Source: https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Belgium
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 21:39:01+00:00

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related portals: Belgium, Constitutional documents.
This is the translation in English of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Belgium as provided by the Parliament.
The "King" ought to be understood as referring to the federal government, in most cases.
Each «commune» (county borough) of the Kingdom is part of one of these linguistic regions.
The limits of the four linguistic regions can only be changed or modified by a law adopted by majority vote in each linguistic group in each Chamber, on the condition that the majority of the members of each group are gathered together and from the moment that the total of affirmative votes given by the two linguistic groups is equal to at least two-thirds of the votes expressed.
It lies with the law to divide the territory into a greater number of provinces, if need be.
A law can shield certain territories whose limits it fixes, from division into provinces, make them depend directly on the federal executive power, and make them subject to a statute of their own. This law must be adopted by majority vote as provided for in Article 4, last paragraph.
The limits of the State, the provinces and the «communes» can only be changed or modified by law.
The title of Belgian is acquired, preserved and lost according to rules determined by civil law.
The Constitution and the other laws relative to political rights, determine which are, apart from this title, the necessary conditions for the exercise of these rights.
Naturalization is accorded by the federal legislative power.
There are no class distinctions in the State.
Belgians are equal before the law; they are the only ones eligible for civil and military service, but for the exceptions that could be made by law for special cases.
Enjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognized for Belgians should be ensured without discrimination. To this end, laws and decrees guarantee notably the rights and freedoms of ideological and philosophical minorities.
Except in the case of flagrante delicto, no one can be arrested except by a justifiable judge’s order, that must be served at the moment of arrest, or at the latest within twenty-four hours.
Punishment by confiscation of assets cannot be made.
Civil death is abolished; it cannot be brought back into force.
Freedom of worship, public practice of the latter, as well as freedom to demonstrate one’s opinions on all matters, are guaranteed, except for the repression of offences committed when using this freedom.
The State does not have the right to intervene either in the nomination or in the installation of ministers of any religion whatsoever, nor to forbid these ministers from corresponding with their superiors, from publishing their acts, except, in the latter case, taking into consideration normal responsibilities in matters of press and publication.
A civil wedding should always precede nuptial benediction except in cases established by law, should this be necessary.
The laws, decrees and rulings alluded to in Article 134 guarantee the protection of this right.
Everyone has the right to lead a life in conformity with human dignity. To this end, the laws, decrees and rulings alluded to in Article 134 guarantee, taking into account corresponding obligations, economic, social and cultural rights, and determine the conditions for exercising them.
5° the right to enjoy cultural and social fulfilment.
§ 1. Education is free; any preventative measure is forbidden; the repression of offences is only governed by law or decree.
The community organizes neutral education. Neutrality implies notably the respect of the philosophical, ideological or religious conceptions of parents and pupils.
The schools organized by the public authorities offer, until the end of obligatory scholarity, the choice between the teaching of one of the recognized religions and non-denominational moral teaching.
§ 2. If a community, in its capacity as an organizing authority, wishes to delegate competency to one or several autonomous bodies, it can only do so by decree adopted by a two-third majority vote.
§ 3. Everyone has the right to education with the respect of fundamental rights and freedoms. Access to education is free until the end of obligatory scholarity.
§ 4. All pupils or students, parents, teaching staff or institutions are equal before the law or decree. The law and decree take into account objective differences, notably the characteristics of each organizing authority, that justify appropriate treatment.
§ 5. The organization, the recognition and the subsidizing of education by the community are regulated by law or decree.
The press is free; censorship can never be established; security from authors, publishers or printers cannot be demanded.
Belgians have the right to gather peaceably and without arms, in conformity with the laws that regulate the exercise of this right, without submitting it to prior authorization.
Belgians have the right to enter into association or partnership; this right cannot be liable to any preventative measures.
Everyone has the right to address petitions signed by one or more persons to the public authorities. Constituted bodies are alone able to address petitions in a collective name.
The law determines which nominated representatives can violate the confidentiality of letters entrusted to the postal service.
The use of languages current in Belgium is optional; only the law can rule on this matter, and only for acts of the public authorities and for legal matters.
