise all the powers of the government.
Dynamism of Philippine Administrative System and its Role to National Develop...Mhd Faheem Aliuden
The administrative system of the Republic of the Philippines is comprised of a central government and its territorial and political subdivisions, which enjoy local autonomy: the provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays (smallest administrative unit) and the autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.
The cost of federal legislation in nigeriastatisense
How PRODUCTIVE is the National Assembly?
This presentation explores budgetary allocations to the National Assembly since 1999 till date, and compares it with States Budgets, Federal Ministries & Agencies Budgets, as well as determine its ranking on a national budget scale
The CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM ON CUTTING THE NUMBER OF MPs telosaes
On 20 and 21 September 2020 a confirmatory referendum was held on whether or not to cut the number of Italian MPs. Where did the referendum come from and what were the steps of its approval process? What were the reasons that led to it? Which parties supported the Yes vote and which ones the NO vote? And Why? What happens
In modern legal systems, referendums allow citizens to participate directly in democracy.
one of the first theorists and supporters of the referendum was Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who considered direct democracy the only way to ensure the formation of the general will.
,
organs of the government of bangladesh
,
government: concept
,
legislature of bangladesh
,
limitations of the executive organ in bd
,
judiciary organ of bangladesh
,
functions of judicial organ of bangladesh
,
functions of executive organ of bangladesh
,
how to make judiciary more effective in bangladesh
THE RULES OF PARLIAMENT: WHOEVER IS GOOD AT PLAYING BY THE RULES, WINS telosaes
The Parliamentary Rules of Procedure: what are they? Why are they for? What are the sources of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure? It is essential for lobbyists to know the Parliamentary Rules and how they are actually applied. Mainly to determine when to lobby.
Executive Power
Vested in the President of the Philippines. The President is elected by popular vote. The principal workplace of the President is the Malacañang Palace in San Miguel, Manila. The executive branch is currently headed by President Rodrigo Duterte. The President is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The Jordanian political system is based on the separation of powers
(Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary).The Jordanian parliament consist of
two houses, the house of senate (75 members appointed by the king), the
house of representatives (150 members elected by people).
The government is responsible to the lower house, The Legislative power has
the right to monitor the performance of executive power and hold it
accountable. Yet, the executive authority has the right to propose draft laws
and to issue provisional laws in certain cases.
- The relation between the legislative and executive authorities
according to the constitution and House bylaw.
The CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM ON CUTTING THE NUMBER OF MPs telosaes
On 20 and 21 September 2020 a confirmatory referendum was held on whether or not to cut the number of Italian MPs. Where did the referendum come from and what were the steps of its approval process? What were the reasons that led to it? Which parties supported the Yes vote and which ones the NO vote? And Why? What happens
In modern legal systems, referendums allow citizens to participate directly in democracy.
one of the first theorists and supporters of the referendum was Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who considered direct democracy the only way to ensure the formation of the general will.
,
organs of the government of bangladesh
,
government: concept
,
legislature of bangladesh
,
limitations of the executive organ in bd
,
judiciary organ of bangladesh
,
functions of judicial organ of bangladesh
,
functions of executive organ of bangladesh
,
how to make judiciary more effective in bangladesh
THE RULES OF PARLIAMENT: WHOEVER IS GOOD AT PLAYING BY THE RULES, WINS telosaes
The Parliamentary Rules of Procedure: what are they? Why are they for? What are the sources of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure? It is essential for lobbyists to know the Parliamentary Rules and how they are actually applied. Mainly to determine when to lobby.
Executive Power
Vested in the President of the Philippines. The President is elected by popular vote. The principal workplace of the President is the Malacañang Palace in San Miguel, Manila. The executive branch is currently headed by President Rodrigo Duterte. The President is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The Jordanian political system is based on the separation of powers
(Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary).The Jordanian parliament consist of
two houses, the house of senate (75 members appointed by the king), the
house of representatives (150 members elected by people).
The government is responsible to the lower house, The Legislative power has
the right to monitor the performance of executive power and hold it
accountable. Yet, the executive authority has the right to propose draft laws
and to issue provisional laws in certain cases.
- The relation between the legislative and executive authorities
according to the constitution and House bylaw.
Eighth Amendment Bill to the Belize Constitution: Formerly the Ninth Amendm...Myrtle Palacio
The controversial Bill goes to the House in less than 24 hours for approval on October 24, 2011. It has been rename the Eight Amendment Bill and critis claim that it still contains some "Offensive" Sections---Sopme notes and a copy of the Bill.
