National Assembly (Belize)
National Assembly (Belize)
National Assembly | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | Bicameral |
Houses | Senate (upper house) House of Representatives (lower house) |
Leadership | |
Monarch | |
Governor-General | Colville Young since 17 November 1993 |
President of the Senate | Lee Mark Chang since 18 November 2015 |
Speaker of the House of Representatives | Laura Tucker-Longsworth since 13 January 2017 |
Structure | |
Seats | 43 members 31 representatives 13 senators |
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Senate political groups | UDP (6) PUP (3) Other (4) |
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House of Representatives political groups | UDP (19) PUP (12) |
Elections | |
Senate voting system | Appointed by the Governor-General |
House of Representatives voting system | First-past-the-post |
Meeting place | |
National Assembly Building, Belmopan | |
Website | |
www.nationalassembly.gov.bz [3] |
The National Assembly is the bicameral legislature of the nation of Belize. It is divided into the House of Representatives, with 31 members, elected by universal suffrage, and the Senate, with 12 members, appointed by the Governor-General in consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The presiding officer of the House is the Speaker, while the Senate is presided over by the President.
National Assembly | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | Bicameral |
Houses | Senate (upper house) House of Representatives (lower house) |
Leadership | |
Monarch | |
Governor-General | Colville Young since 17 November 1993 |
President of the Senate | Lee Mark Chang since 18 November 2015 |
Speaker of the House of Representatives | Laura Tucker-Longsworth since 13 January 2017 |
Structure | |
Seats | 43 members 31 representatives 13 senators |
![]() | |
Senate political groups | UDP (6) PUP (3) Other (4) |
![]() | |
House of Representatives political groups | UDP (19) PUP (12) |
Elections | |
Senate voting system | Appointed by the Governor-General |
House of Representatives voting system | First-past-the-post |
Meeting place | |
National Assembly Building, Belmopan | |
Website | |
www.nationalassembly.gov.bz [3] |
History
The National Assembly of Belize, known as British Honduras in the past was first introduced on 31 December, 1963, replacing the unicameral Legislative Assembly.
The National Assembly has the power to debate and create laws based on the Constitution. It typically meets, both House and Senate, once a month, with other meetings called as necessary.
National Assembly Building, Belmopan
Since the relocation of the capital to Belmopan, the Parliament has sat at National Assembly Building, Belmopan since 1970.
See also
Politics of Belize
List of legislatures by country
Prime Minister of Belize
Governor-General of Belize