Belize

Belize is an independent nation and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Its form of government is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The Head of State is the British Monarch, represented in the country by a Governor General. The Head of Government is the Prime Minister, appointed by the Governor General based on their position as the leader of the majority party or coalition following an electoral process.

Belize is divided into six administrative districts.

The National Assembly of Belize is bicameral. The House of Representatives has 32 seats, with 31 members elected by universal suffrage. An external member is appointed as Speaker of the House, who also becomes a member of Parliament by virtue of the position. The Senate has 16 members, all appointed: 6 nominated by the Prime Minister, 3 by the Leader of the Opposition, 1 by the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, 1 by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau, 1 by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Civil Society Steering Committee, and 1 external member appointed as President of the Senate.

Belize has a single-tier municipal government. There are four types of councils: city councils, town councils, village councils, and community councils. The 2 city councils (Belize City and Belmopan) and the 7 town councils serve the urban populations of the six districts. The 181 village councils and 12 community councils serve rural areas. In the Toledo district and parts of southern Belize, a traditional system of alcaldes (mayor-like figures) coexists with the village councils, mainly within Indigenous Maya communities.

National Assembly: five years.

National Assembly: single-member plurality system (first past the post).

Not applicable.

House of Representatives: 31 single-member electoral constituencies.

None.

Belize City Council Act (1999); Belmopan City Council Act (1999); Town Councils Act (2000); Village Councils Act (1999); Inferior Courts Act (Part VIII), 2000–2003.

Mixed-type Electoral Management Body: Elections and Boundaries Department.