No prior authorization is necessary to take legal action against civil servants because of their public office, except with regard to what has been ruled on concerning ministers and members of the community and regional governments.
Everyone has the right to consult any administrative document and to have a copy made, except in the cases and conditions stipulated by the laws, decrees or rulings referred to in Article 134.
The communities and the regions, each in its own field of concern, have power for the other matters, under the conditions and in the terms stipulated by law. This law must be adopted by majority vote as provided for in Article 4, last paragraph.
The law referred to in paragraph 2 determines the date on which the present article comes into force. This date cannot precede the date of the implementation of the new article to be inserted in Title III of the Constitution, which determines the exclusive powers of the federal authority.
Each community has assignments which are recognized by the Constitution or by the laws carried in pursuance of it.
The Law attributes to the regional bodies that it creates and that are made up of elected representatives, the power to manage the matters that it determines, with the exception of those referred to in Articles 30 and 127 to 129, within the jurisdiction and according to the manner established by the law. The latter must be adopted by majority vote as provided for in Article 4, last paragraph.
The law defines the competencies, rules of functioning and mode of election of intra-municipal territorial organs that are authorised to regulate matters of municipal interest.
These intra-municipal territorial organs are created in municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants at the initiative of the local council. Their members are elected directly. In execution of an act adopted by majority vote defined by Article 4, last paragraph, the decree or regulation envisaged in article 134 regulates the other conditions and modes according to which such intra-municipal territorial organs may be established.
This decree and the regulation envisaged by Article 134 can only be adopted after a majority vote of two-thirds of the expressed votes, under the condition that the majority of the members of the council in question are in agreement.
§ 1. For cases determined by the Constitution, the elected members of each Chamber are divided into a French linguistic group and a Dutch linguistic group, in the manner determined by law.
§ 2. The senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 2°, 4° and 7°, make up the French linguistic group of the Senate. The Senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 1°, 3° and 6°, make up the Dutch linguistic group of the Senate.
accepts the appointment, immediately ceases to sit in the Chamber and only takes his functions up again by virtue of a new election.
Votes are given by rising or remaining seated or by call-over; most of the laws are voted by call-over.
The election and presentation of candidates are carried out by secret ballot.
Except in the case of a flagrant offence, no member of any Chamber may, during a session, be directly remanded or summoned before a court or tribunal regarding repressive matters nor be arrested except with the authorisation of the Chamber of which he is a member.
Except in the case of a flagrant offence, restraining measures requiring the intervention of a judge cannot be instituted against a member of any Chamber for the duration of a session, regarding repressive matters, except by the first President of the Court of Appeal at the demand of the competent judge. This decision is communicated to the President of the concerned Chamber.
All searches or seizures executed by virtue of the paragraph above can be performed only in the presence of the President of the Chamber concerned or a member appointed by him.
During the session, only the officers of the public prosecutor's department and competent officers may institute repressive proceedings against a member of any Chamber.
§ 1. The Chamber of Representatives is made up of one hundred and fifty members.
§ 2. Each electoral circumscription has as many seats as the number of the members of its population contains a multiple of the federal divisor, obtained by dividing the number of the population of the Kingdom by one hundred and fifty.
§ 3. The sharing of the members of the Chamber of Representatives among the electoral circumscriptions is allocated to the population by the King.
During the three months of this publication, the King determines the number of seats attributed to each electoral circumscription. The new distribution is applied as of the following general election.
§ 4. The law determines the electoral circumscriptions; it also determines the conditions required to be an elector as well as those for the carrying out of electoral operations.
4° be legally resident in Belgium.
An annual indemnity to be deducted from the allocation destined to cover the expenditure of the Chamber of Representatives can be attributed to the President of this assembly.
3° ten senators appointed by and within the Parliament of the Flemish Community, named the Flemish Parliament.
4° ten senators appointed by and within the Parliament of the French Community.
5° one senator appointed by and within the Parliament of the German-speaking Community.
7° four senators appointed by the senators referred to in 2° and 4°.
§ 2. At least one of the senators referred to in §1, 1°, 3° and 6° is to be legally resident, on the day of his election, in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital.
