National Seal |
Interpretation
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| The constitution and laws of Belize
131.- (1) In this constitution, unless the context otherwise requires -
"Belize" means the land and sea areas defined in Schedule 1 to this Constitution;
"Commonwealth citizen" has such meaning as the National Assembly may prescribe;
"Court of Appeal" means the Court of Appeal established by this Constitution;
"Crown" means the Crown in right of Belize;
"financial year" means the twelve months ending on 31st March in any year or on such other date as may form time to time be prescribed by any law enacted by the National Assembly:
"the Gazette" means the Belize Government Gazette and includes any supplement thereto;
"the Government" means the Government of Belize;
"the House" means the House of Representatives or the Senate the context may require;
"the House of Representatives" means the House of Representatives established by this Constitution;
"Independence Day" means 21st September, 1981;
"law" means any law in force in Belize or any part thereof, including any instrument having the force of law and any unwritten rule of law, and "lawful" and "lawfully" shall be construed accordingly;
"Minister" means a Minister of the government;
"the National Assembly" means the National established by this Constitution;
"oath" of allegiance and office" means the oath prescribed in Schedule 3 to this Constitution;
"Police Force" means the Belize Police Force;
"President" and "Vice-President" mean the respective person holding office as President and Vice-President of the Senate;
"public office" means any office of emolument in the public service;
"public officer" means a person holding or acting in nay public office;
"the public service" means, subject to the provisions of this section, the service of the Crown in a civil capacity in respect of the Government;
"Senate" means the Senate Established by this Constitution;
"session" means, in relation to a House of the National Assembly, the sittings of that House commencing when it first meets after the prorogation or dissolution of the National Assembly at any time and terminating when the National Assembly is prorogued or is dissolved without having been prorogued;
"sitting" means, in relation to a House of the National Assembly, a period during which that House is sitting continuously without adjournment and includes any period during which the House is in committee;
"Speaker" and "Deputy Speaker" mean the respective persons holding office as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives;
"Supreme Court" means the Supreme Court of Judicature established by this Constitution.
(2) Except in section 63(1) and 71 of this Constitution, references in this Constitution to a members of the House of Representatives or to a Senator or Senators do not include references to a person who, under section 56(2), is a member of the House by virtue of holding the office of Speaker, or who, under section 61(1), is a Senator by virtue of holding the office of President.
(3) In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise requires, references to an office in the public service shall be construed as including references to the offices of justice of the Supreme Court and Justice of Appeal, offices of members of the Police Force, and offices on the Governor General's personal staff.
(4) In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise requires, references to an office in the public service shall not be construed as including references to the offices of Prime Minister or other Minister, Deputy Minister, Speaker or Deputy Speaker or member of the House of Representatives, President or Vice-President or Senator member of the Belize Advisory Council, or member's of any Commission established by this Constitution.
(5) For the purposes of this Constitution, a person shall not be regarded as holding a public office by reason only of the fact that he is in receipt of a pension or other like allowance in respect of service under the Crown.
(6) Save as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the Interpretation Ordinance 1980 as in force immediately before Independence Day shall apply, with the necessary adaptations, for the purpose of interpreting this Constitution.
