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BELGIUM
Sénat - Senaat - Senat (Senate)
PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Oversight module

Chapters:

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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