GOVERNMENT. The government of Belgium is a "constitutional. representative, and hereditary monarchy," based on the Constitution of 1831, which guarantees to the citizen equality before the law, personal liberty and security, the right of association and petition. and the freedom of worship, instruction, and the press. The Crown is hereditary in the direct male line, and on the failure of male issue, the monarch, with the consent of the Chambers. appoints his successor. The King is commander-in-chief of the army, con cludes treaties of war and peace, nominates officials, and issues decrees, hut has no power to suspend the execution of the laws. He rules through a council of ministers responsible to the Chambers. and every royal net must he counter signed by a minister. The departments of State are eight in number, and comprise the Ministries of Finance and Public Works; Interior and In struction; Foreign Affair; Justice; War; Agri culture, Industry, and Labor; Railways, Posts, and Telegraph. The legislative power is vested in the King and the Chambers, consisting of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The Senate was composed, in 1900, of 102 members, of w hom 76 were chosen by the direct suffrage of citizens over the age of 30, and 20 by the provincial councils. The Chamber of Deputies, which numbered 152 in 1900, is elected by the direct suffrage of every citizen over the age of 25. The Chambers meet annually for a session of at least 40 days, but the power of prorogation and dissolution rests with the King. Bills deal ing with the revenue and the annual contingent for the army must originate in the Lower House. Superimposed on manhood suffrage. \Odell makes every male Belgian not legally disqualified an elector, there is the system of plural suffrage, which gives an additional vote to citizens over 35 years of age possessing legitimate issue and paying at least five francs a year in house-tax, as well as to citizens owning real estate to the value of 2000 francs, and two additional votes to professional men and the holders of diplo mas from institutions of higher learning. In 1900 about 1,450,000 electors cast about 2.240,000 votes. By the law of December 29, 1599, the method of proportional representation was initi ated, according to which every party is repre sented in the Chambers in the proportion of its vote to the total poll. The effect upon the relations of political parties was immediate. The Catholics were deprived of the absolute ascendency they enjoyed under the majority system, and a formidable opposition was created, composed of Socialists and Liberals, to the lat ter of whom the new measure was especially welcome, in that it rescued them from the state of almost total insignificance to which they had been reduced. For arms of the country, see
plate accompanying HERALDRY.
Local GVerTnMCilt.—Belgium is divided into 9 provinces, each under a governor appointed by the Crown. The provincial council, which is chosen by direct suffrage for a period of eight years, deliberates on matters of local finance and administration. sanitation, roads, and police, and assesses direct contributions toward the State among the communes. Its acts are subject to the approval of the King. A permanent deputa tion, consisting of the governor and six men chosen from the council, serves as an executive committee, and directs public affairs when the council is not in session. The provinces are sub divided into 41 arrondissements for administra tive purposes, and into 26 judicial arrondisse ments, which are the seats of high courts of original jurisdiction; and these are again por tioned out into 215 cantons, each under a justice of the peace. The ultimate unit of local govern ment is the commune. In 1899 there were 2612 communes. Of these, SO bore the ancient title of vile, or town. The affairs of the commune are debated and decided in the communal coun cil, varying in membership from 7 to 51. and elected directly for a period of eight years by all resident citizens above the age of 25. In com munes of more than 2001) inhabitants, supple mentary eouncilors are elected by and worldng men. The conummal council exercises independent jurisdiction over local affairs, but deliberates also on matters delegated to it by the general or provincial government. The execu tive work of the commune is carried on by an aldernanie college, consisting of a burgomaster appointed by the King, and two or four alder men elected by the communal college.
Justice in the case of petty civil disputes and minor offenses is administered by the justice of the peace, from whose decision there is no appeal in judgments involving less than TOO francs ($20). or a penalty of not more than five days' imprisonment. For the trial of important civil cases there are 26 courts of first instance, h ile misdemeanors are brought before the tribunals of correction, and serious crimes and press offenses before jury courts of assizes sit ting four times a year in every province. From the civil courts and the d'assise appeals lie to the comics d'appel at Brussels, Ghent, and Liege. The Court of Cassation, or supreme court, does not examine the facts of any case, but. will reverse a decision of the lower courts where legal formalities have been violated. There are in addition special military and el HE mercial courts and councils of erad'lmoxmes for the arbitration of labor disputes, composed of workmen and employ6s.