Belgian Federal Parliament
The Federal Parliament is the bicameral parliament of Belgium. It consists of the Chamber of Representatives (Dutch: ⓘ, French: Chambre des Représentants, German: Abgeordnetenkammer) and the Senate (Dutch: ⓘ, French: Sénat, German: Senat). It sits in the Palace of the Nation (French: Palais de la Nation, Dutch: Paleis der Natie, German: Palast der Nation). The Chamber of Representatives is the primary legislative body; the Senate functions only as a meeting place of the federal communities and regions.
Federal Parliament | |
|---|---|
| Emblem of the Senate and the Emblem of the Chamber of Representatives | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | • Senate • Chamber of Representatives |
| Leadership | |
President of the Senate | Stephanie D'Hose, Open VLD since 13 October 2020 |
President of the Chamber | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | Senate: 60 Chamber of Representatives: 150 |
Senate political groups | Government (37)
Opposition (23)
|
Chamber political groups | Government (87)
Opposition (63)
|
| Elections | |
Senate voting system | Indirect election |
| Open list proportional representation within eleven constituencies, with 5% constituency electoral thresholds | |
Last Chamber election | 26 May 2019 |
| Meeting place | |
| Palace of the Nation, Brussels | |
| Website | |
| www.fed-parl.be | |
The Constitution does not mention the Federal Parliament as such; it stipulates that the federal legislative power is exercised by the King and the Chamber of Representatives (and exceptionally the Senate), and defines when the United Chambers convene.