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1. Main concepts

2. Institutions of representative democracy

Main concepts

Participation is understood as encompassing both social and political dimensions.

In Luxembourg, youth policy is closely linked to non-formal education. Most activities in the youth sector are based on voluntary participation: young people choose freely whether and how they want to take part. Participation is therefore not an additional objective of youth policy, but a core principle that is embedded in everyday youth work.

By taking part in non-formal education activities, young people already actively participate in society. This engagement helps them build self-confidence, develop social and civic skills, and feel recognised and valued. Participation thus supports the personal development of young people and at the same time contributes to a more inclusive and cohesive society.

For these reasons, participation is a key pillar of youth policy in Luxembourg, in line with national priorities and international youth policy frameworks. The current government programme places a strong emphasis on strengthening youth participation in a systematic way. It aims to ensure that young people have meaningful, accessible and effective opportunities to participate in decision-making processes at both local and national levels.

Institutions of representative democracy

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. It is a centralised state. The Grand Duke is the Head of State and holds executive power jointly with the government. At the national level, legislative power is vested in both the Government and the Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés), a unicameral parliament whose members are directly elected for a term of 5 years. The Council of State (Conseil d’État) acts as an advisory body in the legislative process.

At the local level, Luxembourg is divided into municipalities (communes). Each municipality is governed by a municipal council (conseil communal), whose members are directly elected for a six-year term by the inhabitants of the municipality who are entitled to vote. 

Luxembourg does not have a regional level of government with legislative powers.

Elections are based on universal suffrage and are conducted by secret ballot. Voting in national elections is compulsory for registered voters residing in Luxembourg. Voting may take place in person at polling stations or by postal vote. Electronic voting is not permitted in Luxembourg.