Britannica Sources used in this answer

What roles do the House of Representatives and Senate play in Belize's National Assembly?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Belize operates under a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral National Assembly modeled after the British parliamentary system.12

The legislative body consists of two houses:

  • House of Representatives: This chamber is composed of elected members who serve five-year terms. The leader of the majority party in the House is appointed as the prime minister, while the leader of the principal minority party serves as the opposition leader.12
  • Senate: This chamber is composed of appointed members who also serve five-year terms.12

Together, these two houses form the legislative branch of the government, with the governor-general representing the British crown in the constitutional framework.2