How does the Parliament of the German-speaking Community work?

The Parliament of the German-speaking Community is the lawmaker of the Belgian German-speaking Community.

The powers of the Parliament of the German-speaking Community are similar to those of the Parliament of the French-speaking Community and of the Flemish Parliament. The Parliament of the German-speaking Community can be compared with the Parliaments of the German and Austrian “Länder”.

The population directly elects 25 deputies who sit in the parliament. The parliamentarians of the German-speaking Community adopt decrees in the name of the German-speaking Belgians in the competence fields of the community.

Standing orders

In order to work effectively, the Parliament of the German-speaking Community sets up an internal structure with standing orders. The standing orders determine the role of the Parliament’s President and of the Bureau and decide on the way that the committees work and the votes take place.

The parliamentary groups

In order to be more effective, the parliamentarians gather together within parliamentary groups. Usually, members of the same political party constitute these groups.

Parliamentary administration

The deputies of the German-speaking Community have an administration that undertakes works such as the preparation of minutes and the printing of documents. The parliamentary administration also advises the elected deputies on legal matters e.g.