At least six of the senators referred to in §1, 2°, 4° and 7° are to be legally resident, on the day of their election, in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital. If four or fewer of the senators referred to in §1, 2° are not legally resident, on the day of their election, in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital, at least two of the senators referred to in §1, 4° must be legally resident, on the day of their election, in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital.
§1. The total number of senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 1°, 2°, 4°, 6° and 7°, is shared within each linguistic group on the basis of the electoral figure of the lists obtained at the moment of the election of the senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 1° and 2°, according to the system of proportional representation that is determined by law.
For the designation of the senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 3° and 4°, only the lists can be taken into consideration on which at least one senator referred to in Article 67, §1, 1° and 2°, is elected and from the moment that a sufficient number of members elected on this list sit, according to the case, on the Parliament of the Flemish Community or the Parliament of the French Community. For the designation of the senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 6° and 7° only the lists can be taken into consideration on which at least one senator referred to in Article 67, §1, 1° and 2°, is elected.
§ 2. For the election of the senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 1° and 2°, the ballot is obligatory and secret.
Voting takes place at the «commune», except for cases determined by law.
§ 3. For the election of senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 1° and 2°, the law determines the electoral circumscriptions and the composition of the electoral colleges; it also determines the conditions which must be met in order to be an elector, as well as those for the carrying out of electoral operations. The law determines the designation of the senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 3° and 5°, with the exception of the terms stipulated by a law adopted by the majority provided for in Article 4, last paragraph, which are determined by decree by the Community Parliaments, each one for matters of its concern. This decree must be adopted by a two-third majority of the votes expressed, on condition that the majority of the members of the Parliament concerned are present.
The senator referred to in Article 67, §1, 5°, is appointed by the Parliament of the German-speaking Community with absolute majority of the votes expressed.
The law determines the appointment of the senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 6° and 7°.
The senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 1° and 2° are elected for four years. The senators referred to in Article 67, §1, 6° and 7° are appointed for four years. The senate is entirely renewed every four years.
coincides with the election for the Chamber of Representatives.
Senators do not receive a salary. They do, however, have the right to be compensated for any disbursement; this compensation is fixed at four thousand francs per year.
The King’s children or, in the absence of children, the Belgian descendants of the branch of the royal family called on to reign, are senators by right at the age of eighteen.
They are only entitled to a seat and vote at the age of twenty-one.
They are not taken into account for the determination of the quorum of attendance.
4° the establishment of the army quotas.
10° laws approving co-operation agreements between State, communities, and regions.
A law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, may designate other laws for which the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate are competent on an equal basis.
- adopt the bill following amendment.
- adopt the draft bill following further amendment.
committee described in Article 82 must determine the time frame within which the Senate must make its decision.
Should the commission fail to reach agreement, the time frame granted to the Senate becomes seven days, while the examination period described in Article 78, paragraph 3, becomes thirty days.
In the event of application of Article 79, paragraph 3, the Chamber statutes in a final manner within fifteen days.
Should the Chamber fail to reach agreement within the time frames established in paragraphs 2 and 4, the parliamentary consultation commission described in Article 82 must meet within fifteen days and establish a time limit within which the Chamber must make a decision.
A parliamentary consultation commission composed on an equal basis of members of the Chamber of Representatives and of the Senate settles competency conflicts which may arise between the two chambers and may, with mutual agreement, extend the study periods described in Articles 78 to 81 at all times.
Shall be deprived of his rights to the crown, that descendant described in paragraph 1, who marries without the King’s consent or, in the absence thereof, without the consent of those exercising the King’s powers in cases provided for by the Constitution.
The King may accede to the throne only after having taken the following oath before the united Chambers: "I swear to observe the Constitution and the laws of the Belgian people, to preserve our national independence and our territorial integrity".
The Chamber of Representatives has the right to accuse ministers and to confront them before the Supreme Court of Appeal, the latter alone having authority to judge them, Chambers assembled, except for that which is statuted by law, regarding the exercising of a civil suit by a victimized party and regarding crimes and misdeeds which ministers may have committed outside their line of duty.
