The Netherlands

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Netherlands Motto: Je Maintiendrai (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven, English: I Shall Uphold) Anthem: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Capital Amsterdam1 Largest city Amsterdam Official language(s) Dutch2 Government Parliamentary democracy Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Beatrix  - Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende Independence Eighty Years War   - Declared July 26, 1581   - Recognised January 30, 1648 (by Spain... Image File history File links Coat_of_arms_of_the_Netherlands. ...

Kingdom of the Netherlands Charter Constitution Monarchy Queen Beatrix Cabinet (list, present) Prime Minister (list) Jan Peter Balkenende Parliament First Chamber (list) Second Chamber (list) Political parties Politicians Elections (2006) Council of State Supreme Court Provinces Municipalities EU Politics Foreign relations Terminology Political currents: Liberalism Socialism Christian Democracy

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The Politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state. Dutch politics and governance are characterised by a common strife for broad consensus on important issues, within both the political community and society as a whole. Dutch Cuisine is shaped by the agricultural produce and history of the Netherlands. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Dutch have a code of etiquette, the code that governs the expectations of social behaviour, and it is considered very important. ... The population of the Netherlands is concentrated on a limited territory. ... Holidays in the Netherlands: Categories: | | ... The drug policy of the Netherlands is based on 2 principles: Drug use is a public health issue, not a criminal matter A distinction between hard drugs and soft drugs exists It is a pragmatic policy. ... In 2002 Netherlands legalized euthanasia. ... Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands. ... The Netherlands has allowed same-sex marriage since April 1, 2001, the first country to do so. ... Pillarisation (Verzuiling in Dutch, Pilarisation in French) is a term used to describe the way the Dutch and Belgians used to deal with their multicultural (but not multiethnic) societies. ... A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in U.S. English), is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... Representative democracy is a form of democracy founded on the exercise of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... // Le de décentralisation de de est le processus de la dispersion prise de décision plus près du point de service ou action. ... A map showing the unitary states. ... Political scientists define a consociational state as a state which has major internal divisions along ethnic, religious, or linguistic lines, yet nonetheless manages to remain stable, due to consultation among the elites of each of its major social groups. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Constitution

Main article: Constitution of the Netherlands The present constitution of the Netherlands dates back to 1815. ...

The 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. Civil rights or positive rights are those legal rights retained by citizens and protected by the government. ... Social rights refer to what are usually positive rights, which ensure to all people a fair standard of treatment. ...

It should be noted that the constitution of the Netherlands is only applicable in the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Kingdom as a whole has its own Statute, describing its federate political system which also includes the Caribbean islands of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Federation. ...

The Netherlands do not have a Constitutional Court and judges do not have the authority to review laws 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. 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. A Constitutional Court is a high court found in many countries which deals primary with constitutional law. ... Judicial review is the power of a court to review a a law or an official act of a government employee or agent for constitutionality or (in some jurisdictions) for the violation of basic principles of justice. ... Single European Act A treaty is a binding agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely states and international organizations. ...

Amendments to the constitution must be approved by both Houses of the States-General twice. The first time around, this requires a simple majority of fifty percent plus one vote. After parliament has been dissolved and general elections are held, both Houses must approve the proposed amendments with a two thirds majority. The Estates-General (Staten-Generaal) is the parliament of the Netherlands. ... Elections in the Netherlands gives information on election and election results in the Netherlands. ...

Political Institutions

Major political institutions are the monarchy, the cabinet, the States General (parliament) and the judicial system. 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. Other levels of government are the municipalities, the waterboards and the provinces. Although not mentioned in the constitution, political parties and the social partners organised in the Social Economic Council are important political institutions as well.

