![]() ![]() On the other hand, what is actually talked about behind the closed doors of the palace is not known. Because this advice is a matter of public record, the King cannot easily take a direction that is contrary to the advice of a majority in parliament. When the formation talks have been concluded the King appoints the cabinet. The monarch used to appoint the informateur until 2012, who chairs the formation talks, after consulting the fractievoorzitters (parliamentary leaders) of all parties represented in the lower house of the States General. Since coalition cabinets of two or more parties are the rule, this process has influenced on government policy for years to come. The monarch also plays a central role in the formation of a cabinet after general elections or a cabinet crisis. Although the current king takes these functions seriously, he refrains from exerting his power in these positions. The monarch is also ex officio chair of the Council of State, which advises the cabinet on every piece of legislation and is the final court for administrative law. He has to co-sign every law to make it valid. The heir apparent is the Princess of Orange, Catharina-Amalia.Ĭonstitutionally, the monarch is head of state and has a role in the legislative process. Between 18, the King of the Netherlands was also Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The House of Orange-Nassau was given the present-day Netherlands and Belgium to govern as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. The new monarchy was confirmed in 1815 at the Congress of Vienna as part of the re-arrangement of Europe after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte. After the expulsion of the French, the Prince of Orange was proclaimed Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands. The present monarchy was founded in 1813. The Netherlands has been a monarchy since 16 March 1815, but has been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau (by chosen and later hereditary stadtholders) since 1556, when William of Orange-Nassau was appointed stadtholder and led the successful Dutch Revolt against Spain. Main articles: Monarchy of the Netherlands and List of monarchs of the Netherlands For administrative law the Raad van State is the highest court, which is ex officio chaired by the King. For civil and criminal law the independent Supreme Court is the highest court. The judicial power is divided into two separate systems of courts. The Social-Economic Council also has the special right to make and enforce legislation in specific sectors, mostly in agriculture. The executive power is reserved for government. All legislation has to pass through the Council of State (Dutch: Raad van State) for advice and the Social-Economic Council advises the government on most social-economic legislation. It is important to realise that the Netherlands does not have a traditional separation of powers: according to the Constitution the States General and the government (the King and the Ministers) share the legislative power. ![]() Although not mentioned in the Constitution, political parties and the social partners organised in the Social Economic Council are important political institutions as well. Other levels of government are the municipalities, the water boards and the provinces. There are three other High Colleges of state, which stand on equal foot with parliament but have a less political role, of which the Council of State is the most important. Major political institutions are the monarchy, the cabinet, the States General and the judicial system. After parliament has been dissolved and general elections are held, both Houses must approve the proposed amendments with a two-thirds vote. ![]() The first time around, this requires a majority vote. Īmendments to the constitution must be approved by both Houses of the States General ( Staten-Generaal) twice. Furthermore, all legislation that is not a law in the strict sense of the word (such as policy guidelines or laws proposed by provincial or municipal government) can be tested on their constitutionality. International treaties and the Statute of the Kingdom, however, overrule Dutch law and the constitution, and judges are allowed to review laws against these in a particular court case. The Netherlands does not have a constitutional court and judges do not have the authority to review laws on their constitutionality. ![]() The Netherlands comprises all of the European territory and also the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. The Kingdom as a whole has its own Statute, describing its federate political system. The constitution applies to the Netherlands, one of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (along with Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten). The Dutch Constitution lists the basic civil and social rights of the Dutch citizens and it describes the position and function of the institutions that have executive, legislative and judiciary power. Main article: Constitution of the Netherlands ![]()
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