Editing Politics of Belize (section)

==Local government==
{{main|Local government in Belize}}

Belize has a system of local government comprising four types of local authorities: [[city council]]s, [[town council]]s, [[Town council|village council]]s and [[community council]]s. The two city councils ([[Belize City]] and [[Belmopan]]) and seven town councils cover the urban population of the country, while village and community councils cover the rural population.<ref name="belgov">{{Cite web |url=http://www.belize.gov.bz/ |title=Government of Belize – Local Government |access-date=14 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208193548/http://www.belize.gov.bz/ |archive-date=8 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

City and town councils consist of a [[mayor]] and a number of councillors (ten in [[Belize City]], six in [[Belmopan]] and the towns). Mayors and councillors are directly elected to three-year terms, using the [[first past the post]] system. The most recent municipal elections were held in March 2006. The mayor (except in Belize City) acts as the chief executive of the city or town, and allocates portfolios to the other councillors.<ref name="belgov"/>

Village councils consist of a [[chairperson]] and six councillors, who are directly elected by registered villagers. Village councils in their current form were established by the Village Councils Act 1999, and the first elections for village councils were held in March and April 2003.

According to the Government of Belize website, "urban authorities are responsible for [[street]] maintenance and lighting, [[Storm drain|drain]]s, [[refuse collection]] and public [[cemeteries]]. They also have discretionary powers over other services including [[infrastructure]], [[parks]] and playgrounds, [[market (place)|market]]s and slaughter-houses, [[public libraries]], public buildings and the amenities of the city or town center." Village and community councils have a more limited range of functions: they "encourage and assist co-operation on economic and social development and general welfare", and can run [[community center]]s.<ref name="belgov"/>

Some rural villages in Belize also have an [[alcalde]]: a local magistrate who has both an administrative and a judicial role. In addition to presiding over local courts, alcaldes are responsible for managing communal land and act as school officers. This form of local governance is practiced mainly in [[Maya peoples|Mayan]] communities in Belize, but any rural community can choose to appoint an alcalde.<ref>[http://www.cflgm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:the-local-government-system-in-belize-contd-&catid=46:country-profile&Itemid=60 The Local Government System in Belize], Caribbean Forum of Local Government Ministers {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725153900/http://www.cflgm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:the-local-government-system-in-belize-contd-&catid=46:country-profile&Itemid=60 |date=25 July 2011 }}</ref>