BELIZE

Political Structure,
Type of
Government and
Head of the State

Belize Governm
ent
STATE
GOVERNMENT

LOCAL GO
VERNMENT

LEGISLATI EXECUT JUDICIARY

VE

IVE

National
Assembly

Senate

Governor
General

Prime
Minis
ter

House of
Representatives

Cabinet

Supreme
Court
Court of
Appeals
Privy
Council
Magistrate
Court

Minister
for Local Minister for
Rural
Governm
Development
ent
City
Councils

Town
Councils

Village
Councils

Alcalde
System

Belize
Government

parliamentary democracy and constitutional

monarchy
British parliamentary system
Common Law of England
two levels of government:
a state government and
a single-tier local government

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Executive Branch
Governor-General

must be a citizen of Belize

appointed by the Queen
Her Majestys representative
Exercises the executive authority

Sir Colville Young

7 November 1993 -Present

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House of
Representatives

Lower House
majority of votes under the first past the post system.
major parliamentary functions

headed by the Prime Minister

making new laws

amending old laws for peace, order and good governance of Belize.
control of the civil and military apparatus of state

Appointed by the Governor-General

the House of Representatives
leader of the majority of the members of the House
appoints Ministers of Cabinet

Cabinet

Ministers
elected by direct popular vote for 5 years.

Hon. Dean O.
Barrow

February 8, 2008Present

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Senate
debating and confirming Bills
Authorizing the ratification of any treaty by the Government
Approving the establishment of any new military base of
operations for any foreign military forces
Approving the appointment of

an Ambassador
a High Commissioner,
the Chief Justice
a Justice of the Supreme Court,
a Justice of the Court of Appeal
the Contractor General and
the Ombudsman.

Senate

Appointed by the Governor-General

Comprises and advice of the:

one President

6 members - the Prime Minister.

3 members - the Leader of the Opposition.
1 member - the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of
Churches.
1 member - the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business
Bureau.
1 member - National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Comittee.
elected from among the membership or nominated from outside the Senate.
presides over the meetings of the Senate

The two major political parties

Peoples United Party (PUP)

the United Democratic Party (UDP)

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Judiciary
The Supreme Court
Unlimited original jurisdiction to hear and determine any
civil or criminal proceedings under any law.
3 supreme Court Judges
Chief Justice
2 other judges, known as Puisne Judges.

Consists of
a Judge
a jury made up of 12 members for capital offence cases and
9 members for non-capital offence cases

Judiciary

The Court of Appeal

exercises an appellate jurisdiction over both the High Court and

Magistracy
has jurisdiction and powers to hear and determine appeals in civil and
criminal matters
Consists of
President
three Justices of Appeal

The Privy Council

the final court for Belize, sits in the United Kingdom

made up primarily of members of the United Kingdom's House of Lords

Magistrate Court

Lower Court
every district capital has at least one Magistrate's Court
Not very serious cases

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Local Government
Minister for Local Government
responsible for local government legislation
Acts relating to city and town councils.

The Minister for Rural Development

village council legislation and
the alcalde system.

Local Government

city councils
Belize and
Belmopan

town councils

seven town councils in the six administrative districts of the

country

community councils

The 180 village and

12 community

Alcalde system

In the Toledo District and other parts of south Belize

Local Government

Town and City Councils meetings are required by law,

Local government elections are by the first-past-the-post system.
Mayors and members of the council
are directly elected.
3years term in office

Councils must meet at least quarterly and the meetings must be

open to the public.
Decisions are taken by simple majority
The Alcalde System

The alcaldes = local magistrates operating at the village and community

level
focuses on judicial matters
two year term

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