The House of Representatives of Belize is the lower house of the bicameral legislature of Belize, a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It was created under the 1981 constitution and is seated at Belmopan, the capital. The country has a two-party system dominated by the People's United Party and the United Democratic Party. The government has been formed by one of these parties after every election since independence.

Belize, then known as British Honduras, had a short lived Legislative Assembly from 1854 to 1871. This was reinstated in 1935 but was made up of only nominated members. Later, in 1954, the colony held its first general election for the assembly. British Honduras gained full self-government and a new constitution was passed in 1963. The Legislative Assembly was renamed to the National Assembly, which comprised two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. In 1981, Belize gained independence from the United Kingdom under a new constitution. The number of elected members of the House of Representatives increased from 18 to 28.

The constituencies of the House of Representatives are redistricted "from time to time" to ensure that their voting populations are as equal as possible, as required by the constitution. Since 2008, the country is divided into 31 single-member constituencies, each of which elects their representative for a five-year term under the first-past-the-post system. The minimum age for voting in Belize is 18, but voting is not compulsory. The next redistricting has been mandated by the Cabinet of Belize to take place by April 2026.

History +Changes in the constituencies of the House of Representatives over time YearEvent Constituencies Election(s) 1981 Belize gained its independence from the United Kingdom under a new constitution. 28 1984 and 1989 1993 Boundary redistricting. One constituency (Belize Rural Central) was added. 29 1993, 1998 and 2003 2004 Boundary redistricting. Two constituencies (Belmopan and Cayo North East) were added. 31 2008, 2012, 2015, 2020 and 2025

Constituencies

+ Constituencies of the House of Representatives of Belize Constituency District Electorate(2025) Firstelection 1 Albert Belize 1961 2 Belize Rural Central 1993 3 Belize Rural North 1961 4 Belize Rural South 1961 5 Caribbean Shores 1984 6 Collet 1961 7 Fort George 1961 8 Freetown 1961 9 Lake Independence 1984 10 Mesopotamia 1961 11 Pickstock 1961 12 Port Loyola 1984 13 Queen's Square 1984 14 Belmopan Cayo 2008 15 Cayo Central 1984 16 Cayo North 1961 17 Cayo North East 2008 18 Cayo South 1961 19 Cayo West 1984 20 Corozal Bay Corozal 1984 21 Corozal North 1961 22 Corozal South East 1984 23 Corozal South West 1984 24 Orange Walk Central Orange Walk 1984 25 Orange Walk East 1984 26 Orange Walk North 1961 27 Orange Walk South 1961 28 Dangriga Stann Creek 1961 29 Stann Creek West 1961 30 Toledo East Toledo 1984 31 Toledo West 1984 Overall 1984

Notes

References

External links Belize Elections & Boundaries Department's Map of Belize's Constituencies