Abstract
Belgium became an independent state in 1830. The 1831 Constitution set up a two-chamber Parliament consisting of a Chamber of Representatives (In Flemish, Kamer der Volksvertegenwoordigers; in French, Chambre des Représentants) and a Senate (Senaat/Sénat). The government is responsible to both Chambers, which have equal legislative powers. Different political groupings existed from 1830 onwards; unionism was the rule in parliament and government until 1847. Distinct national parties did not exist, although there was a cleavage between clericals and anti-clericals. The Liberals formed a national party organisation in 1846. The process of party formation by the Catholics began in the 1860s and was formally achieved only in 1884. In the following year several workers’ organisations united to form the Parti ouvrier belge which first gained representation in parliament after the achievement of manhood suffrage in 1893.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Sources
Annuaire Statistique de la Belgique 1967, 1970 (Brussels: Institut National de Statistique, 1967 and 1970)
R.E. De Smet, R. Evalenko and W. Fraeys, Atlas des élections belges 1919–1954 (Brussels: Institut de Sociologie Solvay, U.L.B., 1958)
R.E. De Smet, R. Evalenko and W. Fraeys, Supplement comportant les résultats des élections législatives du ler juin 1958 (1961)
R.E. De Smet, R. Evalenko and W. Fraeys, Deuxième supplément comportant les résults des élections législatives du 26 mars 1961 (1962)
W. Fraeys, ‘Les élections législatives du 17 décembre 1978’, Res Publica 21,2 (1979) 309–328
W. Fraeys, ‘Les élections législatives de 13 octobre 1985’ Res Publica 28,2 (1986) 213–233
J. Gilissen, Le régime représentatif en Belgique depuis 1790 (Brussels: Renaissance du Livre, 1958)
T.K. Hill, ‘Belgium: political change in a segmented society’, in R. Rose (ed.) Electoral Behavior: a Comparative Handbook (New York: Free Press, 1974) 29–107
C. Lebas, L’union des catholiques et des libéraux de 1839 à 1847 (Louvain: Editions Nauwelaerts, 1960)
Les partis politiques en Belgique, Dossier du CRISP, Number 21 (Brussels: Centre de recherche et d’information socio-politiques, 3rd ed., 1986)
V. Lorwin, ‘Belgium: religion, class and language in national politics’ in R.A. Dahl (ed.), Political Oppositions in Western Democracies (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1966) 147–87
Th. Luyckx, Politieke Geschiednis van België (Amsterdam/Brussels: Elsevier, fourth edition, 1978)
X. Mabille, Histoire politique de la Belgique (Brussels: CRISP, 1986)
Ministère de l’Intérieur, Élections législatives-Chambre des Représentants: résultats officiels des élections du 23 mai 1965 et du 31 mars 1968 (Brussels: 1969) and subsequent volumes in same series
W. Moyne, Résultats des élections belges entre 1847 et 1914 (Brussels: Institut Belge de Science Politique, 1970)
R. Senelle, ‘The Belgian Constitution — Commentary’ Memo from Belgium No. 166 (Brussels: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1974)
G. Van den Berghe, ‘Belgium’ in G. Hand, J. Georgel and C. Sasse (eds.) European Electoral Systems Handbook (London: Butterworths, 1979) 1–28
H. Van Impe, Le régime parlementaire en Belgique (Brussels: Bruylant, 1968)
E. Witte and J. Craeybeckx, La Belgique politique de 1830 a nos jours (Brussels: Ed. Labor, 1987)
F. Zombek-Fuks and W. Fraeys, ‘Belgique’ in S. Rokkan and J. Meyriat (eds.), International Guide to Electoral Statistics (The Hague and Paris: Mouton, 1969) 47–57
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1991 Thomas T. Mackie and Richard Rose
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mackie, T.T., Rose, R. (1991). Belgium. In: The International Almanac of Electoral History. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09851-4_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09851-4_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-09853-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-09851-4
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)