General Knowledge of Belgian Institutions and Languages
Institutions
Know the monarchy, the Federal Parliament, the Federal Government, the Communities and Regions, and the courts. Know the capital and the seat of institutions. Understand the linguistic regimes: the four linguistic regions (French, Dutch, German, bilingual Brussels-Capital) and the special protections for the linguistic minority in certain communes.
Know the language legislation on administrative matters and on judicial matters, including the use of languages in judicial proceedings and the right to interpretation. Know the role of the Standing Commission on Linguistic Control.
Languages
A magistrate must master the language of the proceedings and be able to understand the other national language at a sufficient level. Know the rules on language of procedure and on translation of documents.
Traps
Questions may confuse the linguistic regions with the Communities, or the seat of an institution with its competence. Do not assume that the language of the parties determines the language of the proceedings in every case.
Rule of thumb
For any institutional question, ask: which level, which territory, which language regime, and which legal basis?