Statement on Belize to the Hague Forum on Population and Development: A post...Myrtle Palacio
A Post-ICPD Report presented by Myrtle Palacio, Chair of the National Committe for Families and Children at the Hague International Forum on Population and Development, Hague The Netherlands.
Our 5th Impact Forum was held on September 14, 2016 at Civic Hall, NYC's foremost center for civic technology & innovation, on the topic of Elections. Election Systems are best understood by the rules and incentives constructed around them. Evaluating the United States’ and New York’s Electoral Systems reveals a series of important policy choices that will shape what our electorate will look like in the coming decades. Impact Elections will dig into key question such as: How does money predict elections? How will technology shape voting of the future? Does the current voting system fundamentally fail certain segments of our country's population? What can voting systems from other nations tell us about options for change?
Impact Experts composing the panel at Elections included: Ann Ravel (Federal Elections Commissioner), Gustavo Rivera (New York State Senator), James Bopp (Plaintiff's Attorney for Citizens United v. FEC), Richard Briffault (Professor, Columbia Law School), the legal advisor to Stephen Colbert's Presidential Campaign, the President of the NYC Campaign Finance Board, and more.
Learn more about Impact Elections here:
https://impactelections2016.splashthat.com
Towards a new state in Myanmar
UPLOADED BY
Michael Lidauer-VIEWS-222
https://www.academia.edu/8144441/Towards_a_new_state_in_Myanmar
Towards a new state in Myanmar
UPLOADED BY
Michael Lidauer-VIEWS-222
kontakt@wahlbeobachtung.org
http://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/
Introduction
The state in Myanmar has gone through several incarnations since pre-colonial times.
1
After decades of military rule (1958–60, 1962–74, 1988–2010) and/or one-party-regime (1974–88), the 2008 Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar establishes the basis for new gov-ernmental institutions and new modes of governance. This constitution – the third for the country following those from 1947 and 1974
2
– has been heavily criticized by democracy activists and opposition parties inside the country and by the international community for not meeting basic international standards for democratic governance. The strong role of the military, in particular the provision for reserved seats in the legislature, has been especially criticized. In fact, the question whether to accept the new constitution as a preliminary framework – that could provide a transitional pathway, opening a window of opportunity for opposition forces to re-engage in politics – was a question of principle for political parties prior to the 2010 elections. These elections were held on the basis of the new constitution. Several parties split over this question, some deciding on a boycott while splinter groups or newly founded parties decided to contest the polls
Submission to the Committee for Institutional Reforms (Electoral Reforms in M...Danesh Prakash Chacko
On behalf of Projek Beres (a collaborative project of Tindak Malaysia volunteers and independent Malaysians across the world), I uploaded Tindak Malaysia presentation to the Committee on matters pertaining to the electoral reforms
International Election Observer Mission Effect--Belize 2008 Parliamentary Ele...Myrtle Palacio
As the 2008 parliamentary election day drew closer, Belize was undergoing something of a crisis, whereby anything goes in the Media. It resembled more a feeding frenzy, and prompted one to question the role elections play in the consolidation of democracy. In the midst of all this the Government of Belize undertook the bold step to invite International Election
Observers to the 2008 Election. International election observation has become an important mechanism for ensuring election integrity and enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of elections (ACE, September 2006). While it enjoys almost universal acceptance, international election observation is conducted during an exceedingly sensitive period in the existence of that country and its people, and due to limitations only a snapshot of the political culture is observed (Brahm, Sept. 2004). This was the first election observer mission to Belize and the Commonwealth Secretariat was the Observer
Group so invited. The Commonwealth Team consisting of five persons including two staff persons were deployed on a short term mission, arriving approximately four days prior to Election Day.
Similar to Electoral Management Body: Belize's Experience (20)
The pre-1988 Constitutional Amendment of Section 90 (1) (a) was specific in deciding on the size of each electoral division, as follows:
"An electoral division shall consist of NOT LESS THAN 2,000 and NOT MORE THAN 3,000 registered electors".
However, this was changed by the first amendment to the Belize Constitution in 1988. Section 90 (1) (a) now states that, "Each electoral division shall have AS NEARLY AS MAY BE, an equal number of persons eligible to vote".
