For other uses of the term decree, see: Decree

Decree

A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...

.

Decree in Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

 refers to legislation

Legislation

Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...

 passed by community or regional parliaments, except by the Brussels Parliament

Brussels Parliament

The Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region , is the governing body of the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three regions of Belgium...

. Decrees have the same legal force as laws, the main difference being that laws can only be passed by the Federal Parliament

Belgian Federal Parliament

The Belgian Federal Parliament is a bicameral parliament. It consists of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate . It sits in the Palace of the Nation .- Chamber of Representatives :...

.

The following legislative assemblies have the power to pass decrees: the Flemish Parliament

Flemish Parliament

The Flemish Parliament constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural community of Belgium The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: , and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the...

, the Parliament of the French Community

Parliament of the French Community

The Parliament of the French Community is the legislative assembly of the French Community of Belgium based in the Quartier Royal....

, the Walloon Parliament

Walloon Parliament

The Walloon Parliament , formerly the Walloon Regional Council , is the Parliament of the Walloon Region, commonly called Wallonia, one of the self-governing Regions of Belgium with Flanders and the Brussels-Capital Region...

, the Parliament of the German-speaking Community

Parliament of the German-speaking Community

The Parliament of the German-speaking Community is the legislative assembly of the German-speaking Community of Belgium based in Eupen.The most important tasks of the Parliament of the German-speaking Community include the election and the supervision of the Government of the German-speaking...

 and the Assembly of the French Community Commission

French Community Commission

The Commission communautaire française is the local representative of the French-speaking authorities in the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three regions of Belgium....

, which is informally known as the Brussels Francophone Parliament. The Flemish

Flanders

Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...

 counterpart of the Brussels Francophone Parliament, the Council of the Flemish Community Commission

Flemish Community Commission

The Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie is the local representative of the Flemish authorities in the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three regions of Belgium...

, does not have the power to pass decrees. Instead, it legislates by regulation

Regulation (Brussels)

For other uses of the term regulation, see: Regulation.Regulation in Belgium refers to legislation passed by the Brussels Parliament in exercise of its agglomeration competences and by the Common Community Commission in certain cases....

.

Unlike laws, decrees are not subject to Royal Assent

Royal Assent

The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...

. Decrees are not signed and promulgated

Promulgation

Promulgation is the act of formally proclaiming or declaring a new statutory or administrative law after its enactment. In some jurisdictions this additional step is necessary before the law can take effect....

 by the King

Monarchy of Belgium

Monarchy in Belgium is constitutional and popular in nature. The hereditary monarch, at present Albert II, is the head of state and is officially called King of the Belgians .-Origins:...

, but instead they are promulgated by the community or regional government or, in case of the Brussels Francophone Parliament, by the College of the French Community Commission. Unlike ordinances

Ordinance (Belgium)

For other uses of the term ordinance, see: Ordinance.Ordinance in Belgium refers to legislation passed by the Brussels Parliament in exercise of its regional competences and by the United Assembly of the Common Community Commission...

, decrees are not subject to judicial review or to supervision by the Federal Government

Belgian federal government

The Cabinet of Belgium is the executive branch of the Belgian federal government, consisting of ministers and secretaries of state drawn from the political parties which form the governing coalition. Formally, the ministers are appointed by the King...

.