Isabella Carter
The Constitution of Belize is the supreme law of the nation. It was signed in September 1981 and came into effect on the same date. The Constitution has been amended eight times since it was enacted on Independence Day 1981. Prior to this, the British Honduras Constitution was passed in 1963, the same year that British Honduras gained full internal self-government. In October 2022, Belize committed to a comprehensive process of constitutional reform with the passage of the People's Constitution Commission Act.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date ratified | 31 December 1963 |
| Date signed | September 1981 |
| Date enacted | 1981 |
| Number of amendments | Eight |
| Last amended | 2012 |
| Latest reform | October 2022 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Constitution of Belize is the supreme law of the nation
The Constitution of Belize was enacted on Independence Day 1981. Prior to this, in 1963, British Honduras gained full internal self-government and a new British Honduras Constitution was passed. This constitution came into effect on 31 December 1963. The Legislative Assembly was renamed the National Assembly and was comprised of two Houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Constitution of Belize has been amended eight times since it was enacted in 1981. The number of amendments reached a record between 2008 and 2012 under the first term of the United Democratic Party of Prime Minister Dean Barrow. In October 2022, Belize committed to a comprehensive process of constitutional reform with the passage of the People's Constitution Commission Act.
The Story of Pennsylvania's Constitution Ratification
You may want to see also
The Constitution came into effect on 31 December 1963
The Constitution of Belize came into effect on 31 December 1963. This was the same year that British Honduras gained full internal self-government, and a new British Honduras Constitution was passed. The Constitution of Belize is the supreme law of the nation of Belize. It was signed in September 1981 with effect from that date and has been amended eight times since.
Abortion Legality: Constitution Ratification and Historical Context
You may want to see also
Belize gained full internal self-government in 1963
The Constitution of Belize was then enacted on Independence Day in 1981 and has been amended eight times since.
The Chaos of a Nation Without a Ratified Constitution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Constitution was signed in September 1981
The Constitution of Belize was signed in September 1981, with effect from that date. It is the supreme law of the nation of Belize and is divided into a preamble, 13 parts and four schedules.
Belize's journey to independence began in 1963, when British Honduras gained full internal self-government. That same year, a new British Honduras Constitution was passed, and the Legislative Assembly was renamed the National Assembly. The National Assembly was inaugurated in Belmopan in October 1970.
Since it was enacted, the Belize Constitution has been amended eight times, with a record number of amendments being made between 2008 and 2012 under the first term of the United Democratic Party of Prime Minister Dean Barrow. In October 2022, Belize committed to a comprehensive process of constitutional reform with the passage of the People's Constitution Commission Act.
The Constitution's Ratification: When Did the Talk Begin?
You may want to see also
The Constitution is divided into a preamble, 13 parts and four schedules
The Constitution of Belize is the supreme law of the nation of Belize. It was signed and came into effect in September 1981. The Constitution of Belize, Chapter 4 of the Laws of Belize, is divided into a preamble, 13 parts and four schedules.
The preamble affirms that the Nation of Belize shall be founded upon principles which acknowledge the supremacy of God, faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms, the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions, the dignity of the human person and the equal and inalienable rights with which all members of the human family are endowed by their Creator.
The 13 parts of the Constitution are as follows:
- Part I: The State and the Constitution
- Part II: Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
- Part III: Citizenship
- Part IV: The Governor-General
- Part V: The Executive
- Part VI: The Legislature
- Part VII: The Judicature
- Part VIII: Finance
- Part IX: The Public Service
- Part X: The Police Force
- Part XI: Miscellaneous
- Part XII: Transitional
- Part XIII: Interpretation and Amendment
The four schedules of the Constitution outline the following:
- Schedule 1: Oaths of Allegiance and Office
- Schedule 2: Provisions Relating to the Governor-General
- Schedule 3: Provisions Relating to the National Assembly
- Schedule 4: Provisions Relating to the Senate
The Constitution of Belize has been amended eight times since it was enacted on Independence Day 1981. The most recent amendment was made in 2012 under the first term of the United Democratic Party of Prime Minister Dean Barrow. In October 2022, Belize committed to a comprehensive process of constitutional reform with the passage of the People’s Constitution Commission Act.
Compromise and the Constitution's Ratification
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of Belize was ratified in September 1981.
The Constitution of Belize was ratified under the name of the Belize 1981 Constitution.
The Constitution of Belize is the supreme law of the nation of Belize.
The country was called British Honduras when the Constitution was ratified in 1981.
The Constitution of Belize is based on the principles of acknowledging the supremacy of God, faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms, the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions, the dignity of the human person, and the equal and inalienable rights with which all members of the human family are endowed by their Creator.