ELECTORAL BOUNDARY REDISTRICTING BELIZE--A Historical Overview As At Septembe...Myrtle Palacio
The last boundary redistricting exercise in 2004/2005 was the first endeavour at narrowing the gap in electoral population between divisions. The wide gap was decreased substantially from a ratio of 4.4: 1 to 1.7: 1, nationally. In the Belize District, the gap was narrowed from a ratio of 3.1: 1 to 1.3: 1. This was accomplished by setting guiding principles to keep adjustments to a minimum and setting a tolerance limit.
BELIZE Boundary redistricting has been conducted from very early on in our post adult suffrage electoral history. The increase in the number of electoral divisions overtime resulted in adjustments to the boundaries of constituencies. In 1954 the number of electoral divisions increased from six to nine. While the number of constituencies has been conducted multiple times in Belize, it was not until 2004/2005 that any attempt was made to decrease substantial differences in the population sizes between constituencies.
In his own way, Cornelius Patrick Cacho is a philanthropist. On May 12th 2022 at the young age of 95, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the Florida Gulf Coast University. Along with his wife of 57 years, the late Laura Noguera Cacho, they have contributed time and money to educational institutions in their home community in Florida. Since establishing the scholarship fund at the Florida Gulf Coast University, some 44 students have been assisted and 23 have graduated.
There are two indigenous peoples in Belize namely the Garifuna and the Maya, However, only the Maya are widely promoted as such. The Garifuna people are biologically and culturally indigenous to the Circum-Caribbean sub-region, where Belize is located. Their biological and cultural origins come from the Arawak and Carib peoples, and an intermixture with Africans which took place in the Eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent.
Legalizing Political financing and Political Parties--Whereforth Belize?
In Belize, Political parties are necessary organizations to source leaders for the ballot paper. However, to date, there are no laws to govern political parties that are tasked with such important pursuits as leadership of governance in a country of people. Political parties are not perceived as NGOs or businesses or partnerships, but they exist. Election financing to maintain a political party between elections, to contest elections and successfully bring a political party into power has become extremely exorbitant. However, a political party cannot finance itself through membership subscriptions, so where does the financing come from?
Garifuna Journey: Acknowledging contributions of TeachersMyrtle Palacio
The paper brings attention to the past sacrifices of teachers as leaders in highlighting a poem written by Mr. Alfonso Cayetano entitled “A Tribute to Garifuna Teachers”. The following are excerpts from the poem. “Wherever a Union Jack Flag was erected in British Honduras, Garifuna teachers went like brave soldiers to establish schools. Garifuna teachers and pioneers enlightened and tilled the fertile minds of our Belizean children. You left your comfortable homes to serve the rural areas of Belize. You and your families lived in substandard housing. You waded in belly deep swamps to get to your teaching post. You were cut off from regular Belizean life to teach in labyrinth areas of Belize. Your family was deprived of medical attention because of the Remote areas of Belize. Your family members were bitten by mosquitoes, horse flies, scorpions, rats, bats and poisonous snakes. Your wives and children became sick and mentally ill..."
Buyei john Mariano--A Tribute To Our BuyeiMyrtle Palacio
Baba John Mariano was a man of many persons:
Baba le Buyei believed that his gift of healing and spirituality is exactly that, a gift bestowed upon him by the Ahari, lidagiyen Juan Buyei le lebu. It became a responsibility which he accepted with much honour and humility.
Baba le Wanaragua was the Abuti as the Keeper of the Wanaragua flame---passed down from Max Garcia, then John Wild, then Baba John as the Banquater. Baba John was passionate about maintaining discipline and dress code---long sleeves and stockings to hide the skin, the mask to remain on the face when outside, no drinking, offensive language, and “vulgar” dancing.
As an educator of the Garifuna culture, Baba John volunteered at several schools to lecture on various aspects of the Garifuna culture, particularity the spirituality. Since his retirement to Dangriga, he was charged with the annual Yurumei for the children of Christ the King Anglican School.
The term Joncunu comes in many other forms, such as, Junkanoo, Jonkonnnu, Jonkanu, Jankunu. The dance is West African in origin deriving from African slaves and is a traditional festival form still practiced in what was the British West Indies—in The Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis etc. It is a satirical dance where dancers by the attire including the mask, mock and ridicule the colonial slave masters dancing to a fast tempo. In the Garifuna language the dance is called Wanaragua.
Adugurahani or Dugu is a cultural religious identified with the Garifuna of Belize. It is the most symbolic and sacred ceremony in Garifuna spirituality.