Cases of responsibility are determined by law, as are the sentences and the manner of proceeding against them, either on the basis of the accusations introduced in the Chamber of Representatives or on the basis of a civil suit emanating from a victimized party.
Until being covered by the law described in paragraph 2, the Chamber of Representatives holds discretionary powers to accuse a minister, and the Supreme Court of Appeal to judge him, in those cases established by penal laws and by the application of those sentences foreseen.
The King appoints and dismisses the Federal Secretaries of State. The latter are members of the Federal Government. They are not part of the Council of Ministers. They are deputies to a minister.
Constitutional provisions which apply to ministers apply equally to Federal Secretaries of State, with the exception of Articles 90 paragraph 2, 93 and 99.
The King has the right to annul or to reduce sentences pronounced by judges, except for that which is statuted relative to ministers and members of Community and Regional governments.
The King may not pardon a minister or the member of a Community or Regional government condemned by the Supreme Court of Appeal, except at the express demand of the Chamber of Representatives or of the council concerned.
§ 1. There is a Parliament of the French Community and a Parliament of the Flemish Community, named Flemish Parliament, the composition and the functioning of which are established by law, adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph.
§ 2. Without prejudice to Article 137, regional bodies as described in Article 39 comprise a Parliament for each region.
§ 1. The Parliaments are composed of elected representatives.
§ 2. Each Community Parliament is composed of members elected directly as members of the concerned community parliament or as members of a regional parliament.
Parliament members are elected for a period of five years.
The parliaments are completely renewed every five years.
Unless a law, adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, should specify otherwise, parliament elections are to take place on the same day and are to coincide with European Parliamentary elections.
§ 1. Elections described in Article 116, § 2, as well as the composition and functioning of Parliaments are fixed by law. But for the Parliament of the German Community, this law is adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph.
§ 2. A law, adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, establishes those matters relative to the election, composition, and functioning of the Parliament of the French Community, of the Parliament of the Walloon Region and of the Parliament of the Flemish Community, which are regulated by their respective parliaments, either by decree or by ruling as described in Article 134, according to the case. This decree and this ruling as described in Article 134 are adopted by a two-thirds majority vote, provided that a majority of members of the council concerned are present.
The mandate of member of a Regional or Community Parliament is incompatible with that of a member of the Chamber of Representatives. Moreover, it is incompatible with a Senator’s mandate as described in Article 67, § 1, 1°, 2°, 6°, and 7°.
§ 1. There is a French Community Government and a Flemish Community Government, the composition and functioning of which are established by law, adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph.
§ 2. Without prejudice to Article 137, the regional bodies described in Article 39 include a government for each region.
Members of each community or regional government are elected by their councils.
§ 1. The law establishes the composition and functioning of Community and of Regional governments. But for the case of the German Community Government, this law is adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph.
§2. A law, adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, determines those matters relative to the composition and to the functioning of the French Community Government, the Walloon Regional Government, and the Flemish Community Government, which are regulated by their respective councils, either by decree or by ruling as described in Article 134, according to the case. This decree and this ruling described in Article 134 are adopted by a two-thirds majority vote, provided that a majority of members of the council concerned are present.
Regional and community parliaments possess the right to accuse members of their respective governments and to confront the latter before the Supreme Court of Appeal which alone may judge them, chambers together, but for that which is statuted by law regarding the exercising of civil suits by victimized parties and concerning crimes and misdeeds which regional or community government members may have committed outside the line of their duties.
A law shall determine the cases of responsibility, the sentences to be passed upon members of regional or community governments, in addition to the manner of proceeding against them, either on the basis of the accusations expressed by their Parliaments or on the basis of a civil suit engaged by a victimized party.
Those laws described in paragraphs 1 and 2 must be adopted by a majority vote, as described in Article 4, last paragraph.
Until being covered by the law described in paragraph 2, regional and community councils possess the discretionary power to accuse a member of their government, and the Supreme Court of Appeal to judge the latter in those cases described in penal law and through the application of penalties stipulated therein.
Constitutional dispositions relative to regional and community government members, in addition to those executory laws described in Article 125, last paragraph, apply to regional secretaries of state.