It is important to realise that the Netherlands does not have a traditional separation of powers: according to the States-General and the government (the Queen and cabinet) share the legislative power. All legislation has to pass through the Raad van State and the social-economic council advises the government on most social-economic legislation. The executive power is reserved for government. Note however that the Social-Economic Council has the special right to make and enforce legislation on several sectors, mostly in agriculture. The judicial power is divided into two separate systems of courts. For criminal law the independent Hoge Raad is the highest court. For administrative law the Raad van State is the highest court, which is ex officio chaired by the Queen. The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Separation of powers a term coined by French political Enlightenment thinker Baron de Montesquieu[1][2], is a model for the governance of democratic states. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... The judiciary, also referred to as the judicature, consists of justices, judges and magistrates among other types of adjudicators. ... Criminal law (also known as penal law) is the body of statutory and common law that deals with crime and the legal punishment of criminal offenses. ... Hoge Raad der Nederlanden is the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, situated in The Hague. ... Administrative law in the United States often relates to, or arises from, so-called independent agencies- such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Here is FTCs headquarters in Washington D.C. Administrative law (or regulatory law) is the body of law that arises from the activities of administrative agencies... The Council of State is the name of an organ of government in many states, and especially in republics. ...

Monarchy

Queen Beatrix, the current Dutch monarch

Main article: Dutch Monarchy Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Netherlands have been an independent monarchy since March 16, 1815, and have been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau since. ...

The Netherlands have been a monarchy since March 16, 1815, and have been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau ever since. “Kingdom” redirects here. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... April 5-12: Mount Tambora explodes, changing climate. ... The House of Orange-Nassau (in Dutch: Huis van Oranje-Nassau), a branch of the German House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands - and at times in Europe - since William I of Orange (also known as William the Silent and Father of...

The present monarchy was originally founded in 1813. After the expulsion of the French, the Prince of Orange was proclaimed Sovereign Prince 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. The House of Orange-Nassau were given the present day Netherlands and Belgium to govern as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Between 1815 and 1890, the King of the Netherlands was also Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the principality of Orange in southern France. ... April 5-12: Mount Tambora explodes, changing climate. ... The Congress of Vienna by Jean-Baptiste Isabey, 1819. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Bonaparte as general Napoleon Bonaparte ( 15 August 1769 Р5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution and was the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from November 11, 1799 to May 18, 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des... Map of the kingdom United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815 - 1830) (1839) (Dutch: Verenigd Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, French: Royaume-Uni des Pays-Bas and German: Vereinigte K̦nigreich der Niederlande) were the unofficial names used to refer to a new unified European state created during the Congress of Vienna in... Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy whose Head of State is the Grand Duke of Luxembourg (or Grand Duchess of Luxembourg in the exceptional but twice occurred event of the sovereign being female). ...

The current monarch is Queen Beatrix. The heir apparent is Willem-Alexander, her son. Beatrix, Queen of the Netherlands (born January 31, 1938 as Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, Prinses der Nederlanden, Prinses van Oranje-Nassau, Prinses van Lippe-Biesterfeld) has been the queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands since April 30, 1980. ... The Netherlands applied Salic law until 1884 when King William IIIs last male heir died and Staten-Generaal adopted agnatic-cognatic primogeniture making Princess Wilhelmina heiress presumptive. ... Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, (Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand Prins van Oranje, Prins der Nederlanden, Prins van Oranje-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg, born April 27, 1967) is the eldest son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and is the heir apparent to the Dutch throne, with the style...

Constitutionally, the Queen is head of state and has a role in the formation of government and in the legislative process. She has to co-sign every law to make it valid. 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. Although the Queen takes these functions seriously, she refrains from exerting her power in these positions. The Queen also plays a central role in the formation of a cabinet after general elections or a cabinet crisis. Since coalition cabinets of two or more parties are the rule, this process has influence on government policy for years to come. She appoints the (in)formateur, who chairs the formation talks, after consulting the leaders of all parties represented in parliament. When the formation talks have been concluded the Queen appoints the cabinet. Because this advice is a matter of public record, the Queen can not easily take a direction which is contrary to the advice of a majority in parliament. On the other hand, what is actually talked about behind the closed doors of the palace is not known. When a cabinet falls, the prime minister has to request the Queen to dismiss the cabinet. Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... In the Netherlands, the Council of State is a constitutionally established advisory body to the government which consists of members of the royal family and Crown-appointed members generally having political, commercial, diplomatic, or military experience. ... Administrative law in the United States often relates to, or arises from, so-called independent agencies- such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Here is FTCs headquarters in Washington D.C. Administrative law (or regulatory law) is the body of law that arises from the activities of administrative agencies... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... Elections in the Netherlands gives information on election and election results in the Netherlands. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

Cabinet

Main article: Cabinet of the Netherlands The cabinet of the Netherlands or council of ministers plans and implements government policy. ...