Early History of Methodism in Stann Creek, Belize Myrtle Palacio
The Methodist Church first started in Stann Cree Town, Belize in Early 1800s. Garifuna leaders played a major role in the development of the Church as teachers and preachers. Several of the ministers in the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas are form Stann Creek Town now called Dangriga.
Belize City Council Election Results 1962 to 2003, By I.Myrtle PalacioMyrtle Palacio
Official Results of the Belize City Council Elections in the country of Belize. First published by researcher I.Myrtle Palacio in her publication "Electoral Politics BELIZE: the Naked Truth" in June 2011
Redefining Ethnicity in Post-independent Belize: the case of the Garifuna an...Myrtle Palacio
Ethnic definitions and identity based on the colonial school of thought remain the main component for identification in post-independent Belize, notwithstanding the prevalence of interethnic marriages resulting in offsprings, partly due to increased geographical mobility.
This study singled out two elements in ethnic re-definition, the Garifuna and Creole, in Belize City. As two black peoples their offsprings share the same basic phenotypes. As a result, physical differences are not distinctly visible relative to other groups, to objectively define ethnic identity. This paper examines the self-identity and ethnic affiliations of these offsprings, which do not fit into the existing antiquated ethnic definitions.
This study utilized the qualitative research method to allow for extensive face-to-face assessment using open-ended inquiry. It also applied the social constructivist/interpretivist theory in narrative analysis to elicit from respondents the stories of their lives as they perceived them. Identifying as both Garifuna and Creole, I applied the Feminist Standpoint theory and the theory of Indigenous Anthropology. Both theories support the need to research your own, as the “situated knower” or the insider. This emic perspective as embraced by the study, may be a novel undertaking in the literature on ethnicity in Belize.
Preliminary Statement of OAS on Belize's 2012 ElectionMyrtle Palacio
The OAS was invited by the GoB to observe the 2012 Elections. This is the preliminary Report which they presented to the Press on Thursday March 8, 2012. It is damning of the Election activities of the governing party--reference the sections in Bold. The PUP under Francis Fonseca in a Short time gained enough traction to increase their number of seats from 6 to 14 and the UDP under Dean Barrow lost 9 seats when that part went from 25 to 17. It was an extremely close election 14 to 17 seats with 4 seats have narrow margins. The PUP as a party has not conceded as they are mounting challenges in several divisions.
Address by PUP Party Leader Hon Francis Fonseca at the PUP Endorsement Conven...Myrtle Palacio
New PUP Party Leader Hon Francis Fonseca was endorsed on Saturday October 29, 2011. Tthis contains his presentation to the Party in his acceptance speech.
An Open Response to the Prime Minister of Belize--by Lisa Shoman, Attorney at...Myrtle Palacio
A Response to the Open Letter of the Prime Minister of Belize on the Ninth Ammendment to the Constitution by Atorney at Law Ms. Lisa Shoman of Belize.
See the Prime Minister's Letter and other releases in the Ninth Ammendment Package on this website entitled "Ninth Amendment to the Constitution of Belize: Tracking the Trails"
This slide is special for master students (MIBS & MIFB) in UUM. Also useful for readers who are interested in the topic of contemporary Islamic banking.
বাংলাদেশের অর্থনৈতিক সমীক্ষা ২০২৪ [Bangladesh Economic Review 2024 Bangla.pdf] কম্পিউটার , ট্যাব ও স্মার্ট ফোন ভার্সন সহ সম্পূর্ণ বাংলা ই-বুক বা pdf বই " সুচিপত্র ...বুকমার্ক মেনু 🔖 ও হাইপার লিংক মেনু 📝👆 যুক্ত ..
আমাদের সবার জন্য খুব খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ একটি বই ..বিসিএস, ব্যাংক, ইউনিভার্সিটি ভর্তি ও যে কোন প্রতিযোগিতা মূলক পরীক্ষার জন্য এর খুব ইম্পরট্যান্ট একটি বিষয় ...তাছাড়া বাংলাদেশের সাম্প্রতিক যে কোন ডাটা বা তথ্য এই বইতে পাবেন ...
তাই একজন নাগরিক হিসাবে এই তথ্য গুলো আপনার জানা প্রয়োজন ...।
বিসিএস ও ব্যাংক এর লিখিত পরীক্ষা ...+এছাড়া মাধ্যমিক ও উচ্চমাধ্যমিকের স্টুডেন্টদের জন্য অনেক কাজে আসবে ...
