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Belize Law & Government
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Constitution: 21 September 1981
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville
YOUNG (since 17 November 1993)
head of government : Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since
NA July 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen; prime minister appointed by the
governor general
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (8 members; members are appointed for five-year
terms, five on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one after consultation
with the Belize Advisory Council - this council serves as an independent body to advise the governor general with respect to
difficult decisions such as granting pardons, commutations, stays of execution, the removal of justices of appeal who appear to
be incompetent, etc.) and the National Assembly (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held no later than September 1998)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 13, UDP 15, NABR 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister