Legislative circonscriptions (Luxembourg)

A legislative circonscription is a multi-member electoral constituency that elects representatives ('deputies') to Luxembourg's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.

Electoral law in Luxembourg is dictated by Article 51, 52, and 53 of the constitution.^[1] The number of deputies is set at sixty,^[2] and boundaries of the circonscriptions are based on administrative, cantonal boundaries.^[3] As a result, the circonscriptions have greatly differing populations, so each elects a different number of deputies, dependent upon the share of the national population.^[4]

Suffrage is universal and compulsory amongst adult resident citizens not otherwise disqualified.^[5] Luxembourg's electoral system is a form of the Hagenbach-Bischoff System (a variant of the d'Hondt method), which allocates seats to party lists by proportion of the votes won in each circonscription. Under Luxembourg's system, each citizen may vote for as many candidates as there are deputies elected from that constituency. As a result, the national popular vote has no significance, as it reflects only the number of votes cast, and not the number of voters or the number of deputies elected.

Circonscriptions

The four legislative circonscriptions of Luxembourg

There are four legislative circonscriptions in Luxembourg:

1. Centre includes the cantons of Luxembourg and Mersch, both of which are in the district of Luxembourg. As of 2005, Centre has an estimated population of 151,166 and elects 21 deputies.
2. Est (English: East) is coterminous with the district of Grevenmacher, and includes the cantons of Echternach, Grevenmacher and Remich. As of 2005, Est has an estimated population of 53,842 and elects 7 deputies.
3. Nord (English: North) is coterminous with the district of Diekirch, and includes the cantons of Clervaux, Diekirch, Redange, Vianden, and Wiltz. As of 2005, Nord has an estimated population of 70,826 and elects 9 deputies.
4. Sud (English: South) includes the cantons of Capellen and Esch-sur-Alzette, both of which are in the district of Luxembourg. As of 2005, Sud has an estimated population of 184,256 and elects 23 deputies.

References

1. (French) Constitution et droits de l'homme. 25 November 2004. Service central de legislation. URL accessed 9 May 2006.
2. Constitution, Article 51(3).
3. Constitution, Article 51(6).
4. Council of State, 15 July 1993.
5. Constitution, Articles 52(1), 52(2).