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
This presentation includes basic of PCOS their pathology and treatment and also Ayurveda correlation of PCOS and Ayurvedic line of treatment mentioned in classics.
How to Manage Your Lost Opportunities in Odoo 17 CRMCeline George
Odoo 17 CRM allows us to track why we lose sales opportunities with "Lost Reasons." This helps analyze our sales process and identify areas for improvement. Here's how to configure lost reasons in Odoo 17 CRM
Executive Directors Chat Leveraging AI for Diversity, Equity, and InclusionTechSoup
Let’s explore the intersection of technology and equity in the final session of our DEI series. Discover how AI tools, like ChatGPT, can be used to support and enhance your nonprofit's DEI initiatives. Participants will gain insights into practical AI applications and get tips for leveraging technology to advance their DEI goals.
it describes the bony anatomy including the femoral head , acetabulum, labrum . also discusses the capsule , ligaments . muscle that act on the hip joint and the range of motion are outlined. factors affecting hip joint stability and weight transmission through the joint are summarized.
2. BACKGROUND
Belize is geographically located in the circum-Caribbean area. Its boundary on the east is the
Caribbean Sea, west and south is Guatemala, and in the north is Mexico. Belize attained
political independence in September 1981, and its ethnically diverse population totals
approximately 275,000.
Belize adheres to the first-past-the-post (FPP) or the majority voting system. To date, two
major political parties dominate electioneering, and all attempts of emerging third parties and
independent candidates have been unsuccessful. One political party was successful at the
polls to form the government for over 30 years in the Pre-Independence era. The first change
in government occurred in the first election after Independence in 1984. Since then changes
in government have been frequent—at every election—until 2003 when the country voted in
the same political party, back-to-back. Presently, there are no laws to specifically govern
political parties.
The country is divided into 29 electoral divisions and approximately 130,000 registered
electors. Registration is voluntary, limited only to eligibility as defined by law, such as,
nationality and age. Since 1998, registration is continuous and is conducted at registration
centers located in every District.
Presently, Belize has two electoral management bodies (EMB), namely, the Elections and
Boundaries Commission and the Elections and Boundaries Department. Each EMB is a
separate, legal entity. One may ask the question, why two and how two. This paper is a
synopsis of events leading up to present and which answers the question, how. While it is
limited to the experience of Belize in matters pertaining to electoral administration, the
findings and conclusions are primarily administrative concerns and therefore universal. Also,
other CARICOM states have similar laws as Belize and therefore share similar experiences
presently, or in the not too distant past.
The objectives of the paper are to:
√ Share and/or bring light to this experience
√ Solicit views of participants
√ Critique the experience for future recommendations for reform
1
3. LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND THE ELECTION MANAGEMENT BODY
Pre-Independence
In 1978, the Representation of the People Ordinance was enacted. Its several sections dealt
with Franchise and Registration, Elections and Boundaries Commission, Administrative
Provisions, Electoral Divisions, Elections, Offences and Disputed Elections. The Ordinance in
Section 9 (2) heralded the first Election Management Body, Elections and Boundaries
Commission (Commission). The Commission was an independent body of five persons
inclusive of a Chairman, all of whom were appointed by the Governor, after consultation with
the Premier. While the Governor appointed the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), the
Commission appointed Registering Officers and all other support staff, who were responsible
to the Commission (Section 10). Its functions according to the Representation of the People
Ordinance were, electoral administration in Section 9 (9)(10), and boundary delimitation in
Section 18. These are detailed as follows:
Electoral Administration
• The direction and supervision of the registration of voters
• The conduct of elections
• The conduct of general direction and supervision over the administrative
conduct of Elections
• Enforce on the part of all election officers fairness, impartiality and compliance
with the provisions of the Ordinance
Boundary Delimitation
• Act as a Boundary Delimitation Commission, when called upon to do so
Post-Independence
The Belize Constitution came into being at Independence in 1981. The appointment of
members to the Commission, along with the Commission’s functions was now enshrined in
the Belize Constitution under Section 88. Included as Section 90, was the full responsibility of
the Commission to make proposals for boundary delimitation. The appointment and functions
of the CEO remained in the Administrative Provision of what had become the Representation
of The People Act (ROPA). The method of appointment of Commission members remained
the same, albeit now the Governor-General as reinforced in Section 88 (2). By so enshrining
the role of the Commission and appointment of its members in the Constitution, Belize
demonstrated a major step in recognizing the importance and independence of the
Commission as the body responsible for the administrative structures to support the
democratic process of elections.