The government of the Netherlands constitutionally consists of the Queen and the cabinet ministers. The Queen's role is limited to the formation of government and she does not actively interfere in daily decision-making. The ministers together form the Council of Ministers. This executive council initiates laws and policy. It meets every Friday in the Trêveszaal at the Binnenhof. While most of the ministers head government ministries, since 1939 it has been permissible to appoint ministers without portfolio. There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... The Binnenhof (Dutch, lit. ... A Minister without Portfolio is a government minister with no specific responsibilities. ...

The Cabinet is composed of all cabinet ministers and junior ministers, the staatssecretarissen. Junior ministers take over part of responsibilities of minister. They only attend the meetings of the Council of Ministers if the Council invites them regarding a specific subject. There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

The Council of Ministers makes decisions by means of collegiate governance. All ministers, including the Prime Minister, are (theoretically) equal. Behind the closed doors of the Trêveszaal, ministers can freely debate proposed decisions and express their opinion on any aspect of cabinet policy. Once a decision is made by the council, all individual members are bound by it and are obliged to support it publicly. If a member of the cabinet does not agree with a particular decision he will have to step down. Generally much effort is put into reaching relative consensus on any decision. A process of voting within the Council does exist, but is hardly ever used. Collegiality is the relationship between colleagues. ...

The cabinet is collectively responsible to Parliament, and must enjoy its confidence. It is not possible to for a minister to be a member of parliament, although many ministers are selected from parliament and have to give up their seat as a result. Ministers or junior ministers who are no longer supported by a parliamentary majority are expected by convention to step down. In political science confidence refers to a governments support in the legislature. ... A constitutional convention is an informal and uncodified procedural agreement that is followed by the institutions of a state. ...

As a result of the electoral system and the lack of dominating parties, coalition cabinets, composed out of two or three parties, are the norm. A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. ...

The current cabinet of the Netherlands has the following composition:

Prime Minister

The Hague's Binnenhof. The ministry of General Affairs is in the centre with the Torentje, the office of the prime minister of the centre left

Main article: Prime Minister of the Netherlands Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2304, 3499 KB) The image was made by me, Patrick Rasenberg, and is released for all usage anywhere in the world. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2304, 3499 KB) The image was made by me, Patrick Rasenberg, and is released for all usage anywhere in the world. ... The Binnenhof (Dutch, lit. ... The prime minister of the Netherlands is the head of the cabinet, and, as such, coordinates the policy of the government. ...

The official task of the Prime Minister is to coordinate government policy. He is chairman of the Council of Ministers and as such has the power to set the agenda of its meetings. In addition, the Prime minister is also Minister of General Affairs. The task of this small department is basically supporting the Prime Minister in his tasks as described above and organizing publicity around government proposals and decisions. The position of the Prime Minister has become more important since the Second World War. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is also the political head of the Ministry of General Affairs (Ministerie van Algemene Zaken). With only about 400 employees this ministry is by far the smallest ministry in the Netherlands. ...

States-General

Main articles: States-General of the Netherlands and Elections in the Netherlands The States-General (Staten-Generaal) is the parliament of the Netherlands. ... Elections in the Netherlands gives information on election and election results in the Netherlands. ...

