The Intricacies Of Appointing Belize's Senate: Understanding The Process

The Senate of Belize is the upper chamber of the National Assembly of Belize. The Senate is made up of 13 members who are appointed for a five-year term by the governor general. The governor general appoints senators in the following way: six with the advice of the prime minister, three with the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one each with the advice of several organisations, including the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Belize Council of Churches, and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize. The Senate discusses and confirms bills sent from the House of Representatives and has specific functions, such as approving any bill to alter any provision of Part II of the Belize Constitution.

Who appoints the senators?

The Senate of Belize is the upper chamber of the National Assembly of Belize. It consists of 13 members, including the President of the Senate, who are appointed for a five-year term by the Governor-General. The Governor-General of Belize acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

The process of appointing senators in Belize involves the following steps:

• Six senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister.
• Three senators are appointed on the recommendation of the Leader of the Opposition.
• One senator is appointed on the advice of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and the Belize Business Bureau.
• One senator is appointed on the recommendation of the Belize Council of Churches and the Evangelical Association of Churches.
• One senator is appointed on the advice of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Civil Society Steering Committee.
• One senator is appointed on the advice of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in good standing.

The Governor-General plays a crucial role in appointing senators in Belize, ensuring that the Senate reflects the diverse interests and expertise needed for effective governance.

How many senators are there?

The Senate of Belize is the upper chamber of the National Assembly of Belize. It has 13 members, including the President of the Senate, who are appointed for a five-year term by the governor general.

The senators are appointed in the following manner:

• Six senators are appointed on the advice of the prime minister.
• Three senators are appointed on the advice of the leader of the opposition.
• One senator is appointed on the advice of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and the Belize Business Bureau.
• One senator is appointed on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and the Evangelical Association of Churches.
• One senator is appointed on the advice of the Belize National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee.
• One senator is appointed on the advice of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The President of the Senate is then selected by the 13 senators, either from among themselves or from outside the Senate. When the President is selected from outside the Senate, they become a member of the Senate by virtue of holding the office of President.

The President of the Senate presides over the sessions of the Senate but does not ordinarily have a voice or vote in the proceedings (as would an appointed senator). However, the President may cast the deciding vote on legislation. When the President is selected from among the 13 senators, the powers of senator and President of the Senate are vested in this one person. Otherwise, the President has no powers as would ordinarily be vested in a senator.

Over the years, there has been much debate over whether the members of the Senate should be appointed or elected. This discussion continues as Belizeans continue to weigh the pros and cons of an elected versus appointed senate.

Who advises the appointment of most senators?

The Senate of Belize is the upper chamber of the National Assembly of Belize. It consists of 13 members, including the President of the Senate, who are appointed by the Governor-General for a five-year term. The Governor-General appoints six senators on the advice of the Prime Minister, three on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and one each on the advice of the following organisations jointly:

• The Belize Council of Churches and the Evangelical Association of Churches
• The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau
• The National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Civil Society Steering Committee
• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in good standing

Therefore, the Prime Minister advises the appointment of most senators, with six of the 13 senators being appointed on their advice.

Who are the current senators?

The Senate of Belize is the upper chamber of the National Assembly of Belize. Senators are appointed by the governor general, with six appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one each on the advice of the following organisations: the Belize Chamber of Commerce and the Belize Business Bureau, the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Civil Society Steering Committee, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The current senators of Belize are:

• Hon. Carolyn Trench Sandiford (President)
• Hon. Collet Montejo (Vice-President)
• Hon. Eamon Courtenay
• Hon. Isabel Bennett
• Hon. Christopher Coye
• Hon. Bevinton Cal
• Hon. Michael Peyrefitte
• Hon. Aldo Salazar
• Hon. Sheena Pitts
• Hon. Bishop Alvin Benguche
• Hon. Esther Ayuso Ramirez
• Hon. Deborah Mencias-McMillan
• Hon. Diego Bol

The Senate elects a president and vice-president upon first convening after a general election. The president may be a senator or an external person, while the vice-president must be a senator who does not hold a ministerial portfolio. The president presides over Senate sessions but usually has no vote in proceedings. However, they may cast a deciding vote on legislation. If the president is chosen from among the senators, they hold the powers of both senator and president.

What are the requirements to become a senator?

To become a senator in Belize, there are several requirements that must be met. Firstly, senators must be at least 21 years old. They must hold Belizean citizenship and have resided in Belize for at least a year prior to their nomination. Additionally, certain individuals are disqualified from becoming senators, including members of the House, those in the armed and police forces, and individuals contracted to work for the government.

The Senate of Belize is the upper chamber of the National Assembly, consisting of 13 members who are appointed for a five-year term by the governor general. The governor general appoints senators based on advice from various sources. Six senators are appointed with the advice of the prime minister, three with the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one each with the advice of specific organizations. These organizations include the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Civil Society Steering Committee, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in good standing.

The appointment process allows for a diverse range of perspectives and interests to be represented in the Senate. The prime minister and the leader of the opposition play a significant role in shaping the composition of the Senate by advising on the appointment of nine of the thirteen senators. This ensures that the Senate reflects the political landscape of the country.

In addition to the appointed senators, the Senate also includes a president and, in some cases, a vice-president. The president of the Senate is selected by the senators and can be chosen from among themselves or from outside the Senate. If the president is selected from outside the Senate, they become a member of the Senate by virtue of holding the office of president. The vice-president, on the other hand, must be a member of the Senate who does not hold a ministerial portfolio.

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