Type:

The Federal Constitution defines the regime as a parliamentary democracy. The Head of State is a constitutional monarch.

Belgium enjoys the separation of powers: an independant judiciary, legislative chambers and an executive government.

Federal Branches :

Executive: the Federal Government, presided over by the Prime Minister

Legislative: Bicameral Parliament
House of Representatives: 150 members
Senate: 40 members

Judiciary: Courts and the tribunals

Distribution of competences:

- The Federal Government is responsible for foreign policy, national defense, social security, monetary and fiscal affairs.

- The 3 Communities (Flemish-, French- and German-speaking) deal with cultural matters, education, use of languages and "person-related matters", such as health policy, policy of the disabled and protection of youth

- 3 Regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels) have authority over socio-economic matters such as urban planning, housing, environment, economic development, employment, energy, public works and transport as well as the administrative supervision of the provinces and the communities

- 10 Provinces (Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant, East-Flanders, Hainaut, Liège, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, West-Flanders)

- 589 Communes