CHAPTER V. 



GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. 



N its political institutions Belgium resembles the other Parliamentary 

 monarchies of continental EuroiDC. Its citizens are grouped in 

 communes and provinces, having their separate bodies of electors, 

 whilst the State is governed b}^ a legislative body elected by the 

 people, and an executive represented by the King. 

 There are 2,575 communes, or parishes, divided amongst nine provinces. On 

 an averao-e each of these communes has 2,100 inhabitants, but in 1876 there were 

 more than 2,450 which had less than 500 inhabitants each, and an area not 

 larger than a sqviare mile. As a curiosity in its way, we may mention the 

 commune of Zoetenaey, in West Flanders, not far from the French frontier, which 

 has only 21 inhabitants. The majority of these communes are evidently too 

 small to govern themselves, and notwithstanding all constitutional guarantees, 

 they virtually depend upon the central Government. 



Each commune has a municipal council of from 7 to 31 members, according 

 to its population. These councils attend to strictly local affairs, but are not 

 permitted to discuss more general questions, except by special authority of 

 Government. Their sphere of action is somewhat more extensive than that 

 permitted to French communes. On the other hand, the burgomaster in Belgium 

 cannot be looked upon as representing the commune before the Government, any 

 more than the four or five aldermen, who form a court of their own, for they are all 

 appointed by the King. The aldermen are always chosen amongst tbe municipal 

 councillors, but any elector may be appointed burgomaster. 



The provinces are similarlj^ organized. The provincial councillors, elected by 

 their fellow-citizens, discuss and decide in provincial questions, and are hedged in 

 by all kinds of prescriptions to prevent their meddling in questions of politics. 

 Provincial councillors cannot be senators or members of the National Assembly ; 

 provincial councils can only publish proclamations by the consent of the provincial 

 governor, who has a right to close their extraordinary sessions, the ordinary ones 

 being limited to four weeks annually, A standing committee, presided over by 

 the governor of the province, represents the council when not in session. 



The members of the Chamber of Representatives and of the Senate are chosen 



