The Constitution of Belgium

A Contextual Analysis
1. Auflage 2015
ISBN: 978-1-84946-415-4
Verlag: Hart Publishing

Buch, Englisch, 312 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 138 mm x 214 mm, Gewicht: 400 g

The Belgian Constitution, once described as a model of consensus democracy, has now become an enigma in comparative federalism. On the one hand, it demonstrates features which suggest institutional instability as well as elements that enhance the probability of secession. On the other hand, Belgium continues to exist as a federal system, based upon linguistic bipolarity. This linguistic bipolarity dominates Belgian politics and has shaped the design of Belgium's institutions as well as the Constitution's fundamental organising principles: concepts of federalism, democracy, separation of powers, constitutionalism and the rule of law.

In this book, the institutional structure and the principles governing the Belgian constitutional system are explained in the light of its historical, demographic and political context. Linguistic bipolarity and its historical evolution explain the establishment of the Belgian State structure as a dual federalism, with exclusive powers, instruments for consensus making and obstruction, and elements of confederal decision making. It also explains the evolution in the concept of principles of democracy and the rule of law. Besides describing the devolutionary process, the book also incorporates two other elements that have shaped the Belgian constitutional landscape: fundamental rights and Europeanisation.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Popelier, Patricia

Lemmens, Koen

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Staats- und Regierungsformen, Staatslehre
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Studien zu einzelnen Ländern und Gebieten
• Rechtswissenschaften Öffentliches Recht Staats- und Verfassungsrecht Verfassungsgeschichte, Verfassungsvergleichung

Inhaltsverzeichnis

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 EUROPEAN
INTEGRATION

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?

Über Autor(innen)

Lemmens, Koen
Koen Lemmens is Associate Professor of Human Rights at the Catholic University of Louvain.

Popelier, Patricia
Patricia Popelier is Senior Professor of Constitutional Law and Legislative Studies at the University of Antwerp and chair of the research group on Government and Law.

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.