Belgium
Oversight
Data on parliament’s oversight role and activities
Oversight tools
Parliament has the power to summon members of the government
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution, art. 100, al. 2
Parliament has the power to summon senior government officials
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution, art. 100, al. 2
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
Key government appointments include, for example, ambassadors or the head of the central bank.
Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
0
Number of written questions asked, per year
528 (2021)
See historical data for this field.
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
495 (2021)
See historical data for this field.
Notes
The answers provided are the figures by parliamentary session (not calendar year). They reflect the redefinition of the role of the Senate in the Belgian parliamentary system, for example, in the reduction of the number of written questions between 2013-2015, with 2014 being a year of transition. Number of written questions answered may include responses from the associated year and prior year(s). E.g., of the 528 questions asked in the year 2021, there were 495 answers -- 443 from 2021 questions asked, and 52 from questions asked in 2020.
Parliament has power to carry out inquiries
No
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Article 56 of the Constitution.
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
0 (2020)
See historical data for this field.
Notes
Based on the new Senate reform that came into force in 2014, the Senate lost the right of inquiry (art. 56 of the Constitution). Instead, it has been given the power to adopt (under fairly strict conditions) "information reports" on so-called cross-cutting issues, i.e.: which concern different levels of power (federal, Communities , Regions).
Head of State and/or Government
Head of State and/or Government
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Some parliaments elect the Head of Government or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Parliament does not play a role
Notes
The King appoints (and dismisses) his ministers (Art. 96(1) of the Constitution). The Federal Government offers its resignation to the King if the House of Representatives, by an absolute majority of its members, adopts a motion of no-confidence proposing a successor to the prime minister for appointment by the King or
proposes a successor to the prime minister for appointment by the King within three days
of the rejection of a motion of confidence.
proposes a successor to the prime minister for appointment by the King within three days
of the rejection of a motion of confidence.
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Article 96 of the Constitution
The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
Some parliaments designate the Head of State or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Other (please specify)
Notes
The descendants of King Leopold I automatically succeed each other (Art. 85 of the Constitution). The King ascending the throne takes the constitutional oath before the Houses (Arts 90 and 91 of the Constitution). The Houses intervene in the event that the King does not have an heir who is descended from King Leopold I. In that case, the King can appoint a successor and the Houses must assent to that appointment. In the absence of such an appointment, the throne remains vacant (see below) (Art. 86 of the Constitution). The Houses also intervene on the death of the King, if his successor is a minor: they act as the minor King’s Guardian and appoint a Regent, who is considered the Head of State (Art. 92 of the Constitution). Lastly, if the throne is vacant, the Houses, deliberating as one assembly, provisionally appoint a Regent, until the convening of the fully renewed Houses. The new Houses, deliberating as one assembly, fill the vacancy (Art. 95 of the Constitution).
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Articles 85, 86, 89, 90, 92 and 95 of the Constitution.
Impeachment and confidence motions
Procedure for parliament
There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
There is a procedure to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; The Head of State; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
Not applicable (there is no procedure)
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Not applicable
Impeachment Role
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
The whole Government
The Head of Government
Individual members of the Executive
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution, art. 96 and 101; House Standing Orders 133, 137 and 138.
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber
Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
In some countries, the adoption of a motion of no confidence in the Government automatically leads to the dissolution of Parliament in certain countries. In other cases, a new government can be formed.
No