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Institutions — page 3

How the country is run: the Grand Duke, the Chamber of Deputies, the Council of State, the government, communes, chambers and courts — the section the exam weights heaviest. 166 questions in this section; the exam draws 20 of its 40 from here.

61.A 'projet de loi' is…
- ✓A draft law introduced by the GOVERNMENT
- bA Grand-Ducal regulation
- cA draft law introduced by a DEPUTY
Why: Government bill = projet de loi; a deputy's initiative = proposition de loi.
62.How often are legislative elections held?
- aEvery 4 years
- ✓Every 5 years
- cEvery 6 years
Why: Every 5 years (last: October 2023), same rhythm as municipal elections (June 2023).
63.How many professional chambers exist in Luxembourg?
- ✓Six — three for employers, three for employees
- bTwelve
- cTwo
Why: Employers: Commerce, Trades (Métiers), Agriculture. Employees: Private Employees, Civil Servants & Public Employees, Labour.
64.How many members does the Constitutional Court have?
- aFive
- ✓Nine, seated in Luxembourg
- cTwenty-one
Why: Cour constitutionnelle: 9 members, seat in Luxembourg City. It rules on the constitutionality of laws, except those approving treaties.
65.How is the municipal council chosen?
- aDrawn by lot
- bAppointed by the government
- ✓Directly elected by residents every 6 years
Why: Direct election every 6 years; resident foreigners may vote (registration required, no length-of-residence condition anymore).
66.Who heads the Public Prosecution Office (parquet)?
- aThe Minister of Justice
- ✓The State Public Prosecutor (procureur général d'État)
- cThe Grand Duke
Why: The parquet investigates offences and represents the state before the courts.
67.Magistrates' courts (justices de paix) handle civil claims up to…
- aunlimited amounts
- b€1,000
- ✓€15,000
Why: Small civil/commercial claims up to €15,000; bigger cases go to the district courts.
68.Which court deals with child and youth protection cases?
- aThe Administrative Court
- bThe police court
- ✓The Juvenile and Guardianship Court
Why: A section of the district court handling minors and guardianship.
69.Is voting compulsory in Luxembourg?
- ✓Yes, for registered voters
- bNo, always optional
- cOnly for civil servants
Why: Compulsory for Luxembourgers 18–75 registered on the rolls; excuses needed for absence.
70.How many judges sit in the Court of Cassation?
- ✓Five, in a single chamber
- bNine
- cThirty-five
Why: Cour de cassation: one chamber with 5 judges; it reviews Court of Appeal rulings and last-instance district court judgements.
71.Can the Chamber of Deputies be dissolved?
- aNo, never
- ✓Yes — the Grand Duke may dissolve it, triggering new elections within 3 months
- cOnly by referendum
Why: Dissolution → elections; used e.g. in 2013 (Juncker government crisis).
72.Through which house is the Luxembourg crown transmitted?
- aThe House of Habsburg
- bThe House of Bourbon
- ✓The House of Nassau
Why: Specifically the Nassau-Weilburg line since 1890.
73.What is the highest ordinary court?
- ✓The Supreme Court of Justice (Cour supérieure de justice)
- bThe Administrative Court
- cThe Constitutional Court
Why: Includes the Court of Cassation and the Court of Appeal.
74.Does the number of ministerial departments usually match the number of ministers?
- aYes, exactly one each
- ✓No — departments generally exceed ministers, so one minister holds several portfolios
- cThere is only one department
Why: A single minister normally holds more than one portfolio.
75.Petitions to the Chamber reaching 4,500 signatures lead to…
- aNothing
- ✓A public debate in parliament
- cAutomatic adoption as law
Why: The public-petition threshold triggers a debate with ministers — participation tool worth knowing.
76.Who commands and what is the role of the Grand Duke today?
- aChief judge
- bAbsolute ruler
- ✓Head of state with mainly representative/formal powers
Why: Represents the state, promulgates laws, formally appoints the government — political power lies with government and parliament.
77.Who appoints the mayor?
- aThe municipal council by secret ballot
- ✓The Grand Duke, from elected municipal councillors
- cThe Minister of the Interior directly
Why: Formally appointed by the Grand Duke among elected councillors (proposed by the council majority).
78.What form of state is Luxembourg?
- aA republic
- ✓A parliamentary democracy in the form of a constitutional monarchy
- cAn absolute monarchy
Why: Constitutional monarchy + parliamentary democracy — the standard exam phrasing.
79.Luxembourg City has been the seat of European institutions since…
- a1815
- b1992
- ✓1952, when it hosted the ECSC High Authority
Why: Today: CJEU, EIB, Court of Auditors, Eurostat, EP Secretariat.
80.How large is Luxembourg's territory?
- a1,200 km²
- b5,000 km²
- ✓2,586 km²
Why: About 85% of it is farmland or forest.
81.Luxembourg is geographically divided into which two regions?
- aArdennes and Alps
- ✓The Oesling (north) and the Gutland (south)
- cThe Minett and Schengen
Why: The Oesling covers about 828 km²; the Gutland the remaining ~68%, including the Moselle valley and the Minett.
82.What is Luxembourg's highest point?
- a1,200 m in the Alps
- ✓About 560 m, near Wilwerdange in the Oesling
- c300 m at Schengen
Why: The Kneiff/Buurgplaatz area in the far north.
83.What is the national anthem?
- aLa Marseillaise
- ✓Ons Heemecht, with lyrics dating from 1859
- cDe Wilhelmus
Why: 'Our Homeland' — the first and last verses are sung officially.
84.Which is the 'Minett'?
- aThe Moselle wine region
- bThe northern uplands
- ✓The southern iron-ore mining region
Why: Named after 'minette' iron ore — the cradle of Luxembourg's steel industry.
85.Which advisory bodies must be consulted in the legislative process?
- aOnly the Constitutional Court
- bThe European Commission
- ✓The Council of State, the professional chambers and (where relevant) the Economic and Social Council
Why: Exactly the advisory bodies named in the official exam syllabus.
86.Which specialised courts exist alongside the ordinary and administrative orders?
- aThe Military Court
- bThe Tax Court and the Family Court
- ✓The Labour Court and the Social Court
Why: Both appear explicitly in the official exam syllabus.
87.Which judges are irremovable (inamovibles) under the Constitution?
- aAll civil servants
- ✓The judges of the bench (magistrats du siège)
- cThe state prosecutors
Why: Irremovability protects judicial independence; retirement is regulated by law for age or infirmity.
88.What does 'no one may be diverted from the judge assigned by law' mean?
- aJudges are chosen by lot
- ✓Cases must go to the court legally competent for them — no special ad-hoc tribunals
- cYou may pick your own judge
Why: A guarantee of the lawful judge, in the Constitution's rights section.
89.Which body decides whether a law conflicts with the Constitution when a court asks?
- aThe Court of Cassation
- bThe Council of State
- ✓The Constitutional Court, on a preliminary question
Why: Any court may refer the question; laws approving treaties are excluded.
90.The Public Prosecution Office (ministère public) is responsible for…
- aJudging civil disputes
- bAdvising on bills
- ✓Investigating offences and representing the state before the courts
Why: Headed by the State Public Prosecutor (procureur général d'État).

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