As titular head of state, the King plays a largely ceremonial and symbolic role in the nation. His primary political function is to designate a political leader to attempt to form a new cabinet following either an election, the resignation of a government, or a parliamentary vote of no confidence. The King is seen as playing a symbolic unifying role, representing a common national Belgian identity.

The Belgian Parliament consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The House of Representatives has 150 directly elected members. The Senate has 71 elected members. The executive branch of the government consists of ministers and secretaries of state (junior ministers) drawn from the political parties that form the government coalition. The number of ministers is limited to 15, and they have no seat in Parliament. The Council of Ministers is chaired by the Prime Minister and consists of the ministerial heads of the executive departments.

The allocation of powers between the Parliament and the Council of Ministers is somewhat similar to the United States--the Parliament enacts legislation and appropriates funds--but the Belgian Parliament does not have the same degree of independent power that the U.S. Congress has. Members of political parties represented in the government are expected to support all bills presented by the Cabinet. The House of Representatives is the "political" body that votes on motions of confidence and budgets. The Senate deals with long-term issues and votes on an equal footing with the Chamber on a limited range of matters, including constitutional reform bills and international treaties.

The parties in the current House are the Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V) and New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), 30 seats; Francophone Liberals (MR), 23 seats; Francophone Socialists (PS), 20 seats; Flemish Liberals (Open VLD), 18 seats; Flemish Far Right (VB), 17 seats; Flemish Socialists (SP.A) and Spirit 14 seats; Francophone Christian Democrats (CDH), 10 seats; Francophone Greens ( Ecolo) 8 seats; List Dedecker, 5 seats; Flemish Greens (Groen!) 4 seats; Francophone Far Right (FN), 1 seat.

The Prime Minister and his ministers administer the government and the various public services. Ministers must defend their policies and performance in person before the House.