Understanding Belize's Lawmaking Process

The process of a bill becoming a law in Belize involves several stages, including public debate, scrutiny, and potential amendments. The National Assembly, the country's bicameral legislature, plays a crucial role in this process. It consists of two houses: the House of Representatives, with 31 members elected by the people, and the Senate, with 12 members appointed by the Governor-General. The lawmaking process typically begins with the Cabinet accepting an idea from a minister, followed by drafting, approval, and introduction of the bill into the House of Representatives for its first reading. After committee meetings and public consultations, the bill proceeds to the second reading, where it is debated and potentially amended. If the bill passes the second reading, it moves to the third reading and is then sent to the Senate for consideration. The Senate discusses and confirms the bill, and any amendments are sent back to the House of Representatives for concurrence. Once the bill is approved by both houses, it is sent to the Governor-General for assent, and with their signature and the impress of the public seal, it becomes a law or an Act. This law is then published in the Gazette. The National Assembly ensures that laws are made for the peace, order, and good governance of Belize, in line with the country's Constitution, which is the supreme law of the nation.

The National Assembly of Belize

The House of Representatives consists of 31 members, elected by the people in a general election every five years. Each member represents one constituency. The House of Representatives is presided over by a speaker, whose main responsibility is to maintain order and control. The House passes bills, debates national issues and approves the government budget.

The Senate, meanwhile, has 12 members, appointed by the Governor-General in consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The President of the Senate presides over meetings. The Senate discusses and confirms bills sent from the House of Representatives.

The process of lawmaking in the National Assembly includes the following steps:

• Cabinet accepts an idea from a minister and discusses it. Legal draftsmen draft the bill.
• Approval of the bill by Cabinet.
• The Bill is introduced into the House of Representatives for the first reading.
• House committee meetings are held to hear public opinions and possible changes to the bill.
• The bill is debated in the House of Representatives (second reading).
• The bill is accepted and voted upon (third reading). If it is passed by a majority vote, it becomes an act.
• The act goes through the same three stages/readings in the Senate before it becomes a law.
• Once the act passes the Senate, it is sent to the Governor-General for his signature. The act becomes a law.

The role of the Governor-General

The Governor-General of Belize is the representative of the monarch, currently King Charles III, in the country. The Governor-General is appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Belize. They hold office for a term of five or seven years.

The Governor-General has a number of important duties to perform in Parliament. They assent to Bills passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate so that they become Laws of Belize. This is known as Royal Assent. No law made by the National Assembly can come into operation without the Governor-General's signature.

The Governor-General also opens the first Sitting of the House of Representatives (the Inaugural Sitting) by delivering the Government Speech (Throne Speech). This speech outlines the Government's intentions for the upcoming session or term of Parliament. The Governor-General also ends a parliamentary session and term by proroguing and dissolving, respectively, the National Assembly by proclamation. After a general election, the Governor-General appoints, by proclamation, the date, place, and time for the holding of a session of the National Assembly. In addition, the Governor-General appoints Members of the Senate.

The House of Representatives

The process of passing a bill begins with the introduction and first reading of the bill. During the introduction, the member in charge of the bill reads the preamble and gives a brief statement and background on the bill. The Speaker then puts the question, "that the Bill be read a first time", and refers it to a Standing Committee, ordering it to be printed and published in the Government Gazette. At this stage, the bill becomes publicly available.

Once a bill is referred to a Standing Committee, the Committee has 60 days to make a report to the House. If the Committee does not report within the prescribed time, the House may proceed to read the bill for a second time. At the Committee stage, public participation is invited either in person or by writing to the Clerk of the National Assembly. The Committee reports its findings and suggestions to the House, stating clearly if it recommends amendments for the second reading.

The second reading of the bill involves a debate covering the general merits and principles of the bill. A debate may also take place on any amendment proposed by the Committee or by any other member. At the conclusion of the debate, the member in charge of the bill moves "that the Bill be now read a second time", and the Speaker puts the question. When the bill is read a second time, it stands committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

The Deputy Speaker takes the chair in the Committee of the Whole House, and the Speaker leaves without question. The chair calls the title of the bill and the number of each clause in succession. If no amendment is proposed or when all proposed amendments have been disposed of, the chair puts the question, "that the clause or the clause as amended stands part of the Bill". After considering the bills in the Committee of the Whole, the House resumes for the third reading of the bill.

During the third reading, the member in charge of the bill reports to the House that the Committee of the Whole has considered the bill and passed it with or without amendments, and moves the third reading of the bill. The Speaker then puts the question without debate. If the House approves the third reading, the bill is then prepared to be sent to the Senate.

The Senate

The process of a bill becoming a law in Belize involves several stages, including introduction and first reading, second reading, committee of the whole house, third reading, consideration by the Senate, and finally, the Governor-General's assent. Once a bill has been approved by the House of Representatives, it is sent to the Senate for consideration. The Leader of Government Business in the Senate signifies their willingness to take charge of the bill, and it is recorded in the Minutes as having been read a first time. Typically, a bill will go through all three readings at one sitting in the Senate.

It is important to note that the Senate has restricted powers when dealing with money bills, which appropriate revenue or other public money. While the Senate considers these bills, it cannot block or amend them. Any amendments made by the Senate to a bill are sent back to the House of Representatives for concurrence. If the House of Representatives agrees to the amendments, the bill then goes, as amended, to the Governor-General for assent.

The process of becoming law

The Member in charge of the bill introduces it by reading the preamble and providing background information. The Speaker then refers it to a Standing Committee and orders its publication in the Government Gazette, making it publicly available. At this initial stage, the bill does not formally exist. The Standing Committee is expected to report back to the House within 60 days.

Second Reading of Bills

During the second reading, there is a debate on the general merits and principles of the bill. Any amendments proposed by the Committee or other Members are also discussed. After the debate, the Member in charge of the bill moves for a second reading, and the Speaker puts the question. If the bill passes this stage, it proceeds to the Committee of the Whole House.

Committee of the Whole House

The Deputy Speaker takes charge of this stage, during which the title of the bill and each clause are read aloud. Amendments can be proposed, and the chair puts the question for each clause to be included in the bill. After the Committee considers all the clauses, the House resumes for the third reading.

Third Reading of Bills

The Member in charge of the bill reports to the House that the Committee has considered and passed the bill, with or without amendments. The Speaker then puts the question without further debate. If the House approves the third reading, the bill moves on to the Senate.

Consideration of Bill by the Senate

A printed copy of the bill, signed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives and endorsed by the Speaker, is sent to the Senate. The Leader of Government Business in the Senate signifies their willingness to take charge of the bill, and it is recorded in the Minutes as having been read for the first time. Typically, the bill goes through all three readings at one sitting in the Senate. It is important to note that the Senate has restricted powers regarding money bills. While they can consider such bills, they cannot block or amend them. If the Senate makes any amendments, the bill goes back to the House of Representatives for concurrence. Once the bill is approved by both Houses, it is sent to the Governor-General for assent.

Governor General's Assent

The final stages of converting a bill into law involve the certification of the bill by the Presiding Officers and the Clerk of both Houses. The Governor-General's signature and the impress of the public seal are required. The law, now styled as an "Act," is then published in the Gazette.

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