is prepared in one of the committees of the Senate. In addition to the standing committees, the Senate can set up special committees, working groups, advisory committees or joint committees (together with the Chamber). A standing committee consists of 20 senators. The political strength of the committees reflects the strength of the political groups in the plenary session. The Senate had three standing committees: Institutional Affairs Committee: deals mainly with issues related to the Constitution and the legislation on the organization and functioning of the Federal State and the federated entities. Transversal Affairs Committee: deals mainly with issues that are governed by rules and regulations of different state levels. Committee for Democratic Renewal and Citizenship. The Senate also has an Equal Opportunities Advisory Committee that focuses on equality between women and men. The Senate and the Chamber of Representatives have established three joint committees: Federal Advisory Committee on EU Affairs Parliamentary Committee for Law Evaluation Parliamentary Concertation Committee: this committee deals with all issues relating to the legislative processes where both the Senate and the Chamber are involved in. Non-permanent body Given its limited legislative power, since the reform of 2014, the Senate holds about ten plenary sessions a year. The standing committees of the Senate, however, determine their own meeting schedule. Current composition This is the composition of the Senate following the federal and regional elections of May 26, 2019. * Including the senator of the German-speaking community By political family Far-right 7 Conservative 9 Liberals 12 Christian-democrats 7 Socialists 11 Ecologists 9 Far-left 5 See also Belgian Chamber of Representatives Belgian Federal Parliament List of presidents of the Belgian Senate Politics of Belgium Notes References External links 1831 establishments in Belgium Belgium