Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/813

BELGIUM. was cuuiposcil, in U)00, of 102 members, of wliuiii 76 were chosen by the direct suii'rage of citizens over the age of 30, and 20 by the provincial councils. The Chamber of Deputies, which numbered 152 in 11)00, is elected l)y the direct suilrage of every citizen over the age of 25. The Cluinibers meet annually for a session of at least 40 days, but the ]iover of prorogation and dissolution rests with the King. Bills deal- ing with the revenue and the annual contingent for the army must originate in the Lower House. Superimposed on nianliood sulTrage. which makes every male Belgian not legally disqualified an elector, there is the system of plural suii'rage, which gives an additional vote to citizens over 35 years of age possessing legitimate issue and paying at least five francs a year in house-tax, as well as to citizens owning real estate to the value of 2000 francs, and two additional votes to professional men and the holders of diplo- mas from institutions of higher learning. In moo about 1,450,000 electors east about 2.240,000 votes. By the law of December 29, 1891), the metliod of proportional representation was initi- ated, according to which every party is repre- sented in the Cliambers in the proportion of its vote to the total poll. The efl'cct upon the relations of political parties was immediate. The Catholics were deprived of the absolute ascendency they enjoyed under the majority system, and a formidable opposition was created, composed of Socialists and Liberals, to the lat- ter of whom the new measure was especially welcome, in that it rescued them from the state of almost total insignificance to which they had been reduced. For arms of the country, see plate accompanying Heraldkt.

Local Government. — Belgium is divided into 9 provinces, each under a governor appointed by the Crown. The provincial council, which is chosen by direct suH'rage for a period of eiglit years, deliberates on matters of local finance and administration, sanitation, roads, and police, and assesses direct contributions toward the State among the communes. Its acts are subject to the approval of the King. A permanent deputa- tion, consisting of the governor and six men chosen from the council, serves as an executive committee, and directs pulilic affairs when the council is not in session. The provinces are sub- divided into 41 arrondissements for administra- tive purposes, and into 20 judicial arrondisse- ments, which are the seats of high courts of original jurisdiction; and these are again por- tioned out into 215 cantons, each under a justice of the peace. The ultimate unit of local govern- ment is the commune. In 1899 there were 2612 communes. Of these, 86 bore the ancient title of ville, or town. The affairs of the commune are debated and decided in the communal coun- cil, varying in membership from 7 to 51. and elected directly for a period of eight years by all resident citizens above the age of 25. In com- munes of more than 2000 inhabitants, supple- mentary councilors are elected by employes and working men. The comnuuial council exercises inde])cndent jurisdiction over local affairs, but deliberates also on matters delegated to it by the general or provincial government. The execu- tive work of the commune is carried on by an aldermanic college, consisting of a burgomaster appointed by the King, and two or four alder- men elected by the communal college.

Justice in the case of petty civil disputes and minor offenses is administered by the justice of the peace, from whose decision there is no appeal in judgments involving less than 100 francs (.$20). or a penalty of not more than five days' imprisonment. For the trial of important civil cases there are 26 courts of first instance, while misdemeanors are brought before the tribunals of correction, and serious crimes and press offenses before jury courts of assizes sit- ting four times a year in every province. From the civil courts and the coins d'assise appeals lie to the cours d'appel at Brussels, Ghent, and Li&ge. The Court of Cassation, or supreme court, does not examine the facts of any case, but will reverse a decision of the lower courts where legal formalities liave been violated. There are in addition special military and com- meix-ial courts and councils of prud'kommcs for the arbitration of labor disputes, composed of workmen and employes.

AEitY. The army of Belgium is intended only for the purpose of national defense and the preservation of neutrality, wars of aggression being forbidden by the Constitution. The army is recruited mainly by voluntary enlistment, but conscription by lot from among all male Belgians over the age of nineteen is resorted to whenever enlistment does not supply the full quota fixed by Parliament for the year. Sub- stitution is allowed. The contingent raised by conscription for the year 1901 amounted to 13,- 300 men — the usual annual quota. In addition to the Regular Army of 51.552 men there is the Civil Guard, comprising aliout 40.000 men. The war strength is about 143.000 men. The terms of military service are eight years in the active forces (of which time two-thirds are sjient on furlough) and five years in the reserve. See article Armies. Belgium has no navy.

History. Belgium takes its name from the ancient Celtic people called the Belgoe (q.v. ). The Roman Province of Gallia Belgica embraced a much greater area than modern Belgium, ex- tending from the mouth of the Scheldt nearly to the Seine, and from the Strait of Dover to the range of the V'o.sges. In the Fourth Century the CTermanic people of the Franks pressed forward into this region, and in the Fifth Century they became masters of it. After the disru])lion of the Frankish realm in the Ninth Century, the bulk of what is now Belgium was included in the Duchy of Lorraine (Lotharingia), which formed part of the realm of the Eastern Franks (kingdom of Germany), while in the extreme west arose the county of Flanders, a fief of the kings of France. In the Tenth Century the northern half of Lorraine became the Duchy of Lower Lorraine, the name of which was sup- planted by that of Brabant in the Thirteenth Century. Brabant was one of several States that were formed out of the Lotharingian territories, the group including Limburg (annexed to Bra- bant in 1288), Hainault, Namur. Mechlin, Lux- emburg, and the ecclesiastical principality of Li6ge. In the latter part of the Middle Ages Flanders (which successfully withstood the en- croachments of France) and Brabant attained to an almost unexampled degree of prosjierit}'. Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels, and other cities became the seats of a vast industry and commerce, and the arts flourished as nowhere else outside of Italy. In 1384 Flanders was