Composition of Senate

(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Senate shall consist of thirteen members (in this Constitution referred to as “Senators”) who shall be appointed by the Governor-General in accordance with the provisions of this section. (2) The Senators shall elect a person from outside their membership to be the President of the Senate in accordance with section 66 of this Constitution. (3) The President of the Senate shall not have a casting vote. (4) Of the thirteen Senators, (a) six shall be appointed by the Governor- General acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister; and (b) three shall be appointed by the Governor- General acting in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition; and (c) one shall be appointed by the Governor- General acting in accordance with the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches; and (d) one shall be appointed by the Governor- General acting in accordance with the advice of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau; and 79 (e) one shall be appointed by the Governor- General acting in accordance with the advice of the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; (f) one shall be appointed by the Governor- General, acting in accordance with the advice of non-governmental organisations. (5) Where an Organisation referred to in paragraphs (c) to (f) of subsection (4) of this section fails to advise the Governor-General, within fourteen days of receiving a written invitation from the Governor-General to give written advice to him of its candidate as Senator, as required by that subsection, the Governor-General shall appoint that Senator in accordance with the advice of the Belize Advisory Council. (6) Notwithstanding 64 and 84 of this Constitution, the Senate which was in existence prior to the 15th day of January, 2002, shall stand dissolved from the 15th day of January, 2002. (7) When the Senate first meets after the 15th day of January, 2002, before it proceeds to dispatch any business, it shall elect a person to be President of the Senate, and another Senator who is not a Minister to be Vice President of the S.I. No.1 of 2002 (8) If there is an equality of votes at a meeting to elect a President, the Leader of Government Business in the Senate shall have a second vote. (9) The Governor-General may make rules governing the nomination of candidates as Senators by the organisations specified in paragraphs (c) to (f) of subsection (4) of this