Legal System of Luxembourg
Luxembourg is located in Europe. It is geographically situated in western europe, between france and germany. The country achieved independence on 1839 (from the netherlands). The capital is Luxembourg.
Government Overview
Government Type: constitutional monarchy Chief of State: Grand Duke GUILLAUME (since 3 October 2025) Head of Government: Prime Minister Luc FRIEDEN (since 17 November 2023) Cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the monarch Administrative Divisions: 12 cantons; Capellen, Clervaux, Diekirch, Echternach, Esch-sur-Alzette, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, Mersch, Redange, Remich, Vianden, Wiltz National Holiday: National Day (birthday of Grand Duke HENRI), 23 June Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Legal System
The legal system of Luxembourg is described as civil law system International Law: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Constitutional Framework
The constitution has the following history: previous 1842 (heavily amended 1848, 1856); latest effective 17 October 1868 Amendment Process: proposed by the Chamber of Deputies or by the monarch to the Chamber; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Chamber in two successive readings three months apart; a referendum can be substituted for the second reading if approved by more than a quarter of the Chamber members or by 25,000 valid voters; adoption by referendum requires a majority of all valid voters
Judicial Branch
Highest Court(s): Supreme Court of Justice includes Court of Appeal and Court of Cassation (consists of 27 judges on 9 benches); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) Judge Selection: judges of both courts appointed by the monarch for life Subordinate Courts: Court of Accounts; district and local tribunals and courts
Legislative Branch
The legislative structure consists of unicameral Note: note: a 21-member Council of State is appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister and serves as an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies
Citizenship and Suffrage
Citizenship by Birth: limited to situations where the parents are either unknown, stateless, or when the nationality law of the parents’ state of origin does not permit acquisition of citizenship by descent when the birth occurs outside of national territory Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Luxembourg Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Historical Background
Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands after the Congress of Vienna. When Belgium declared independence from the Netherlands in 1839, Luxembourg lost more than half of its territory to Belgium but gained a larger measure of autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Luxembourg gained full independence in 1867 by promising to remain permanently neutral.
This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Luxembourg based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.