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Constitution of Belize
Chapter I - The State And The Constitution1. The State 2. Constitution Is Supreme Law
Chapter II - Protection Of Fundamental Rights And Freedoms3. Fundamental Rights And Freedoms 4. Protection Of Right To Life 5. Protection Of Right To Personal Liberty 7. Protection From Inhuman Treatment 8. Protection From Slavery And Forced Labor 9. Protection From Arbitrary Search Or Entry 10. Protection Of Freedom Of Movement 11. Protection Of Freedom Of Conscience 12. Protection Of Freedom Of Expression 13. Protection Of Freedom Of Assembly And Association 14. Protection Of Right Of Privacy 15. Protection Of Right To Work 16. Protection From Discrimination On The Grounds Or Race, Etc 17. Protection From Deprivation Of Property 18. Provisions For Periods Of Public Emergency 19. Protection Of Persons Detained Under Emergency Laws 20. Enforcement Of Protective Provisions 21. Protection Of Existing Laws 22. Interpretation And Savings
Chapter III - Citizenship23. Person Who Become Citizens On Independence Day 24. Person Born In Belize On Or After Independence Day 25. Person Born Outside Belize On Or After Independence Day 26. Registration 27. Avoidance Of Dual Nationality 29. Interpretation
Chapter IV - The Governor-general32. Oath To Be Taken By Governor-general 33. Deputy To Governor-general 34. Exercise Of Governor-general's Functions 35. Governor-general To Be Informed Concerning Matters Of Government
Chapter V - The Executive37. Prime Minister 39. Performance Of Functions Of Prime Minister During Absence Or Illness 41. Allocation Of Portfolios To Ministers 42. Attorney General 43. Performance Of Functions Of Minister During Absence Or Illness 44. Cabinet 45. Deputy Minister 46. Oath To Be Taken By Ministers Etc. 50. Control Of Public Prosecutions 51. Constitution Of Offices Etc 53. Procedure In Capital Cases Chapter VI - The Legislature55. Establishment Of Legislature
The House Of Representatives56. Composition Of House Of Representatives 57. Qualifications For Election As Member 58. Disqualifications For Election As Member 59. Tenure Of Office Of Members 60. Speaker And Deputy Speaker
The Senate62. Qualifications For Appointment As Senator 63. Disqualifications For Appointment As Senator 64. Tenure Of Office Of Senator 65. Appointment Of Temporary Senators 66. President And Vice-president 67. Clerks To Houses Of National Assembly
Powers And Procedure69. Alteration Of Constitution 70. Regulation Of Procedure In National Assembly, Etc 71. Oath To Be Taken By Members Of National Assembly 72. Presiding In House Of Representatives And Senate 73. Voting 76. Quorum 77. Introduction Of Bills, Etc 78. Restriction On Powers Of Senate As To Money Bills 79. Restriction On Powers Of Senate As To Bill Other Than Money Bills 80. Provisions Relating To Sections 77, 78 And 79 81. Mode Of Exercise Of Legislative Power 83. Sessions Of Legislature, Etc 84. Prorogation And Dissolution Of Legislature 85. General Elections And Appointment Of Senators 86. Determination Of Questions As To Membership Of National Assembly 87. Unqualified Persons Sitting Or Voting 88. Election And Boundaries Commission 90. Increase Of Electoral Divisions 91. Redivision Of Electoral Divisions Chapter VII - The Judiciary94. Establishment Of Supreme Court And Court Of Appeal 96. Reference Of Constitutional Questions To Supreme Court 97. Appointment Of Justices Of Supreme Court 98. Tenure of office of justices of Supreme Court 99. Oath To Be Taken By Justices Of Supreme Court 100. Appeals To The Court Of Appeal 101. Appointment of justices of appeal 102. Tenure of office of justices of appeal 103. Oath to be taken by justice of appeal 104. Appeals to her majesty in council
Chapter VIII - The Public Service105. Public Services Commission 106. Appointment, Etc. Of Public Officers 107. Appointment, etc. of permanent secretaries and certain other officers 108. Director of public prosecutions 109. Auditor General 110. Appointment, etc, of junior police officers 111. Appeals in discipline cases 112. Pension laws and protection of pension rights 113. Grant and withholding of pensions, etc
Chapter IX - Finance114. Establishment of consolidated revenue fund 115. Authorization of expenditure from consolidated revenue fund 116. Authorization of expenditure in advance of appropriation 117. Contingencies Fund 118. Remuneration of certain officers 119. Public Debt 120. Audit of public accounts, etc
Chapter X - Miscellaneous121. Code of conduct 122. National Symbols 123. Powers of appointment and acting appointments 124. Reappointments and concurrent appointments 125. Removal from office 126. Resignations 127. Saving for jurisdiction of courts 128. Power to amend and revoke instruments, etc 129. Consultation 130. National Seal 131. Interpretation |