The Dutch Parliament or States-General consists of a Lower House or Second Chamber and an Upper House or First Chamber, also referred to as the Senate. Both houses of Parliament discuss proposed legislation and review of the actions of the cabinet. The Second Chamber also has the right to propose or amend legislation. The States-General (Staten-Generaal) is the parliament of the Netherlands. ... The Tweede Kamer (second chamber) is the lower house of the Staten-Generaal, the parliament in the Netherlands. ... The Eerste Kamer (literally First Chamber in Dutch) is the Upper House or Senate of the Netherlands parliament, the States-General. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ...

The general entrance of the Tweede Kamer

Members of the Second Chamber, generally considered the more important House, are elected directly every four years with a list proportional representation. Members are chosen on personal title, so in the relatively rare case that a member no longer agrees with his (or her) party, the member can decide to stay in the chamber, either as an independent representative, or connected to another parliamentary party. If a member decides to resign, the empty seat falls to the original party collecting the votes, and can be filled by a member of that party. Coalition governments may fall before their term ends, which usually results in early dissolution of the Second Chamber and new elections. Image File history File links Tweede_Kamer1. ... Image File history File links Tweede_Kamer1. ... The Tweede Kamer (second chamber) is the lower house of the Staten-Generaal, the parliament in the Netherlands. ...

Members of the First Chamber are elected indirectly by provincial councillors, again every four years, just after the elections of the provincial councils, via a system of proportional representation. This election method reflects the historical roots of the First Chamber as a representative body of the different regional entities that formed the Netherlands. Nowadays, the Senate is mainly considered to be a body of elderly statesmen reconsidering legislation at ease, away from the pressure of daily political and media hypes. There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

*: These political leaders are not chair of Second Chamber parliamentary parties Dutch Tweede Kamer seats as of 2006 The 2006 Dutch general elections were held in the Netherlands on Wednesday, November 22, 2006, and followed the call for new elections after the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet. ... The Tweede Kamer (second chamber) is the lower house of the Staten-Generaal, the parliament in the Netherlands. ... The Eerste Kamer (literally First Chamber in Dutch) is the Upper House or Senate of the Netherlands parliament, the States-General. ... The Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) (Dutch: Christen Democratisch Appèl) is a Dutch Christian-democratic political party. ... Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende   (born on 7 May 1956), has served as Prime Minister of The Netherlands since 22 July 2002. ... The Labour Party (in Dutch: Partij van de Arbeid, PvdA) is a Dutch social-democratic political party. ... Drs. ... The Socialist Party (SP, Dutch: Socialistische Partij) is a Dutch socialist political party. ... Johannes Guillaume Christianus Andreas Marijnissen (Oss, 8 October 1952, usually known as Jan Marijnissen) is a Dutch politician for the Socialist Party. ... The Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) (Dutch: Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie) is a Dutch liberal political party. ... Mark Rutte Mark Rutte (born The Hague, February 14, 1967) is a Dutch Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) politician and State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science in the second Balkenende cabinet. ... This article is about the Party of Freedom previously known as Group Wilders. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... GroenLinks (GL, GreenLeft) is a political party in the Netherlands. ... Femke Halsema attending a demonstration Femke Halsema (Haarlem, April 25, 1966) is a politician in the Netherlands. ... The ChristianUnion (in Dutch: ChristenUnie, CU) is a relatively young Dutch orthodox Protestant political party. ... André Rouvoet is the political leader of the ChristenUnie, a Dutch political party. ... Democrats 66 (in Dutch: Democraten 66, D66, official name: Politieke Partij Democraten 66) is a Dutch progressive-liberal and radical-democratic political party. ... Alexander Pechtold (born December 16, 1965) was elected president of the Dutch social liberal party Democrats 66 in 2002. ... The Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren) is a political party in the Netherlands without parliamentary representation. ... Marianne Louise Thieme (Ede, March 6, 1972) is a Dutch politician, animal activist and publicist. ... The Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP, literally Constitutional Reformed Party) is a Dutch constitutional theocratic political party following conservative Christian principles, in the tradition of the Dutch Reformed Church. ... Bastiaan Johannis Bas van der Vlies (Sliedrecht, June 29, 1942) is a Dutch politician. ... The Independent Senate Group (Onafhankelijke Senaatsfractie) is a parliamentary group in the Dutch Senate with one senator, representing several provincial parties. ... A caucus is most generally defined as being a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement. ...