3° inter-community co-operation, in addition to international co-operation, including the drafting of treaties for those matters described in 1° and 2°.
A law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, establishes those cultural matters described in 1°, types of co-operation described in 3°, in addition to terms governing the conclusion of treaties described in 3°.
§ 2. These decrees have force of law in French-language and in Dutch-language regions respectively, as well as in those institutions established in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital which, on account of their activities, must be considered as belonging exclusively to one community or the other.
§ 1. The French and Flemish Community Parliaments rule by decree, in as much as each is concerned, on personal issues, in addition to what is included in such issues, matters of inter-communal and international cooperation, including the ratification of treaties.
A law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, establishes such personal issues, in addition to the various forms of cooperation and the terms governing ratification of treaties.
§ 2. These decrees have force of law in French-language and in Dutch-language regions respectively, as well as in those institutions established in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital which, on account of their activities, must be considered as belonging exclusively to one community or the other, unless a law adopted by majority vote as provided for in Article 4, last paragraph, makes other provisions with regard to those institutions in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital.
3° social relations between employers and their personnel, in addition to corporate acts and documents required by law and by regulations.
- federal and international institutions designated by law, the activities of which are common to more than one community.
4° inter-community co-operation, in addition to international co-operation, including the conclusion of treaties, for issues described in 1°, 2°, and 3°.
The law establishes cultural and personal issues described in 1° and 2°, in addition to the forms of co-operation described in 4° and the manner in which treaties are concluded.
§ 2. These decrees have force of law in the German-language region.
A law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, designates those authorities within the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital which exercise those responsibilities not attributed to communities as described in Article 128, § 1.
There are linguistic groups within the Brussels-Capital Regional Parliament, and among the governing bodies, qualified with respect to community issues; their composition, functioning, and responsibilities and, without prejudice to Article 135, their financing, are regulated by a law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph.
In view of the application of Article 39, the French and Flemish Community Parliaments, in addition to their respective governments, may exercise the responsibilities, respectively, of the Walloon and of the Flemish Regional Governments, along the terms and according to those conditions established by law. This law must be adopted by a majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph.
The French Community Parliament, on one hand, and the Walloon Regional Parliament and the French linguistic group of the Brussels-Capital Regional Parliament, on the other hand, may decide of common accord and each by decree, that the Walloon Regional Parliament and Government, in the French-language region, and the Brussels-Capital Regional Parliament and it’s governing bodies in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital may exercise, in full or in part, the responsibilities of the French Community.
These decrees are adopted by a two-thirds majority vote within the French Community Parliament, and by absolute majority within the Walloon Regional Parliament and by the French linguistic group within the Brussels-Capital Regional Parliament, provided that a majority of the Parliament members or of the members of the linguistic group concerned are present. They may settle the financing of the responsibilities which they designate, in addition to transfers of personnel, of assets, of rights and of obligations which may concern them. These responsibilities are exercised, according to the case, either by decree, by order, or by ruling.
Upon request by their respective governments, the German Community Parliament and the Walloon Regional Parliament may, by decree, decide of common accord that Walloon Regional responsibilities may be exercised in whole or in part by the German-speaking Community Parliament and Government in the German-language region. These responsibilities may be exercised, according to the case, either by decree, by order, or by ruling.
The Parliament and Government of the German-speaking Community exercise by means of decrees and rulings all other responsibilities attributed by law.
The law organizes procedures tending to foresee conflicts between laws, decrees and rulings described in Article 134, in addition to between decrees among themselves and the rulings described in Article 134 among themselves.
There is, for all of Belgium, a Court of Arbitrage, the composition, competencies, and functioning of which are established by law.
3° the violation through a law, a decree, or through a ruling as described in Article 134, of constitutional articles determined by law.
Those laws described in paragraph 1, in paragraph 2, 3°, and in paragraph 3 are adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph.
Government, the communities, the regions, and the common Community Commission act in the interests of federal loyalty, in order to prevent conflicts of interest.
