2 Euro BU

The origins of the Chamber of Deputies (Abgeordnetenkammer) are connected with the political reorganization of Luxembourg in the 19th century. The Grand Duchy had been created in 1815 and was initially linked in personal union with the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Following the territorial division of 1839, the remaining Luxembourg received an estate-based representative body in 1841. The European revolutionary movement of 1848 subsequently led to a more liberal constitution and the establishment of an elected “Chambre des Députés”. This body was granted more extensive powers in legislation, taxation and the state budget.

At that time, however, the representative body was still based on restricted suffrage, which was tied in particular to gender and property. Universal suffrage for women and men was not introduced until 1919. In today’s parliamentary system, the Chamber passes laws, approves the budget and oversees the government. It consists of 60 deputies elected in four constituencies by proportional representation.

The parliament building is located in the historic centre of Luxembourg City, directly next to the Palais. It was built in the 19th century specifically as the seat of the representative body and has been used for parliamentary work since 1860. The physical proximity of the Chamber and the Palais also makes the coexistence of the two constitutional organs visible.

Grand Duke Henri has been Luxembourg’s head of state since 2000. His duties are limited by the constitution; political responsibility lies with the government, which must be accountable to Parliament. The pairing of his portrait with the seat of Parliament thus refers to Luxembourg’s system of government as a parliamentary monarchy.

The choice of this theme is explained by the role of 1848 as the starting point of today’s parliamentary institution. It therefore commemorates not a single resolution, but the development of representative legislation and the constitutional participation of the population over a long period.