Constitution of Belgium

Patricia Popelier is Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Antwerp.Koen Lemmens is Associate Professor of Human Rights at the Catholic University of Louvain.

• 1. CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES: A HISTORICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL ACCOUNT PART I: THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE CONSTITUTION PART II: NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND A ‘MUZZLED’ KING A. National Sovereignty B. A Parliamentary Monarchy: The King ’ s Powers Limited PART III: THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE UNITARY DECENTRALISED STATE INTO A FEDERAL STATE: SIX IMPORTANT STATE REFORMS A. Before 1970 B. The 1970 Reform: The Foundations of the New State C. The 1980 Reform: The Regions Come Alive D. The 1988 Reform: The Creation of the Brussels-Capital Region E. The 1993 Reform: Federalism at Last F. The 2001 – 2003 Reform: Without Modifying the Constitution G. The 2012 – 2013 Reform: A Long Journey to … Conclusion Further Reading 2. THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE BELGIAN CONSTITUTION PART I: CONSTITUTIONALISM A. The Constitution B. The Rechtsstaat C. The Separation of Powers PART II: THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE A. Constitutional Concepts of Democracy B. Challenges PART III: FEDERALISM AND MULTILEVEL GOVERNANCE Conclusion Further Reading 3. FEDERALISM AND THE MULTILEVEL STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT PART I: FEATURES A. General Features B. Particular Features C. Future Prospects PART II: ALLOCATION OF COMPETENCES A. Residual Powers B. Techniques for the Allocation of Powers C. Processes for Changing the Distribution of Powers PART III: SUBNATIONAL CONSTITUTIONALISM PART IV: BRUSSELS PART V: BELGIUM IN THE EUROPEAN UNION A. Constitutional Hubs for European Integration B. Capturing Tri-Level Dynamics in the Constitutional System Conclusion Further Reading 4. THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH PART I: PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL PARTIES A. The Crucial Role of Political Parties in the Belgian System of Parliamentary Government B. Status and Financing of Political Parties PART II: THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM A. Voting Rights and Quotas B. Principles of the Electoral System PART III: BICAMERALISM PART IV: FUNCTIONS A. The Legislative Function B. The Power of the Purse C. Parliamentary Control D. Foreign Affairs and Military Matters PART V: MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT: LEGAL STATUS PART VI: DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT PART VII: PARLIAMENT AND EUROPEANINTEGRATION Conclusion Further Reading 5. THE EXECUTIVE POWER AND ADMINISTRATION PART I: THE KING AS HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE POWER PART II: GOVERNMENT AS THE HEART OF THE EXECUTIVE A. Council of Ministers (The Federal Cabinet) B. Council of Ministers and State Secretaries C. The Inner Cabinet ( Het Kernkabinet ) D. The Crown Council PART III: COMPETENCES A. Nomination of Ministers, Secretaries of State and Civil Servants B. Execution of Laws C. Foreign Affairs D. Defence PART IV: LEGAL STATUS A. The King B. The Ministers and the Secretaries of State PART V: POLITICAL AND LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY PART VI: ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC SERVICES PART VII: CURRENT AFFAIRS Conclusion Further Reading 6. THE PLURALISTIC JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT PART I: CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES A. Constitutional Principles and the Court System B. Constitutional Principles of Due Process PART II: THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT A. Establishment and Development B. Composition C. The Powers and Procedures of the Court D. The Role of the Constitutional Court PART III: THE COURTS AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Conclusion Further Reading 7. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS PART I: AN OUTDATED CATALOGUE OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS? A. The Emergence of New Rights B. The Internationalisation of Fundamental Rights C. Horizontal Effect of Fundamental Rights PART II: THE BELGIAN FORMAL APPROACH TO FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS A. A Legal Basis for Restrictions Through Acts of Parliament B. No Prior Intervention C. Looking at Fundamental Rights Through the Prism of Equality PART III: THE EUROPEAN CONTRIBUTION TO FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS A. The European Convention on Human Rights B. EU Law PART IV: CONCURRING FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS PART V: THE PROBLEM OF LINGUISTIC RIGHTS: A CASUS BELLI ? PART VI: NEW CHALLENGES TO FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS PROTECTION Conclusion Further Reading CONCLUSION: NO FUTURE FOR BELGIUM OR A BELGIAN BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE? ECONOMIC CONTEXT DEMOGRAPHIC CONTEXT EUROPEAN INTEGRATION A FUTURE FOR BELGIUM?