Belgian Federal Parliament facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Federal Parliament |
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Emblem of the Senate and the Emblem of the Chamber of Representatives
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| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | • Senate • Chamber of Representatives |
| Leadership | |
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President of the Senate
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Vincent Blondel, LE
Since 3 February 2025 |
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President of the Chamber
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Peter De Roover, N-VA
Since 10 July 2024 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | Senate: 60 Chamber of Representatives: 150 |
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Senate political groups
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Government (32)
Opposition (27)
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Chamber political groups
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Government (80)
Opposition (70)
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| Elections | |
| Indirect election | |
| Open list proportional representation within eleven constituencies, with 5% constituency electoral thresholds | |
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Chamber last election
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9 June 2024 |
| Meeting place | |
.jpg) |
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| Palace of the Nation, Brussels | |
| Website | |
| www.fed-parl.be | |
The Federal Parliament (Dutch: Federaal Parlement; French: Parlement fédéral; German: Föderales Parlament) is like the main decision-making body for the country of Belgium. It's made up of two important groups: the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate. Think of it as having two teams working together to make laws. They meet in a special building called the Palace of the Nation in Brussels, which is the capital city of Belgium.
The Chamber of Representatives is the main group that creates new laws. The Senate also helps, but its main job is to connect with the different parts of Belgium, like its communities and regions. The King of Belgium, along with the Chamber of Representatives (and sometimes the Senate), is responsible for making the country's laws.
Contents
The Chamber of Representatives: Making Laws
The Chamber of Representatives, also known as the Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch or Chambre des Représentants in French, holds its meetings in the Palace of the Nation in Brussels. To be a member of the Chamber, a person must be at least 21 years old, be a Belgian citizen, and live in Belgium.
There are 150 members in the Chamber. These members are chosen from 11 different areas, or "electoral districts," across Belgium. These districts are set up based on the languages spoken in different parts of the country. For example, there are 5 districts in the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium, 5 in the Walloon-speaking part, and one special district for Brussels where both languages are spoken. Each district gets a certain number of seats based on how many people live there.
In most districts, a political party needs to get at least 5% of the votes to win any seats. The current members of the Chamber were chosen in the federal elections held in 2024.
The Senate: Connecting Communities
Since 2014, the Senate (Senaat in Dutch, Sénat in French) has 60 members. These members are chosen in two main ways.
First, 50 senators are chosen by the different regional and community parliaments in Belgium. For example, the Flemish Parliament chooses 29 senators, the Parliament of the French Community chooses 10, and so on. This helps make sure that all parts of Belgium have a voice in the Federal Parliament.
The other 10 senators are "co-opted." This means they are chosen by the other 50 senators. The rules for becoming a senator are the same as for the Chamber: you must be at least 21, a Belgian citizen, and live in Belgium.
Before 2014, the Senate had more members and some were directly elected by citizens. But after changes in 2014, the way senators are chosen became more focused on representing the different communities and regions. The current President of the Senate is Vincent Blondel. The Senate also meets in the Palace of the Nation in Brussels.
How Laws Are Made: The Legislative Process
Making laws in Belgium involves both the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate, but their roles are not always equal. Since 1995, the Chamber of Representatives has taken the lead in most law-making, while the Senate often acts more as a review body. There are three main ways laws can be passed:
- One-Chamber Procedure: For some specific topics, only the Chamber of Representatives needs to approve a law. The Senate does not get involved at all. Examples include laws about who can become a Belgian citizen, the country's budget, or rules for the military.
- Optional Two-Chamber Procedure: For most other laws, the Chamber of Representatives makes the first decision. Then, the Senate can look at the proposed law and suggest changes. The Chamber then decides whether to accept these changes or not. So, the Chamber always has the final say. The Senate can also propose a new law, but it still needs the Chamber's approval.
- Mandatory Two-Chamber Procedure: For very important matters, both the Chamber and the Senate must agree on the exact same version of a law. These important topics include changes to the Belgian Constitution, laws that need a special majority of votes, or laws about how the Belgian government is structured. This ensures that major decisions have broad support from both parts of the Parliament.
When Both Chambers Meet: The United Chambers
Sometimes, both the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate come together for a special joint meeting. This combined group is called the United Chambers (Verenigde Kamers in Dutch, Chambres réunies in French). They only meet for a few very specific and important reasons, as outlined in the Belgian Constitution.
One main reason is when a new King or Queen takes their oath to the Constitution. For example, the last time the United Chambers met was on July 21, 2013, when King Philippe took his oath. They also meet to decide who will be the "Regent" if the King is too young to rule or cannot perform his duties.
The Palace of the Nation: Home of the Parliament
The Palace of the Nation (Paleis der Natie in Dutch, Palais de la Nation in French) is the beautiful building where the Federal Parliament meets in Brussels. It was built a long time ago, between 1778 and 1783, with a classic design by a French architect named Gilles-Barnabé Guimard.
Over the years, this building has had many uses. It was a courthouse and even one of the homes for the parliament when Belgium was part of the Netherlands. After Belgium became independent in 1830, it became the permanent home for the Belgian Parliament.
The Palace is located across from Brussels Park. It has been damaged by fire a couple of times in the past, but it was always rebuilt. In the 1930s, a secret underground bunker was even built beneath the park, connected to the Parliament building by tunnels!
See also
In Spanish: Parlamento Federal de Bélgica para niños
- Politics of Belgium
- Court of Audit of Belgium
- List of political parties in Belgium
- Commission communautaire française
- Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie
- List of legislatures by country
