Senate of Belize - Establishment and Appointment

Establishment and Appointment

Senators are appointed by the Governor General in the following manner:

• 6 with the advice of the Prime Minister
• 3 with the advice of Leader of the Opposition
• 1 each with the advice of the following organizations jointly:
  • Belize Council of Churches/Evangelical Association of Churches
  • Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry/Belize Business Bureau
  • National Trade Union Congress of Belize and Civil Society Steering Committee.

In practice, the party that wins the general election (by capturing the most seats in the lower house of representatives) also controls the Senate. In previous incarnations, eight senators were appointed, five by the Prime Minister, two by the Leader of the Opposition and one by the Governor General and the Belize Advisory Council. One more senator was given to the opposition beginning in the 1990s.