Political Parties

Main article: Political parties of the Netherlands A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ...

The system of proportional representation, combined with the historical social division between Catholics, Protestants, Socialists and Liberals has resulted in a multiparty system. The major political parties are CDA, PvdA, SP and VVD. The parties currently represented in the Dutch Second Chamber are:

• CDA is a centre-right Christian Democratic party. It holds to the principle that government activity should supplement but not supplant communal action by citizens. The CDA sees its philosophy as standing between the "individualism" of the VVD and the "statism" of the PvdA.
• PvdA is a social democratic, centre-left Labour party. Its programme is based on greater social, political, and economic equality for all citizens.
• SP is a socialist party, which has evolved from a Maoist split from the Communist Party Netherlands into a much less radical socialist party. It remains far more left-wing than the Labour party, but at the same time is considered more conservative than the Labour party and the GroenLinks party.
• VVD is a conservative-liberal party. It attaches great importance to private enterprise and the freedom of the individual in political, social, and economic affairs.
• PVV is an anti-Islam nationalist-conservative party. It has a platform based on free market economics and opposition to immigration and European integration.
• GroenLinks combines, as its name implies green, environmentalist, ideals with leftwing ideals.
• ChristenUnie is an orthodox Protestant party, with conservative stances on abortion, euthanasia and gay marriage. In other areas the party is considered centre-left, for instance on immigration, welfare state and the environment.
• D66 is a social-liberal radical party. The party supports liberal policies on abortion and euthanasia and reform of the welfare state. The party is left-wing on immigration, the environment and foreign policy.
• The Party for the Animals is a single-issue animal rights party with natural affinity with environmental issues. For general purposes, the party is considered left of centre.
• SGP is an orthodox Protestant party with conservative policies and it sees government as unconditional servant of God.

The Christen-Democratisch Appèl (CDA, Christian Democratic Appeal) is a political party of the Netherlands that was established in 1980. ... The centre-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote political parties or organizations (such as think tanks) that stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. ... Christian democracy is a diverse political ideology and movement. ... Individualism is a term used to describe a moral, political, or social outlook that stresses human independence and the importance of individual self-reliance and liberty. ... Statism (or Etatism) is a very loose and often derogatory term that is used to describe: Specific instances of state intervention in personal, social or economic matters. ... For the Belgian political party of the same name, see Partij van de Arbeid (Belgium). ... Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ... In politics, the term centre-left is commonly used to describe and denote political parties or organisations that stretch from the centre to the left or are moderately left-wing, as opposed to extreme left wing beliefs such as communism. ... The Socialist Party (Dutch: Socialistische Partij) is a socialist party in the Netherlands. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Communist Party of the Netherlands (Dutch: Communistische Partij Nederland, CPN) is a Dutch communist political party. ... The Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD), literally Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, is a free market liberal party in the Netherlands. ... Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of... Capitalism generally refers to a combination of economic practices that became institutionalized in Europe between the 16th and 19th centuries, especially involving the right of individuals and groups of individuals acting as legal persons (or corporations) to buy and sell capital goods such as land, labor, and money (see finance... This article is about the Party of Freedom previously known as Group Wilders. ... This article is about the Dutch political party. ... The ChristenUnie (Christians Union) is a relatively young political party in the Netherlands. ... Euthanasia (from Greek: ευθανασία -ευ, eu, good, θάνατος, thanatos, death) is the practice of terminating the life of a person or animal with an incurable disease, intolerable suffering, or a possibly undignified death in a painless or minimally painful way, for the purpose of limiting suffering. ... Same-sex marriage is marriage between individuals who are of the same legal or biological sex. ... Democrats 66 (in Dutch: Democraten 66, D66, official name: Politieke Partij Democraten 66) is a Dutch progressive-liberal and radical-democratic political party. ... Social liberalism is either a synonym for new liberalism or a label used by progressive liberal parties in order to differentiate themselves from the more conservative liberal parties, especially when there are two or more liberal parties in a country. ... The term Radical (latin radix meaning root) was used from the late 18th century for proponents of the Radical Movement and has since been used as a label in political science for those favouring or trying to produce thoroughgoing political reforms which can include changes to the social order to... The Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren) is a political party in the Netherlands without parliamentary representation. ... A civet, or sea fox, photographed in the Zigong Peoples Zoo, Sichuan, 2001. ... The Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP, literally Politically Reformed Party) is a Dutch political party following the conservative Christian principles, in the tradition of the Dutch Reformed Church. ...

