Government
The name "Belgium" is not the full name of the country. The correct name of the country is the Kingdom of Belgium. This is because Belgium has a monarch and a constitutional monarchy government. Belgium is divided into three regions; the Brussels-Capital Region, the Flemish Region, and the Walloon Region. Because of this, there are three levels of government: federal, regional, and linguistic community. Belgium's legal system is based off of France's civil law system.
The executive branch of Belgium's government is divided. There are two important members of this group; the chief-of-state and head of government. The chief-of-state is the reigning monarch, King Philippe. The head of government is the Prime Minister, Elio Di Rupo along with the multiple Deputy Prime Ministers. The cabinet members are chosen by the reigning monarch of the country.
The legislative branch is a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate (Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French) and a Chamber of Deputies (Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French). The Senate has seventy-one seats, fourty-one of which are chosen by popular vote while the other thirty-one are indirectly chosen by popular vote. Each member of the senate serve four-year terms. The Chamber of Deputies has one-hundred and fifty seats, all of which are chosen by popular vote. These members also serve four-year terms.
The judicial branch has nine separate court systems. The highest court being the Constitutional Court (Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French). The other courts include the following: courts of appeal; regional courts; and speacialized courts for commercial, audit issues, labor, and administrative. There also are magistrate courts and justices of the peace. Members of the Supreme Court are chosen by the monarch from a list of submissions from Parliament and are in the position for life.
The executive branch of Belgium's government is divided. There are two important members of this group; the chief-of-state and head of government. The chief-of-state is the reigning monarch, King Philippe. The head of government is the Prime Minister, Elio Di Rupo along with the multiple Deputy Prime Ministers. The cabinet members are chosen by the reigning monarch of the country.
The legislative branch is a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate (Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French) and a Chamber of Deputies (Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French). The Senate has seventy-one seats, fourty-one of which are chosen by popular vote while the other thirty-one are indirectly chosen by popular vote. Each member of the senate serve four-year terms. The Chamber of Deputies has one-hundred and fifty seats, all of which are chosen by popular vote. These members also serve four-year terms.
The judicial branch has nine separate court systems. The highest court being the Constitutional Court (Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French). The other courts include the following: courts of appeal; regional courts; and speacialized courts for commercial, audit issues, labor, and administrative. There also are magistrate courts and justices of the peace. Members of the Supreme Court are chosen by the monarch from a list of submissions from Parliament and are in the position for life.