Belize's Regular Rhythm Of Elections

General elections in Belize are held every five years, or at the pleasure of the governor-general. The last general election was held on 11 November 2020, with the previous one taking place on 4 November 2015. The next general election is due to take place by 13 February 2021.

The Governor General can dissolve the National Assembly at any time

In Belize, the Governor General can dissolve the National Assembly at any time. This is outlined in Sections 84 and 85 of the Constitution, which state that the Governor General can dissolve or prorogue the Assembly under the advice of the Prime Minister. However, a general election must be called within three months of such dissolution, unless the Governor General sees no reason to do so.

The Governor General's ability to dissolve the National Assembly at any time is a significant power that can impact the political landscape of Belize. It allows for the potential early termination of the service of all members of the National Assembly and the calling of a successive legislative assembly with possibly different members.

The Governor General's power to dissolve the National Assembly is not without limitations. As mentioned, they must call for a general election within three months of dissolution, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Additionally, there is a convention that the Governor General only orders a dissolution on the advice of the Prime Minister. This convention was demonstrated in the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam by Governor General Sir John Kerr in 1975.

The Governor General's ability to dissolve the National Assembly also has historical roots. In 1854, when Belize was known as British Honduras, the Legislative Assembly was presided over by a British Superintendent, who had the right to dissolve the Assembly at any time. In 1935, the Legislative Assembly was reintroduced, and its members were nominated. Over time, the Legislative Assembly evolved into the National Assembly, which is now subject to dissolution by the Governor General.

Municipal elections are held every three years

In Belize, general elections are held at various levels of government, including the National Assembly, the House of Representatives, and municipal or local elections for town councils.

These elections are for the seven towns and two recognized cities of Belize: Belize City and Belmopan. Belize City, due to its size, carries greater representation with one mayor and ten councilors elected, while Belmopan and the towns elect one mayor and six councilors each.

The two-party system is in effect for these municipal elections, but independents and third-party candidates have been performing well in recent years.

General elections for the National Assembly, on the other hand, are held every five years, with the last one taking place on November 11, 2020. However, the Governor-General of Belize, under Sections 84 and 85 of the Constitution, has the prerogative to dissolve the National Assembly at any time and call for early elections, which must be held within three months of such dissolution.

The National Assembly consists of the House of Representatives, with 31 elected members, and the Senate, with 13 seats. The House of Representatives is the more powerful chamber, and its members are elected for terms of up to five years. The Senate's members, on the other hand, are appointed by the Governor-General, with the majority party in the House appointing six senators, the minority party appointing three, and the remaining four being appointed by non-partisan groups.

Belize has a two-party system

The PUP is pro-labour and fosters the idea of political independence, while the UDP is pro-business and believes in the equitable distribution of public services from the government. The PUP has historically dominated the electoral scene, especially before 1984 when Belize became independent. Since then, the two parties have been trading leadership, with the UDP governing from 1984 to 1989, the PUP from 1989 to 1993, the UDP from 1993 to 1998, and the PUP from 1998 to 2008.

The most recent general election was held on November 11, 2020, and saw the PUP win 26 seats to the UDP's 5. This was the PUP's first national election victory since 2003. The leader of the PUP, Johnny Briceño, became the new prime minister of Belize on November 12, 2020.

General elections in Belize are held every five years or at the pleasure of the governor-general. The governor-general can dissolve the National Assembly of Belize at any time under the advice of the prime minister, and a general election must be called within three months of such dissolution.

The National Assembly must be dissolved after five years

Belize has a two-party system, with elections for the National Assembly held every five years. The National Assembly consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives currently has 31 elected members, while the Senate has 12 senators.

The National Assembly must be dissolved "five years from the date when the two Houses of the former National Assembly first met" unless dissolved sooner by the Governor-General of Belize, who currently is Dame Froyla Tzalam, upon the advice of the Prime Minister. This means that the National Assembly must continue for five years from the first sitting of the new National Assembly. Under sections 84 and 85 of the Constitution, the Governor-General can, at any time, dissolve or prorogue the Assembly under the Prime Minister's advice.

A general election must be called within three months of such a dissolution unless the Governor-General sees no reason to do so. The last general election was held on November 11, 2020, with the previous one held on November 4, 2015. The new National Assembly was opened on November 13, 2015, meaning the latest possible date for the next Belizean general election was February 13, 2021.

Despite the five-year term, three of the last four general elections have been called at least a year early. Both Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the opposition People's United Party (PUP) supported reducing the maximum term of the National Assembly to four years.

The Writ of Election was filed by the Governor-General

In Belize, general elections are held every five years or at the discretion of the Governor-General. The Governor-General is responsible for dissolving parliament and issuing writs for new elections. The Writ of Election is a formal instruction from the Governor-General to hold an election.

On 5 October 2020, the former Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, called for general elections to be held on 11 November 2020, with Nominations Day on 21 October. The Writ of Election was then formally filed by the Governor-General, Dame Froyla Tzalam.

The Governor-General has the power to dissolve parliament and issue writs for new elections under Sections 84 and 85 of the Constitution of Belize. This can be done at any time under the advice of the Prime Minister, with the stipulation that a general election must be called within three months of such dissolution, unless the Governor-General sees no reason to do so.

The Governor-General is the representative of the Belizean monarch, who is currently King Charles III. The Governor-General is appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and has a seven-year term of office. The incumbent, Dame Froyla Tzalam, has held the office since 27 May 2021.

The Governor-General's responsibilities also include appointing ministers, judges, and ambassadors, giving royal assent to legislation passed by the National Assembly, and various ceremonial duties.

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