§ 2. The senate makes decisions, by means of well-founded judgments, on conflicts of interest which may exist between the various bodies through laws, decrees, or rulings as described in Article 134, within the conditions and according to the procedures determined by a law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph.
paragraph, organizes the procedures designed to prevent and to settle conflicts of interest between Federal, Community, and Regional Governments, and between the common Community Commission assembly.
Courts hold exclusive competency with respect to conflicts involving civil rights issues.
Courts hold competency with respect to conflicts involving political rights, save for the exceptions established by law.
Under no circumstance may a court or contentious jurisdiction be established, other than on the sole basis of a law. Under no denomination may a commission or an extraordinary tribunal be created.
There is a Supreme Court of Appeal for the whole of Belgium.
This court lacks competency regarding matters of substance, save for the judgement of ministers and of members of Regional and Community Governments.
Court hearings are open, unless public access should jeopardize morals or order. In this case, the court so declares by ruling.
All judgements are well-founded. They are pronounced in open court.
The jury is established for all criminal matters, in addition to issues of political and press wrongdoings.
Court magistrates and court judges are directly named by the King.
Appeal judges and the presidents and vice-presidents of the high Courts of Justice to which they are attached are named by the King on two double lists. One is presented by the courts, the other by provincial councils and by the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region, as the case may be.
Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal are named by the King on two double lists. One is presented by the Supreme Court of Appeal, the other, alternately, by the Chamber of Representatives and by the Senate.
5° that of Mons, with jurisdiction over the province of Hainaut.
There are commercial courts, in locations determined by law. Their organization, attributions, and member nomination methods, in addition to the duration of assignment of their members, are described in the law.
The law also covers the organization of work jurisdictions, their attributions, the manner in which their members are nominated, and the duration of their assignments.
The Supreme Court of Appeal makes decisions in attribution conflicts in the manner provided for by law.
Courts and tribunals may apply decisions and general, provincial, or local rulings only inasmuch as these are in conformity with the law.
The Council of State statutes by ruling as an administrative jurisdiction, and provides an opinion in those cases determined by the law.
6° the intervention of overseeing authorities or of the federal legislative power, to prevent violations of the law or harm to public interests.
In application of a law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, the organization and application of administrative overseeing may be determined by community or regional councils.
In application of a law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, the decree or the ruling described in Article 134 establishes the conditions and the manner in which several provinces or communes may associate themselves or co-operate. However, the convening of several provincial or communal councils for joint deliberation may not be allowed.
However, a law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, establishes the conditions by which the Brussels-Capital Region or all institutions the members of which are designated by the latter exercise the responsibilities described in paragraph 1 which do not depend upon those matters described in Article 39. A law adopted by the same majority establishes the attributions to those institutions described in Article 136 of all or part of the responsibilities described in paragraph 1, subject to those matters described in Articles 127 and 128.
§ 1. The law creates urban entities and federations of communes. It determines their organization and their responsibilities through application of those principles described in Article 162. For each urban area and for each federation there exists a council and an executive committee.
Articles 159 and 190 apply to the rulings and regulations of urban entities and federations of communes.
§ 2. The law creates the body within which each urban entity and nearby federations of communes may meet, according to the conditions and manner which the law establishes, for the examination of common problems of a technical nature within their respective areas of competence.
§ 3. Several federations of communes may cooperate or associate themselves with one or more urban entities in accordance with the conditions and in the manner prescribed by law, to jointly manage and regulate those issues within their respective areas of competence. Their councils may not engage in joint deliberation.
§ 1. Article 165 applies to that urban entity to which the capital of the Kingdom belongs, with the exception of that which is established hereafter.
§ 2. The responsibilities of the urban entity to which the Kingdom’s capital belongs are, in the manner determined by a law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, exercised by those bodies of the Brussels-Capital Region created by virtue of Article 39.
3° jointly settle those matters described in 1° which are of common interest.
§ 1. The King manages international relations, without prejudice to the ability of communities and regions to engage in international co-operation, including the signature of treaties, for those matters within their responsibilities as established by the Constitution and in virtue thereof.
The King commands the armed forces, and determines the state of war and the cessation of hostilities. He notifies the Chambers as soon as State interests and security permit and he adds those messages deemed appropriate. Territorial transfers, exchanges, and additions may take place only by virtue of a law.
