Chapter XCVII: Section II: Of the King

Article 60.
The constitutional powers of the King are hereditary in the
direct, natural and legitimate descent from His Majesty
Leopold-George-Christian-Frederick of Saxe-Coburg, from male
to male, by order of primogeniture, and to the perpetual
exclusion of the females of their line. The prince who marries
without the consent of the King or of those who, in his
absence, exercise his powers, in the cases provided for by the
Constitution, shall forfeit his rights. Nevertheless he can be
restored to his rights by the King or by those who, in his
absence, exercise his authority in the cases provided for by
the Constitution, with the consent of both Chambers.

Article 61.
In default of male descendants of his Majesty
Leopold-George-Christian-Frederick of Saxe-Coburg, the King
can name his successor, with the assent of the Chambers,
expressed in the manner prescribed by the following article.
If no nomination has been made according to the proceeding
here stated, the throne will be vacant.

Article 62.
The King cannot be, at the same time, the chief of another
State, without the consent of both Chambers. Neither of the
two Chambers can deliberate on this subject if two-thirds at
least of the members who compose it are not present, and the
resolution is adopted only if it receives two-thirds at least
of the votes cast.

Article 63.
The person of the King is inviolable; his ministers are
responsible.

Article 64.
No act of the King can have effect if it is not countersigned
by a minister, who, thereby, makes himself responsible.

Article 65.
The King appoints and dismisses his ministers.

Article 66.
He confers the grades in the army. He appoints to the offices
of general administration and of foreign relations, with the
exceptions determined by law. He appoints to other offices
only by virtue of express provisions of a law.

Article 67.
He makes the regulations and decrees necessary to the
execution of the laws, without power to suspend the laws
themselves, nor to exempt from their execution.

Article 68.
The King commands the land and naval forces, declares war,
makes treaties of peace, of alliance, and of commerce. He
announces them to the Chambers as soon as the interest and the
safety of the State admit of it, adding to them appropriate
communications. Treaties of commerce and those which might
burden the State or bind Belgians individually become
effective only after having received the approval of the
Chambers. No cession, nor exchange, nor addition of territory
can take place without authority of a law. In no case can the
secret articles of a treaty be destructive to the open
articles.

Article 69.
The King sanctions and promulgates the laws.

Article 70.
The Chambers meet by right every year, on the 2d Tuesday in
November, unless previously summoned by the King. The Chambers
must remain in session at least 40 days in each year. The King
declares the closing of the session. The King has the right to
call extra sessions of the Chambers.

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Article 71.
The King has the right to dissolve the Chambers, either
simultaneously or separately; the act of dissolution to
contain a convocation of the electors within forty days and of
the Chambers within two months.

Article 72.
The King may adjourn the Chambers. The adjournment, however,
cannot exceed the term of one month, nor be renewed in the
same session, without the consent of the Chambers.

Article 73.
He has the right to remit or to reduce penalties pronounced by
the judges, except those which are enacted concerning the
ministers.

Article 74.
He has the right to coin money, in execution of the law.

Article 75.
He has the right to confer titles of nobility, without power
to attach any privilege to them.

Article 76.
He confers the military orders, observing in that regard what
the law prescribes.

Article 77.
The law fixes the civil list for the duration of each reign.

Article 78.
The King has no other powers than those formally conferred on
him by the Constitution, and by laws enacted pursuant to the
Constitution.

Article 79.
On the death of the King, the Chambers meet without
convocation, not later than the tenth day after that of his
decease. If the Chambers had been previously dissolved, and if
the convocation had been fixed in the act of dissolution for a
later date than the tenth day, the old Chambers resume their
functions until the meeting of those which are to take their
place. If one Chamber only had been dissolved, the same rule
is followed with regard to that Chamber. From the death of the
King and until his successor on the throne or the regent has
taken the oath, the constitutional powers of the King, are
exercised, in the name of the Belgian nation, by the ministers
assembled in council and under their responsibility.

Article 80.
The King is of age when he has completed his 18th year. He
takes possession of the throne only after having solemnly
taken, in the midst of the Chambers assembled together, the
following oath: "I swear to observe the Constitution and the
laws of the Belgian people, to maintain the national
independence and to preserve the integrity of the territory."

Article 81.
If, on the death of the King, his successor is a minor, both
Chambers meet in one body for the purpose of providing for the
regency and the guardianship.

Article 82.
If it is impossible for the King to reign, the ministers,
after having caused that inability to be established, convoke
the Chambers immediately. Guardianship and regency are to be
provided for by the Chambers convened.

Article 83.
The regency can be conferred on one person only. The regent
enters upon his duties only after he has taken the oath
prescribed by Article 80.

Article 84.
No change can be made in the Constitution during a regency.

Article 85.
In case of a vacancy on the throne, the Chambers deliberating
together, arrange provisionally for the regency until the
meeting of new Chambers, that meeting to take place within two
months, at the latest. The new Chambers deliberating together
provide definitely for the vacancy.