Sovereignty in the Belgian constitution: its 1831 meaning and its implications for political participation today. KU Leuven
The phrase “Tous les pouvoirs émanent de la Nation” (art. 33) is often considered the keystone of the Belgian constitution, purportedly expressing the drafters’ view on sovereignty. Yet the phrase has generated a multitude of interpretations. Today, most public law textbooks claim that the phrase gives sovereignty to the nation (a fictitious, transgenerational entity) as opposed to the people (the currently existing citizens). This research ...