ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the modern constitutional history of Belize as it reflects a changing relationship with Britain. The political and constitutional concessions were introduced piecemeal, beginning with a return to the elective principle in the constitution of 1936. The 1954 constitution finally authorized what had Increasingly been a reality—the mass participation of Belizeans in their own political affairs. The British sought to keep the elected members a minority in order to retain official control and to keep the franchise narrow to neutralize the more radical political elements. Price's political origins lay among the businessmen and merchants, the Creole middle and upper classes, who dominated politics within the Belize City Council, and the elected members of the Legislative Council after 1936. Until 1936, Belize was governed by the governor-in-council, the council being entirely nominated by the governor, initially with a majority of official over unofficial members.