Added strengtheners to the independence of the Commission was Section 88 (9), which
states, “…the Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person
or authority…”. Its functions in Section 88 (13) were subject to the Representation of The
2
4. People Act. On the other hand, one important responsibility, that of reinforcing “fairness,
impartiality and compliance”, on the part of all election officers, was omitted.
Some seven years later (1988), saw the first amendment to the Constitution, which included
the Section on the Commission (Section 88). The method of appointment as per Section 88
(2) was amended to read as follows:
The Chairman and two other members of the Elections and Boundaries
Commission shall be appointed by the Governor-General, acting in accordance
with the Prime Minister given after consultation with the Leader of the
Opposition, and the remaining two members shall be appointed by the
Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister
given with the concurrence of the Leader of the Opposition.
The function of electoral administration (Section 88 (13)) remained the same, as in the first
three bullets under “Pre-Independence”. Similarly, the authority to not being “subject to the
direction and control of any other person or authority…” now the first part of Section 88 (14)
remained. Also the functions as in Section 88 (13) are still subject to what is now the second
part of Section 88 (14), where it states that the Commission “acts in accordance with the
Representation of the People Act (ROPA)”.
In 1989, subsequent to the amendment of the Constitution, the ROPA was also amended.
The amendment to the Administrative Provisions altered the appointment of the staff of the
Commission when the jurisdiction over staff appointment was transferred to the Public
Services Commission. The position of Chief Elections Officer (CEO) became that of a Public
Officer, appointed by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the Prime Minister.
The above changes caused the formation of a second election management body, the
Elections and Boundaries Department (Department), headed by the CEO, under a
Government Ministry. In a constitutional amendment of 2001, the appointment of CEO was
also transferred to the Public Services Commission. Under the ROPA, the areas of
responsibility of the CEO and staff members of the Department are electoral administration
and the adjustment of electoral records at boundary delimitation. Electoral administration
involves several tasks, which include:
Organizing and directing the registration of voters
Compiling electoral registers
Updating and maintaining electoral records
Organizing the conduct of elections
Transfer of electors
A third function, that of Voter Education is a campaign that was launched by the Department
in November 1999.
The abovementioned amendments to the Constitution and subsequent amendments to the
ROPA:
1. Established two election management bodies—the Department and the Commission,
with overlapping roles in electoral management
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5. 2. Changed electoral administrative structure from an independent model to a
government model
3. Drastically reduced the role and capacity of the Commission in matters pertaining to
electoral management
4. The Law is silent with regards to enforcement of “fairness, impartiality, and
compliance”
5. Give the perception that it is bi-partisan with members representing a political party as
appointed
EXPERIENCES 1999 TO PRESENT
Overview
In establishing an organization, there is no one best way in arriving at a structure. More so,
an election management organization, which due to its very functions, is faced with a variety
of demands. The objective for such drastic administrative changes in 1988 and 1989 and
what thoughts and consultations were conducted prior to the amendments, is not the object of
this exercise. However, the advantages and disadvantages of having two electoral
management bodies will be explored.
In June 1999, I commenced my sojourn as CEO. During this time, I have had the unique
opportunity to be a direct participant observer in matters relating to electoral administration
from within. Furthermore, on March 5, 2003, 3 elections, Parliament, City Council and Town
Council Elections were held in one day—a first experience for Belize. The months leading to
this day and the weeks after was an opportune time to scientifically observe political
behaviour and culture, the interaction of Public Officers, including staff with politicians etc.
The following information is a result of my lived experiences as the CEO.
The Department
Administratively, particulars for all human and financial resources are directed through a
Ministry as the Department operates independently of the Commission. The downside of this
directly affects service delivery in that the Department is operating under a bureaucracy
where the myriad levels of confirmation and response are a hindrance to service delivery. On
the other hand, the political atmosphere necessitates and demands flexibility from staff, for
example, hours of service, staffing and location of service, which is contrary to the work
culture of the bureaucracy.