§ 2. The King concludes treaties, with the exception of those described in § 3. These treaties may take effect only following approval of the Chambers.
§ 3. Those Community and Regional Governments described in Article 121 conclude, in matters that concern them, treaties regarding matters that are in the scope of the responsibilities of their Parliaments. These treaties may take effect only following approval by the Parliament.
§ 4. A law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, specifies the terms for conclusion of treaties described in § 3, and for those treaties not exclusively concerned with issues within the competence of regions or communities or by virtue of the Constitution.
§ 5. The King may denounce treaties concluded before May 18th, 1993 and covering matters described in § 3, of common accord with those community or regional governments concerned.
The King denounces these treaties if the community or regional governments concerned invite him to do so. A law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, establishes the procedure in the event of disagreement between the community or regional governments concerned.
The Chambers are informed from the beginning of negotiations concerning any revision of the treaties establishing the European Communities in addition to treaties and acts which may have modified or completed the latter. They are aware of the planned treaty prior to signature.
In order to ensure respect of international or supranational obligations, the authorities described in Articles 36 and 37 may, within the limits established by law, temporarily substitute themselves for those bodies described in Articles 115 and 121. This law must be adopted by majority vote as established in Article 4, last paragraph.
§ 1. Taxes to the benefit of the State may be imposed only by virtue of a law.
§ 2. Taxes to the benefit of Communities or Regions may be imposed only through a decree or ruling as described in Article 134.
The law determines, with respect to those taxes described in paragraph 1, those exceptions of proven necessity.
§ 3. A fee or tax may be established by a province only following the decision of its Council.
A law determines, with respect to the taxes described in paragraph 1, those exceptions of proven necessity.
The law can suppress, either totally or partially, the taxes referred to in paragraph 1.
§ 4. No charge or tax can be established by the urban agglomerations, by the federation of communes nor by the communes except by a decision made by their councils. The law determines, with respect to the taxes described in paragraph 1, those exceptions of proven necessity.
A law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, establishes the method of financing for the French Community and for the Flemish Community.
The Parliaments of the French and Flemish Community decide upon the spending of their respective attributions by decree.
The method of financing of the German-speaking Community is established by law.
The Parliament of the German-speaking Community decides upon the spending of its financial attributions by decree.
A law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, fixes the methods of financing for regions.
Within the conditions and the terms described by a law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph, the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region transfers, by virtue of the rule described in Article 134, financial means to the Common Community Commission and to the French and Flemish Community Commissions.
Members of the Court of Audit are nominated by the Chamber of Representatives for a duration established by law.
This Court is responsible for the examination and for the liquidation of general administration accounts and for the accounts of accountants working for the public treasury. It must see that no budgetary item is surpassed and that no transfers take place. The Audit also oversees operations relative to the establishment and to the perception of State income, including tax collection. It establishes the accounts of the various State administrations, and is responsible, in this regard, for the collection of all required information and accounting items. General accounts of the State are submitted to the Chamber of Representatives with Court of Audit observations.
§ 2. The State awards remuneration and pensions to representatives of organizations recognized by the law as providing moral assistance according to a non-religious philosophical concept; those amounts required are included in the budget on an annual basis.
From the day on which the Constitution becomes enforceable, all laws, decrees, rulings, rules and other acts are annulled.
All foreigners on Belgian soil benefit from that protection provided to persons and property, save for those exceptions provided for by law.
The Belgian Nation adopts red, yellow, and black colours, while the coat of arms depicts the Lion of Belgium with the motto: UNITY MAKES STRENGTH.
I. _ The dispositions of Article 85 shall for the first time be applicable to the descent from H.R.H. Prince Albert, Felix, Humbert, Theodore, Christian, Eugene, Marie, Prince of Liege, Prince of Belgium, it being understood that the marriage of H.R.H. Princess Astrid, Josephine, Charlotte, Fabrizia, Elisabeth, Paola, Marie, Princess of Belgium, with Lorenz, Archiduke of East Austria, was meant to have obtained the consent described in Article 85, paragraph 2.
