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Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Oversight module

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlement fédéral - Federaal Parlement - Föderales Parlament / Federal Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name Sénat - Senaat - Senat Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Chambre des Représentants / House of Representatives POLITICAL SYSTEM Type of political regime parliamentary / constitutional monarchy Notes CLICK HERE TO ACCESS DATA ON PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT Head of the executive Prime Minister Notes Method for appointing the executive Term of office of the executive and coincidence with the term of the legislature Incompatibility of the functions of member of the executive and member of Parliament Not applicable Dissolution of Parliament Not applicable Circumstances Modalities ACCOUNTABILITY Accountability of Government to Parliament Not applicable Modalities of oversight Oral and written questions of parliamentarians Government reports to Parliament Measures Vote of confidence on Government programs and/or legislative proposals Motions of censure and votes of no confidence (sub-report) Circumstances Modalites Consequences Dismissal and/or impeachment of Government and other public officials (sub-report) Circumstances and persons concerned Modalites and procedure Consequences Have these procedures been applied? OVERSIGHT OVER THE ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION Oversight over the actions of the Government administration Not applicable Means and modalities of oversight Hearings in Committees Committees of inquiry and missions to Government departments Oral and written questions of parliamentarians Role of Parliament in the appointment of senior Government officials Activity reports of the Government administration and of public services or establishments Representation of Parliament in governing bodies of the Government administration Existence of an ombudsman Not applicable Method for appointing the executive Relationship to Parliament BUDGETARY OVERSIGHT Consultation of Parliament in the preparation of the national budget Not applicable Modalities of oversight Examination of the budget / finance act by Parliament Reports on the budget / finance act by Committees Fields overseen Defence budget Budget of special departments Role of Parliament in national development plans Parliament's deadline for the examination and adoption of the budget / finance act Consequences of failure by Parliament to adopt the budget / finance act Budgetary autonomy of Parliament Not applicable OVERSIGHT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUDGET AND OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING Evaluation of Government spending Parliament approves Government expenditures annually Not applicable Parliamentary oversight of public companies Not applicable Modalities of oversight Body for auditing the Government's books and method for appointing Reports of the public auditor's office Specialised committee OVERSIGHT OVER FOREIGN POLICY Foreign Relations Committee (sub-report) Functions of the Committee Powers of the Committee Composition of the Committee Bilateral visits of Parliament, inter-parliamentary conferences and information missions abroad Plenary debates on foreign policy issues Involvement of Parliament Participation of Parliament in inter-governmental meetings Modalities and procedures for ratifying international treaties and agreements (sub-report) Other mechanisms for participation in foreign policy by Parliament OVERSIGHT OVER NATIONAL DEFENCE POLICY National Defence Committee (sub-report) Functions of the Committee Powers of the Committee Composition of the Committee Parliamentary oversight of public arms manufacturing companies Circumstances and involvement Modalities and procedures in case of war, an armed attack or a state of emergency Role of Parliament in sending troops abroad Other mechanisms for participation in national defence policy by Parliament STATE OF EMERGENCY Circumstances Can parliament take the initiative to declare a state of emergency Not applicable Consequences of a state of emergency for Parliament VERIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONALITY AND THE APPLICATION OF LAWS Modalities of oversight Body ruling on the constitutionality of laws Several bodies Means and procedures Evaluation of laws Not applicable Measures

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