BELIZE

This page contains the complete text of PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary Chamber or unicameral Parliament

GENERAL INFORMATION

Parliament (generic name):

National Assembly

Translated name:

Structure:

Bicameral

Chamber:

Senate

Translated name:

President:

Andrea Gill ( F)

Secretary General:

Conrad Lewis ( M)

Members (statutory number):

appointed by the Governor-General:
- 6 members appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister
- 3 members appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition
- 1 member appointed on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and the Evangelical Association of Churches
- 1 member appointed on the advice of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau
- 1 member appointed on the advice of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Civil Society Steering Committee

Members (current number):

Women (current number):

4 ( 33.33%)

Term:

5 years

Last renewal dates:

14 March 2008

Address:

The Senate
National Assembly Building
P.O.Box 139
BELMOPAN, Cayo District

Tel.: (501) 822 2141, 2142, 2144
Fax: (501) 822 3889
E-mail: ClerkNA@bna.gov.bz

Web site:

http://www.belize.gov.bz/legislative_senate.html

Affiliation to IPU:

Affiliation date(s):

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Electoral Law:

1 January 1900

Constituencies:

(not applicable)

Voting System:

Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by appointment.

Voter requirements:

(not applicable)

Eligibility:

- age: 18 years
- Belize citizenship
- residence in the country for at least one year immediately prior to nomination
- ineligibility: allegiance to a foreign State

Incompatibilities:

- election-connected offices
- membership of armed or police forces
- government contractors

Candidacy requirements:

(not applicable)

LAST ELECTIONS

Also available: Archive of past election results for this chamber

Dates of election / renewal (from/to):

14 March 2008

Purpose of elections:

(not applicable)

Background and outcome of elections:

(not applicable)

STATISTICS

Comments:

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men:

Women:

Percent of women:

25.00

Distribution of seats according to age:

Distribution of seats according to profession:

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT

APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE

Title:

President of the Senate

Term:

- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Senate, if he becomes a Minister, if he ceases to be a citizen of Belize or is disqualified by virtue of Section 58(1) of the Belize Constitution

Appointment:

- elected by all Senators
- election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Senate
- before Members are sworn in

Eligibility:

- any citizen of Belize who satisfies the qualifications required may be a candidate

Voting system:

- formal vote by simple majority
- one round by voice vote

Procedures / results:

- the Clerk presides over the Senate during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
- the results cannot be challenged

STATUS

Status:

- ranks sixth in the hierarchy of State
- comes after the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the order of precedence
- both Presiding Officers preside together over the joint sitting of both Chambers
- in the absence of the President, the Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions

Board:

Material facilities:

- salary of $ 11,520 p.a Bze dollars
+ special allowance of $ 2,808 p a Bze dollars

FUNCTIONS

Organization of parliamentary business:

- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees
- is entitled to appoint special select committees

Chairing of public sittings:

- can open, adjourn and close sittings by order of the Senate
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Senate
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak (the Member who catches the President's exe would have the floor)
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up (last amendments debated first)
- calls for a vote (collection of voices and by division)
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate

Special powers:

- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Senate

Speaking and voting rights, other functions:

NA (no information received)

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE

Nature of the mandate:

Start of the mandate:

Validation of mandates:

End of the mandate:

Can MPs resign ?

Yes

Can MPs lose their mandate ?

Yes

STATUS OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS

Rank in hierarchy:

Indemnities, facilities and services:

Obligation to declare personal assets:

Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability:

Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability:

EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE

Training:

Participation in the work of the Parliament:

Discipline:

Code (rules) of conduct:

Relations between MPs and pressure group:

Also available: Archive of past election results for this chamber

General Information | Electoral System
Last Elections | Presidency of the Parliament | Parliamentary Mandate
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