Short facts about the government of Belize
| Country
name: |
conventional long
form: none
conventional short form:
Belize
former: British
Honduras |
| Government
type: |
parliamentary
democracy |
| Administrative divisions: |
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal,
Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo |
| Independence: |
21 September 1981 (from
UK) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day, 21 September
(1981) |
| Constitution: |
21 September
1981 |
| Legal
system: |
English
law |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993)
head of
government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 27 August 1998); Deputy Prime
Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet
appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor
general appointed by the monarch; governor general appoints the member of the
House of Representatives who is leader of the majority party to be prime
minister |
| Legislative
branch: |
bicameral National Assembly consists of
the Senate (eight members, five appointed on the advice of the prime minister,
two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one by the governor
general; members are appointed for five-year terms); and the House of
Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held
27 August 1998 (next to be held by NA August 2003)
election
results: percent of vote by party - PUP 59.2%, UDP 40.8%; seats by party -
PUP 26, UDP 3 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court (the chief justice is
appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
People's United Party or PUP [Said
MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean BARROW, Doug
SINGH] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
Society for the Promotion of Education
and Research or SPEAR [Diane HAYLOCK]; United Worker's
Front |
| International organization participation: |
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN
chancery: 2535
Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1]
(202) 332-9636
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
consulate(s)
general: Los Angeles |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL
embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane
and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286,
Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
telephone: [501] (2)
77161
FAX: [501] (2)
30802 |
| Flag
description: |
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 | Source: World Factbook |
