Living together and rights
Rules and laws: why?
From house rules to the Constitution: rules help us live together and protect those who are weaker. Every rule has a maker, a reach and a consequence if you break it.
Topics
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Pick a topic. Every topic starts with a question, shows a picture to play with, explains how it works and lets you practise.
17 topics
Living together and rights
Rules and laws, your rights and duties at school, debating with respect and doing your bit for others.
- Living together and rights
Your rights and duties at school
At school you have rights and duties. The school rules say what is allowed, the pupil council gives you a say, and your personal data is protected.
- Living together and rights
Debating with respect and disagreeing well
You may disagree, but how you say it makes the difference. An argument is about the proposal, a fallacy about the person or about something nobody said.
- Living together and rights
Volunteering and getting involved
You can join in in many ways: in a youth movement, a sports club, your neighbourhood, a food bank or the youth council. Getting involved helps others and gives you something back too.
How Belgium works
Democracy, elections and seats, the municipality and the province, communities and regions, the federal state and the courts.
- How Belgium works
Democracy: deciding yourself or being represented
In a democracy the people decide. Sometimes everyone votes themselves, usually we elect representatives. The majority decides, but fundamental rights protect the minority too.
- How Belgium works
Elections and sharing out the seats
Who may vote, how do you vote in secret, and how do votes become seats? With the D'Hondt method you work out step by step who wins how many seats.
- How Belgium works
The municipality and the province
The municipality is the government closest to home: the municipal council decides, the college with the mayor carries it out. The province sits between the municipality and the region.
- How Belgium works
Communities and regions
Belgium has three communities and three regions. Communities take care of what has to do with people, regions of what has to do with the territory.
- How Belgium works
The federal state: Chamber, government and king
Belgium is a federal state. The Chamber has 150 members and a majority is 76. The government needs the confidence of the Chamber.
- How Belgium works
The separation of powers and the courts
Power is shared among three: the legislative, the executive and the judicial power. They check each other, and judges are independent.
Europe and the world
Human rights and children's rights, the European Union and the United Nations.
- Europe and the world
Human rights and children's rights
Human rights apply to everyone, everywhere. Children also have their own rights in the Convention on the Rights of the Child: protection, provision and participation.
- Europe and the world
The European Union
The EU has 27 member states, and Belgium is a founding country. The Commission proposes laws, the Parliament and the Council decide on them together.
- Europe and the world
The United Nations and international cooperation
The UN was founded in 1945 and has 193 member states. In the Security Council, 9 yes votes are needed and no permanent member may vote no.
Media and news
How news is made, checking facts, advertising and influencers, filter bubbles and opinions online.
- Media and news
How news is made
News starts with an event. Journalists look for sources, check facts and hear every side. The editors choose what goes in, because space is limited.
- Media and news
Checking facts and spotting disinformation
Not everything online is true. Watch for warning signs, find out who is behind it and do not forward anything you have not checked.
- Media and news
Advertising and influencers
Advertising must be recognisable. Influencers who are paid or get something for free must say so straight away and clearly, for example with #ad or paid partnership.
- Media and news
Filter bubbles and opinions online
Recommendation systems show you more of what you already clicked. That way you can end up in a filter bubble or an echo chamber. Varying on purpose and responding well help.