The Belgian Constitution

Land
Belgium

Article 10. (...) Belgians are equal before the law;they alone are eligible for civil and military service,
but for the exceptions that can be created by a law for particular cases.(...) Article 11bis.(...) The law,federate law or rule referred to inArticle 134 provides for women and men to sit on the permanent deputations of the provincial councils, the colleges of the burgomasters and aldermen,the councils and permanent committees of the public centres
for social welfare and on the executives of any other inter-provincial, supra-municipal,
inter-municipal or intra-municipal territorial body.
The preceding paragraph does not apply when the law, federate law or rule referred
to in Article 134 provides for the direct election of the members of the permanent
deputations of the provincial councils, of aldermen, of the members of the councils and
permanent committees of the social welfare centres or of the members of the executives
of any other inter-provincial, supra-municipal, inter-municipal or intra-municipal territorial body Article 12. The freedom of the individual is guaranteed.
No one can be prosecuted except in the cases provided for by the law, and in the
form prescribed by the law Article 15. One’s home is inviolable no house search may take place except in the cases provided for by the law and in the form prescribed by the law. Article 16. No one can be deprived of his property except in the case of expropriation for a public purpose, in the cases and manner established by the law and in return for fair
compensation paid beforehand. Article 21. A civil wedding should always precede the blessing of the marriage, apart from the exceptions to be established by the law if needed.
Article 22. Everyone has the right to the respect of his private and family life, except in the cases and conditions determined by the law. Article 29. The confidentiality of letters is inviolable.
The law determines which officials may violate the confidentiality of letters entrusted
to the postal service. Article 31. No authorisation is necessary prior to taking legal action against civil
servants for offences resulting from their administration, except with regard to what
has been ruled on concerning ministers and members of the Community and Regional
Government Article 32. Everyone has the right to consult any administrative document and to obtain a
copy, except in the cases and conditions stipulated by the laws, federate laws or rules
referred to in Article 134. Article 117. Members of the Community and Regional Parliaments are elected for a period of five years. The Community and Regional Parliaments are re-elected as a whole every fi e years.
Elections for the Community and Regional Parliaments take place on the same day
and coincide with elections for the European Parliament.
In execution of a law as described in Article 118, § 2, fourth sub-paragraph, a federate
law or a rule referred to in Article 134, passed in accordance with Article 118, § 2,
fourth sub-paragraph, may derogate from the first and second paragraphs.”. Article 170 § 2.Taxes to the benefit of a Community or Region can only be introduced by a federate law or a rule as described in Article 134.
The law determines, with respect to the taxes referred to in the first sub-paragraph,
the exceptions that are proved to be necessary. § 3.A charge or tax can only be introduced by a province or a supra-municipal collectivity
by the decision of its council.
The law determines, with respect to the taxes described in the first paragraph, the
exceptions that are proved to be necessary.
The law can abolish, either totally or partially, the taxes referred to in the first
sub-paragraph.
§ 4. A charge or tax can only be introduced by the metropolitan districts, federations
of municipalities or by the municipalities by a decision of their council.
The law determines, with respect to the taxes referred to in the first sub-paragraph,
the exceptions that are proved to be necessary. Article 172. No privileges with regard to taxes can be introduced.
No exemption or reduction of taxes can be introduced except by a law. Article 173. Except to the benefit of the provinces, the bodies responsible for polders and for draining and flood protection, and except for the cases formally excepted by the laws, the federate laws and rules referred to in Article 134, charges can only be claimed from citizens in the form of taxes to the benefit of the State, the Community,the Region, the metropolitan district, the federation of municipalities or the municipality. Article 185. Foreign troops may only be admitted to the service of the State, or occupy or crossthe territory by virtue of a law. Article 186. Military personnel can only be deprived of rank, honours and pensions in the manner described by the law. Article 191. All foreigners on Belgian soil benefit from the protection provided to persons and property, except for those exceptions provided for by the law.