The upside is that as a Department, we have utilized the independence. Since 1999, we have
undertaken voter education as a mission; and with much zeal linked with the wider
community—Private Sector, Civil Society Organizations, and other Government Departments,
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6. to be able to expand services without the additional budgetary constraints. These are some
examples:
1. April 28, 2004 marked the 50th Anniversary of the 1st election under Adult Suffrage.
The Department brought attention to this through organizing a “Run for Democracy”
countrywide culminating in Belize City. This was done through linkages with Schools,
Red Cross, Boys Scouts and Girl Guides, the National Fire Service, Municipal Bodies,
etc.
2. The Department publishes monthly newsletters, brochures, booklets among others and
has established “Library Corners” throughout the country in collaboration with the
National Library Service.
3. A website was established in 1999 with the assistance of a private sector organization
The above accomplishments resulted from the initiative and commitment of staff members.
However, the sustainability of such motivation is uncertain, as there is very little support for it
in the structures of the bureaucracy. For example, since coming on board in June 1999,
February 2004 is the first time that we have experienced a full staff compliment. Therefore,
throughout these years, some of us had to manage more than one desk at a time, mainly due
to non-response, and/or slow response of the Ministry Personnel or their lack of appreciation
for the Department’s work environment and culture.
The Commission
Where does the Commission fit into all this? The Commission meets at least four times per
year. The CEO reports to the Commission primarily matters pertaining to the organization and
outcome of elections, which were being called frequently such as:
1999 September - Referendum
2000 March - Municipal Elections
2001 March - Municipal By-election
2001 April - National Village Council Elections
2002 November - National Village Council By-election
2003 March - Parliamentary and Municipal Elections
2003 October - Parliamentary By-election
Section 88(12) states that “with the approval of the Governor-General given in accordance
with the advice of the Prime Minister”, the Commission may “confer powers or impose duties
on any Public Officer or authority of the Government for the purpose of the discharge of its
functions”. However, its functions in electoral administration according to Section 88(13), that
of, “the direction and supervision of the registration of voters and the conduct of elections
referenda…”; is already being done by the Department as directed by the rules and
regulations of the ROPA.
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7. The Constitution in Section 88(14) also states that the Commission “shall…act in accordance
with the Representation of the People Act…” However, the reference to the Commission in
the ROPA is limited to two areas, namely, introducing the Elections and Boundaries
Commission in Section 10, and the Administrative Provisions as follows:
• Section 11(2)—conferring its powers on the CEO
• Sections 13 and 14(2)—approving the appointment of election workers
All other sections relevant to electoral administration—Franchise and Registration,
Continuous Registration, Elections, General Provisions, Adjustment of Electoral Records on
Re-division, make mention of the CEO and Registration Officers and not the Commission.
Therefore, Section 11(2) of the ROPA is seen as purely redundant, since Section 88(14) of
the Constitution has spoken. The above findings demonstrate that as an administrative body,
the Commission appears to be a “shell”. It does not to have the capacity to act as an
administrative body over the Department or Election Workers, such as to approve/disapprove
the actions of the staff and election workers, and it does not conduct electoral administration.
However the Commission comprising citizens of integrity should be significant to election
management by setting policies to improve their role—e.g policy for appointment of Election
Workers to satisfy the basis for approval as per Secs. 13 and 14(2).
In the Oath of Allegiance to the Office each Commission member swore to “bear true faith
and allegiance to Belize”, “to uphold the Constitution and Law” and to discharge duties
“conscientiously, impartially and to the best of [one’s] ability”. In addition, the Code of
Conduct under Section 121(1) of the Constitution as it pertains to the members of Elections
and Boundaries Commission is very clear, and states the following:
a) “To place themselves in positions in which they have or could have a
conflict of interest;
b) To compromise the fair exercise of their public or official functions and
duties;
c) To use their office for private gain;
d) To demean their office or position;
e) To allow their integrity to be called into question; or
f) To endanger or diminish respect for, or confidence in, the Integrity of
the government”
Notwithstanding the oath of allegiance and code of conduct, the Commission has
demonstrated much political partiality through the actions of some of its members, and may
have disregarded the oath and most of Section 121(1) of the Constitution. Whether the
disregard to the abovementioned was willful or purely due to the lack of knowledge, is not
within the scope of this paper. It is the fact that it occurred that must be documented, and its
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8. resulting impact on both election management bodies, may require further research and
analysis.
