Also known as the Lower House; it is comprised of 31 Members who are duly elected by the people of Belize every 5 years.

Committees are smaller groups of Members tasked with reviewing legislation, conducting inquiries, and overseeing specific areas such as finance, education, health, or national security.

Also known as the Upper House; comprised of 13 Senators who are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the organizations specified in section 61(4) of the Belize Constitution.

Committee meeting frequency varies depending on their mandate and urgency of issues; notices of upcoming meetings are posted publicly on the website and social media pages.

A no-confidence motion is a formal vote that tests whether the government maintains the support of the House of Representatives; if a government loses a no-confidence vote, it may lead to the resignation of the Prime Minister or the dissolution of Parliament.

The public may submit feedback or recommendations via E-mail to ClerkNA@bna.gov.bz or in person before the Committee dealing with the Bill, when calls for public input are open; instructions are provided in the relevant notices.

Yes; educational institutions can request guided tours by contacting the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly and schools getting their approval by the Ministry of Education; advance booking is always required.

Yes, sittings of the House of Representatives and the Senate are generally open to the public. Visitors can observe proceedings from the public gallery on a first-come, first-served basis, although it is preferred to send a request via email to ClerkNA@bna.gov.bz. Specific guidelines and entry procedures are available on our website.

Parliamentary records, including Hansard transcripts, Bills, Acts, and orders of business, are available on our website; if you are unable to find the information, you can contact the Office of the Clerk for assistance.

The National Assembly is the legislative branch of Government; it is comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate; it is responsible for passing and amending laws, representing citizens, and overseeing the work of the government.

The Hansard is the official, verbatim record of debates and proceedings in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

A parliamentary term lasts five years; general elections are held every five years, unless parliament is dissolved earlier; the Senate term aligns with the elected term of the House of Representatives.

The National Assembly holds sittings throughout the year; though there is no parliamentary calendar, we publish Public Notices on our website and Social Media platforms.

The Speaker presides over the House of Representatives, while the President of the Senate oversees Senate proceedings; both are responsible for maintaining order and ensuring procedures are followed.

In both the House of Representatives and the Senate, Bills typically go through three readings; the First Reading introduces the Bill, the Second Reading involves the debate on the Bill’s general principles, and the Third Reading allows for final amendments and approval of the Bill before it being sent to the Governor General for assent/signature.

A Bill is a proposal for a new law or an amendment to an existing law; once it has been passed by the National Assembly and signed by the Governor General, it becomes an Act of Parliament (a law).

The Governor General gives Royal Assent to Bills passed by the National Assembly, which is necessary for them to become law; the Governor General also opens Parliament, delivers the Throne Speech, and performs other constitutional duties.

You can stay updated by following our social media pages, visiting our website regularly, or contacting our Communications office; the Order of Business for upcoming sittings is also published in advance.

All official inquiries should be directed to the Clerk of the National Assembly or the Communications, Education and Outreach Officer; contact details are available on our "Contact Us" page.

If you encounter technical problems accessing information on our website, please contact our IT Support team or the Clerk's office with details of the issue. Contact information is available on the "Contact Us" page, and we will respond as promptly as possible.