Belize's Law-Making Branch

The Belizean government is a constitutional parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy with legislative power vested in the National Assembly, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The National Assembly is responsible for making laws for peace, order, and good governance in Belize. While the House of Representatives is directly elected, the Senate is appointed by the Governor-General, who represents the British Crown and acts on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Governor-General must sign off on all laws passed by the National Assembly for them to come into effect.

The National Assembly of Belize

The House of Representatives consists of 31 members, who are elected by the people in a general election every five years. Each member represents one constituency. The House of Representatives passes bills, debates national issues and approves the government budget.

The Senate, on the other hand, discusses and confirms bills sent from the House of Representatives. It is made up of 13 members, who are appointed by the Governor-General. The President of the Senate presides over meetings. The Senate has restricted powers when it comes to money bills, which appropriate revenue or other public money. While the Senate considers these bills, it cannot block or amend them.

The law-making process in the National Assembly includes the following steps:

• Cabinet accepts an idea from a minister and discusses it. Legal draftsmen draft the bill.
• Cabinet approves the bill.
• 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 their signature. The act then becomes a law.

The National Assembly also has the role of providing oversight to the administrative policies and economics of the government through various Standing Committees of the House of Representatives. All proposed legislation, messages, petitions, reports, motions, and other matters are referred to the relevant committee for examination, consideration, and reporting to the House.

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. The current Governor-General is Dame Froyla Tzalam, who has held the position since 27 May 2021. She is the first indigenous person of Maya descent to serve as governor-general of any country in the history of the Commonwealth.

The Governor-General has a number of important functions and duties, including:

• Appointing ministers, judges, and ambassadors
• Giving royal assent to legislation passed by the National Assembly
• Issuing writs for election
• Dissolving parliament
• Formally requesting the leader of the majority party in parliament to form a government after an election
• Commissioning the Prime Minister and appointing other ministers after the election
• Acting on the advice of government ministers to issue regulations and proclamations under existing laws
• Appointing state judges, ambassadors, and other senior government officials
• Issuing Royal Commissions of Inquiry and other matters as required by particular legislation
• Authorising many other executive decisions by ministers, such as approving treaties with foreign governments

The Governor-General also has a ceremonial role, which includes:

• Hosting events at the official residence, Belize House in the capital, Belmopan
• Bestowing honours on individuals and groups who are contributing to their communities
• Opening new sessions of parliament by delivering the Speech from the Throne
• Welcoming visiting heads of state
• Receiving the credentials of foreign diplomats
• Attending military parades and special occasions
• Presenting Colours and other insignia to units of the Belize Defence Force and the Police Force

The Governor-General is also responsible for providing assent to Bills passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate so that they become Laws of Belize. Additionally, the Governor-General can prorogue or dissolve the National Assembly at any time, in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.

The House of Representatives

The body is directly descended from the British Honduras Legislative Assembly, which was created in 1954 with nine elected members. It has been expanded several times since: to 18 in 1961, 28 in 1984, 29 in 1993, and finally to 31 in 2008. The leader of the majority party in the Belize House typically becomes the Prime Minister of Belize.

The Senate

The President presides over the sessions of the Senate but ordinarily has no voice or vote in the proceedings (as would an appointed senator), except to cast a deciding vote. Where the President is selected from among the twelve, 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 past few 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.

The process of a Bill becoming a law

The National Assembly of Belize is the body that makes laws for peace, order and good governance of Belize. The National Assembly consists of the Governor-General, the Senate (Upper House) and the House of Representatives (Lower House). The process of a Bill becoming a law in Belize is as follows:

During its introduction, the Member in charge of the Bill reads the preamble (Long Title) and gives a brief statement and background on the Bill. The Speaker then refers it to a Standing Committee and orders it to be printed and published in the Government Gazette. At this stage, the Bill becomes publicly available.

Second Reading of Bills

At the second reading of a Bill, a debate arises covering the general merits and principles of the Bill. A debate on any amendment proposed by the Committee or by any other Member during the second reading can also take place. 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.

Committee of the Whole House

The Deputy Speaker takes the chair in the Committee of the whole House. 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 Bills.

Third Reading of Bills

At the resumption of the House, 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.

Consideration of Bill by the Senate

When a Bill has been approved by the House, a printed copy of it, signed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives and endorsed by the Speaker, is sent to the Senate for its consideration. In the Senate, the Leader of Government Business signifies their willingness to take charge of the Bill. The Bill is recorded in the Minutes as having been read a first time and is then taken through all its stages. In the Senate, a Bill would normally go through all three readings at one sitting. It is important to note that the Senate has restricted powers when it comes to money Bills, which appropriate revenue or other public money. The House of Representatives is responsible for making decisions on money Bills, and the Senate can consider these Bills but cannot block or amend them. Any amendments made by the Senate to a Bill are sent back to the House of Representatives for its concurrence. If agreed to, the Bill goes, as amended, to the Governor-General for assent.

Governor General's Assent

When a Bill is passed by both Houses, copies are certified by the Presiding Officers and the Clerk of both Houses before being sent to the Governor-General for their assent. The Governor-General’s signature and the impress of the public seal are necessary formalities, which represent the final stages in converting a Bill into Law. The law styled as “Act” is then published in the Gazette.

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