House of Representatives
The National Assembly, which is the Legislature of Belize, consists of three bodies: the Governor-General, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of the House of Representatives are elected in a general election under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act while the Members of the Senate are appointed by the Governor-General.
Presently, there are thirty-one elected Members of the House of Representatives. The party with the majority of seats in the House of Representatives forms the Government, the Executive branch which has direct control of the civil and military apparatus of state and makes day-to-day decisions on the management of those resources. The Executive is headed by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.
One of the major parliamentary functions is making new laws or amending old laws for peace, order and good governance of Belize. The House of Representatives plays a part – obviously the largest and most important part – in the making of laws by the National Assembly. Once a Bill has been passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate it is sent to the Governor-General’s Office for his Assent. The Bill which the Governor-General assents then becomes an Act, forming part of the Laws of Belize.
Members of the House of Representatives represent the voters of Belize. Each year the House approves a budget outlining Government’s policies. When debating the budget, each elected Member speaks to the budget in terms of its impact on their respective constituencies. They also represent the actions of the House and the Government to the people.
Apart from those mentioned above, the House has several ways of holding the Government to account. During a Sitting of the House, there is a question time for Backbenchers and Opposition Members to ask questions to Ministers. There is a provision for general and urgent debates, a Select Committee of Members to investigate matters of Government. Also, upon the motion “That this House do now adjourn” any Member, customarily the Opposition, may raise any matter of public concern and a Minister may reply.
Speaker of the House

Madam Speaker Valerie Woods
Present Members of the House of Representatives

Orange Walk Central
(Prime Minister, Finance, Investment and Economic Transformation, Civil Aviation & E-Governance)
People's United Party

Lake Independence
(Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum & Mining)
People's United Party

Orange Walk South
(Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, & Enterprise)
People's United Party

Stann Creek West
(Minister of State: Office of the Prime Minister)
People's United Party

Cayo South
(Minister of Infrastructure Development & Housing)
People's United Party

Freetown
(Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Culture & Immigration )
People's United Party

Corozal South East
(Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour & Local
Government)
People's United Party

Toledo West
(Minister of Education, Science & Technology)
People's United Party

Belize Rural Central
(Sr. Minister of State: Office of the Prime Minister)
People's United Party

Caribbean Shores
(Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries)
People's United Party

Cayo North East
(Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Solid Waste Management)
People's United Party

Orange Walk East
(Minister of Health and Wellness)
People's United Party

Cayo North
(Minister of Public Utilities, Energy & Logistics)
People's United Party

Pickstock
(Tourism, Youth, Sports & Diaspora Relations)
People's United Party

Belize Rural South
(Minister of Blue Economy & Marine Conservation)
People's United Party

Fort George
(Minister of Public Service, Governance, and Disaster Risk Management)
People's United Party

Port Loyola
(Minister of State: Public Utilities, Energy & Logistics)
People's United Party

Orange Walk North
(Minister of State: Education, Science & Technology)
People's United Party

Dangriga
(Minister of Indigenous Constitution & Religious Affairs & Transport)
People's United Party

Corozal South West
(Minister of State: Sustainable Development Solid Waste Management)
People's United Party

Toledo East
(Minister of State: Economic Development)
People's United Party

Belmopan
(Minister of National Defence & Border Security)
People's United Party

Collet
(Minister of State: Youth & Sports)
People's United Party

Cayo Central
(Minister of State: Agriculture)
People's United Party

Belize Rural North
(Minister of State: Foreign Trade)
People's United Party

Corozal Bay
(Minister Human Development, Family Support & Gender Affairs)
People's United Party

Albert
(Leader of the Opposition)
United Democratic Party

Corozal North
United Democratic Party

Mesopotamia
United Democratic Party

Cayo West
United Democratic Party

Queen Square
United Democratic Party
Past Speakers
Mrs. Valerie Woods – December 11, 2020 – present.
Mrs. Laura Tucker-Longsworth – January 13, 2017 to October 6, 2020
Mr. Michael Peyrefitte – March 21, 2012 up to January 1, 2017
Mr. Emil Arguelles – March 14, 2008 – February 3, 2012
Mrs. Elizabeth Zabaneh – April 4, 2003 – January 7, 2008
Mrs. Elizabeth Zabaneh – August 3, 2001 – February 4, 2003
Ms. Sylvia Flores – September 12, 1998 – July 1, 2001
Mr. Bernard Q. Pitts – July 16, 1993 – July 13, 1998
Mr. Robert C. Swift – September 15, 1989 – June 1, 1993
Mr. Carlos Castillo – December 21, 1984 – July 31, 1989
Mr. Charles Hyde, M.B.E. – November 30, 1979 – November 9, 1984
Mr. Alexander Hunter K.B.E. – November 8, 1974 – July 27, 1979
Mr. Woldrich Harrison Courtenay O.B.E. – March 12, 1965 – October 3, 1974