II. _ Article 32 takes effect on 1 January, 1995.
III. _ Article 125 is valid for events taking place after 8 May, 1993.
IV. _ The next Council elections, in keeping with those dispositions of Articles 115, § 2, 116, § 2, 118, and 119, with the exclusion of Article 117, take place on the same day as the next general elections to the Chamber of Representatives. The following Council elections, in keeping with Articles 115, § 2, 116, § 2, 118 and 119 take place on the same day as the second European Parliamentary elections following the taking of effect of Articles 115, § 2, 118, 120, 121, § 2, 123 and 124.
V. _ § 1. Prior to the next complete renewal of the Chamber of Representatives, notwithstanding the dispositions of Articles 43, § 2, 46, 63, 67, 68, 69, 3°, 70, 74, 100, 101, 111, 151, paragraph 3, 174, paragraph 1, and 180, paragraph 2, last sentence, the following dispositions remain in effect.
a) Federal legislative power is collectively exercised by the King, by the Chamber of Representatives, and by the Senate.
b) The King has the right to dissolve both Chambers simultaneously, and the dissolution act implies voter convocations for within forty days and Chamber convocations for within two months.
c) There are 212 members of the Chamber of Representatives, and the federal divisor can be obtained by dividing the population of the Kingdom by 212.
2° of members elected by provincial Councils, on the basis of one senator per 200,000 inhabitants. For each 125,000 surplus inhabitants, one additional senator is allowed. Nonetheless, each provincial council appoints at least three senators.
These members may not belong to the assembly which elects them, nor may they have been a part of the electing assembly for a period of two years prior to the election date.
3° of members elected by the Senate up to one-half of the number of senators elected by the Provincial Councils. Should this number be odd, one unit is added.
These members are designated by the senators elected by virtue of 1° and 2°.
The election of senators elected by virtue of 2° and 3° is carried out using the proportional representation system determined by law.
Article 69, 1°, 2°, and 4°, have completed forty years of age. f) Senators are elected for a period of four years.
g) Ministers may have a participatory voice in debates only in that Chamber of which they are members.
h) The King may pardon a minister or the member of a community or regional government condemned by the Supreme Court of Appeal only following the request of one of the two Chambers or of that Council concerned.
i) Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal are appointed by the King on two double lists, one being presented by the Senate, the other by the Supreme Court of Appeal.
j) Every year, the Chambers vote on the budget and rule on government accounts.
k) The State Audit Office submits the general State accounts, with observations, to the Chamber of Representatives and to the Senate.
§ 2. Articles 50, 75, paragraphs 2 and 3, 77 to 83, 96, paragraph 2, and 99, paragraph 1, take effect from the moment the next complete renewal of the Chamber of Representatives is effected.
VI. _ § 1. Until 31 December 1994, and in derogation to Article 5, paragraph 1, the provinces are: Antwerp, Brabant, West Flanders, East Flanders, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxemburg, and Namur.
§ 2. The next provincial elections shall coincide with the next communal elections and shall take place on the second Sunday of October 1994. Inasmuch as the law described in § 3, paragraph 1 has taken effect, electors shall be called upon on that same Sunday for the election of the Flemish Brabant and of the Walloon Brabant Provincial Councils.
§ 3. The personnel and the assets of Brabant Province shall be split between the Province of Walloon Brabant, the Province of Flemish Brabant, the Region of Brussels-Capital, the authorities and the institutions described in Articles 135 and 136, in addition to the federal authority, in keeping with the terms determined by a law adopted by majority vote as described in Article 4, last paragraph.
§ 4. Until 31 December 1994, appeals court judges and the presidents and the vice-presidents of the High Courts of Justice upon which they depend, notwithstanding Article 151, paragraph 2, are named by the King on two double lists, one being presented by these courts, the other by the provincial councils.
§ 5. Until 31 December 1994, notwithstanding Article 156, 1°, the province of Brabant remains within the jurisdiction of the Appeals Court of Brussels.
2) Paragraph 3 shall be repealed.
2) Paragraph 4 shall be repealed.
"Article 118bis. Within the national borders, the members of the Regional and Community Councils, referred to in Articles 2 and 3, shall have the right to move without expense over any and all means of transportation which are operated by or conceded to government authorities."

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