“While the election management body must be adept at operating in a political environment,
its decisions and actions must be non-political” (Administration and Cost of Elections, ACE
Project by IDEA; 1999; page 32). The experience with the Elections and Boundaries
Commission has been to the contrary. Firstly, during the pre and post election activities of
2003 and Election Day activities, I have observed some members physically, actively
participating in political campaigns. One member resorted to using his newspaper as his
campaign platform. At post-election, March 2003, the only area of criticism/condemnation
came via a newspaper article by a member of the Commission (“Annual Report 2003”; page
35 and “Report on The Elections: Parliamentary, City and Town Councils”; page 8, #40). The
same Member, for a By-election held in October 2003, openly supported a candidate and
supported misinformation on the Registration Process (Report on By-election—Cayo South
Electoral Division #28 and #32, November 2003). Secondly, a Commission member, again
utilizing the newspaper since his coming on board in 2000, continuously criticized the
Department’s work. Whatever the objective is, all attempts have been discredited.
The Department in the abovementioned newspaper articles considered the criticisms
baseless, as “has to be seen in the context of the prevailing political atmosphere” (Annual
Report 2003, page 35). On a human aspect, the abovementioned examples of political
partiality by Commission members are demoralizing to staff members of the Department, and
as a result, very disruptive and unproductive. At the level of the organization, in this kind of
political climate, particularly at crucial times such as elections, the Department stands alone
with absolutely no insulation. While at other times, the Department is chasing/correcting
unfounded condemnations made by some members of the Commission.
The Cultural Practice of Registration
Some 87.65% of the voter age population of Belize is registered as electors. While this figure
stands relatively high, credit must be given to agents of the political parties. The practice is
for the political agents to bring clients to conduct various transactions pertaining to registration
with our Registration Officers. While the effort is laudable, its disadvantages are many. One
such disadvantage is that the direct interaction negatively affects the work environment of
staff persons, and is best described in the following excerpt from the “Report on the Elections:
Parliamentary, City and town Councils, 2003”, page 1.
“The stark reality of the tensions caused by our unique working environment—
the only Department whose primary customers are the past, present and future
employers.”
In an effort to maintain focus, staff empowerment workshops are ongoing, emphasizing
values such as integrity, ethics, self-governance, accuracy, team spirit, and transparency,
among others.
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9. The ROPA empowers the participation of electors and political parties represented in the
House of Representatives to monitor the registration process, through three activities—
objections, perusal of binders, and scrutinizing. Objections to registration empower electors
to object, with basis, to new applicants placed on the Supplementary List or Temporary List of
Electors, for ten days every month. Additionally, electors are also empowered to object with
basis, to the continued registration of electors during the months of February, May, June, July
and August. Furthermore, by prior permission of the Chief Elections Officer, the Chairman of
any political party represented in the National Assembly may appoint individuals to peruse the
binders and/or to be scrutinizers to observe the registration process for an electoral division.
In assessing this level of participation one can decipher that individual electors are not
involved, and the interest shown is invariably by the political parties through their agents. The
first objection to continued registration under annual revision occurred in November 2004,
some six years after voter re-registration. Noteworthy is that the legal representative for the
person objected to, is a member of the Elections and Boundaries Commission. This further
proves how well entrenched political partisanship is in the culture of registration, at the level of
the electoral management body.
CONCLUSION
The overall function of an Election Management Body is to maintain the confidence of the
electorate in the electoral system—that is the bottom line. Ideally, an election management
body “should be founded on principles of independence, non-partnership and
professionalism” (Administration and Cost of Elections, ACE Project by IDEA, 1999, page 32).
Therefore, the Commission’s interest should focus on establishing a level playing field for all
the players, and not one or the other.
Generally, there are three types of structures of Electoral Administration in existence in the
Commonwealth, namely, the Independent Model, the Government Model, and the
Supervision Model. Belize moved from the Independent Model to what may be described
now as the Government Model. Therefore, the legal amendments in 1988 (Constitution) and
1989 (ROPA) started a major step backwards in the development of one of Belize’s important
democratic institutions. Notwithstanding the challenges, the Department, as an elections
management body utilizes voter education initiatives, as one way of maintaining the
confidence of the electorate. However, without the proper structures, the sustainability is
uncertain.
Impartiality and independence among other acceptable values necessary for EMB’s to effect
efficiency in electoral administration and confidence in the electorate are lacking in that:
• The political partisan nature of some Commission members is more a hindrance to
productive and efficient election management
• The present structures for electoral management need to be reformed
• The existing cultural practices are too lax for the seriousness of electoral registration
• Some areas of the law are not in keeping with the political environment
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