Belize - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Belize, it was may be named for the Belize River, whose name possibly derives from the Maya word "belix," meaning "muddy-watered". The Government system in this country is the parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
National symbols
Baird's tapir (a large, browsing, forest-dwelling mammal), keel-billed toucan, Black Orchid; national colors: red, blue.
The flag
The National flag of Belize has royal blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland of 50 mahogany leaves; the colors are those of the two main political parties: blue for the PUP and red for the UDP; various elements of the coat of arms - the figures, the tools, the mahogany tree, and the garland of leaves - recall the logging industry that led to British settlement of Belize.
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note: Belize's flag is the only national flag that depicts human beings; two British overseas territories, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands, also depict humans
The National Anthem
| Title | Land of the Free |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Samuel Alfred HAYNES/Selwyn Walford YOUNG |
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note: adopted 1981; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the King" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)
More about the government of Belize
| Date of Independence | 21 September 1981 (from the UK) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Battle of St. George's Caye Day (National Day), 10 September (1798); Independence Day, 21 September (1981) |
| Legal system | English common law |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Previous 1954, 1963 (preindependence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981; note - in July 2022, the government introduced a bill to establish the People's Constitutional Commission to review the constitution and to provide recommendations to the National Assembly |
| Amendments | Proposed and adopted by two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly House of Representatives except for amendments relating to rights and freedoms, changes to the Assembly, and to elections and judiciary matters, which require at least three-quarters majority vote of the House; both types of amendments require assent of the governor general; amended several times, last in 2017 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | yes |
| Citizenship by descent only | yes |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Froyla TZALAM (since 27 May 2021) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 12 November 2020) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among members of the National Assembly |
| Elections/appointments | the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor-general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Bicameral National Assembly consists of: Senate (14 seats, including the president); members appointed by the governor-general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, non-governmental organizations in good standing, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; 1 seat is held by the Senate president elected from among the Senate members or from outside the Senate; members serve 5-year terms House of Representatives (32 seats; 31 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and the speaker, who may be designated from outside the government; members serve 5-year terms and the speaker serves at the pleasure of the government up to the full 5-year term) |
| Elections | Senate - last appointed 11 November 2020 (next appointments in November 2025) House of Representatives - last held on 11 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2025) |
| Election results | Senate - all members appointed; composition - men 8, women 6, percentage women 42.9% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PUP 59.6%, UDP 38.8%, other 1.6%; seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 5; composition - men 27, women 5, percentage women 15.6%; total percentage women in the National Assembly 23.9% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with the court president and 3 justices, and the Supreme Court with the chief justice and 10 justices); note - in 2010, Belize acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London |
| Judge selection and term of office | Court of Appeal president and justices appointed by the governor-general upon advice of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; justices' tenures vary by terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the prime minister and the National Assembly opposition leader; other judges appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Section of the Public Services Commission and with the concurrence of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; judges can be appointed beyond age 65 but must retire by age 75; in 2013, the Supreme Court chief justice overturned a constitutional amendment that had restricted Court of Appeal judge appointments to as short as 1 year |
| Subordinate courts | Magistrates' Courts; Family Court |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Lynn Raymond YOUNG (since 7 July 2021) |
| Chancery | 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008-2826 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 332-9636 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 332-6888 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://www.belizeembassyusa.mfa.gov.bz/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Michelle KWAN (since 5 December 2022) |
| Embassy | Floral Park Road, Belmopan, Cayo |
| Mailing address | 3050 Belmopan Place, Washington DC 20521-3050 |
| Telephone | (501) 822-4011 |
| FAX | (501) 822-4012 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://bz.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 1 (natural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Belize
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Belize
Want to know more about Belize? Check all different factbooks for Belize below.