Council of State

Main article: Dutch Council of State

The Council of State is an advisory body of cabinet on constitutional and judicial aspects of legislature and policy. All laws proposed by the cabinet have to be sent to the Council of State for advice. Although the advice is not binding, the cabinet is required to react to the advice and it often plays a significant role in the ensuing debate in Parliament. In addition the Council is the highest administrative court. In the Netherlands, the Council of State is a constitutionally established advisory body to the government which consists of members of the royal family and Crown-appointed members generally having political, commercial, diplomatic, or military experience. ... Administrative law in the United States often relates to, or arises from, so-called independent agencies- such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Here is FTCs headquarters in Washington D.C. Administrative law (or regulatory law) is the body of law that arises from the activities of administrative agencies...

The Council is ex officio chaired by the Queen. Currently the crown prince is member as well. The Queen however leaves daily affairs to the vice-chair of the Council, Herman Tjeenk Willink and the other councillors, who are mainly legal specialists, former ministers, members of parliament and judges or professors of law.

High Colleges of State

The Dutch political system has five so called the High Colleges of State, which are explicitly regarded as independent by the Constitution. Apart from the two Houses of Parliament and the Council of State, these are the Algemene Rekenkamer (Court of Audit) and the Nationale Ombudsman (National Ombudsman). There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... An ombudsman (English plural: ombudsmans or ombudsmen) is an official, usually (but not always) appointed by the government or by parliament, who is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints reported by individual citizens. ...

The Algemene Rekenkamer investigates whether public funds are collected and spent legitimately and effectively. The Nationale Ombudsman investigates complaints about the practices of government. As with the advice of the Council of State, the reports from these organizations are not easily put aside and often play a role in public and political debate.

The Nationale Ombudsman investigates complaints of citizens about the functioning of government.

Judicial System

The judiciary comprises 19 district courts, five courts of appeal, two administrative courts (Centrale Raad van Beroep and the College van beroep voor het bedrijfsleven) and a Supreme Court (Hoge Raad) which has 24 justices. All judicial appointments are made by the Government. Judges nominally are appointed for life but actually retire at age 70. The Council of State functions as the highest court in most administrative cases. Hoge Raad der Nederlanden is the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, situated in The Hague. ... In the Netherlands, the Council of State is a constitutionally established advisory body to the government which consists of members of the royal family and Crown-appointed members generally having political, commercial, diplomatic, or military experience. ...

Social Economic Council

Main article: Social Economic Council The Sociaal-Economische Raad (Social Economic Council; SER) is a major economic advisory council of the Dutch government. ...

Both trade unions and employers’ organisations are consulted beforehand in policymaking in the financial, economic and social area’s. They meet regularly with government the Social-economic council (Sociaal Economische Raad, SER). This body advises government and its advice, just like the advice of the High Colleges of State, cannot be put aside easily. The SER heads a system of PBO's, self-regulatory organizations that can make laws for specific economic sectors. A union (labor union in American English; trade union, sometimes trades union, in British English; either labour union or trade union in Canadian English) is a legal entity consisting of employees or workers having a common interest, such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the workers... The Sociaal-Economische Raad (Social Economic Council; SER) is a major economic advisory council of the Dutch government. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

The following organizations are represented in the Social Economic Council: the leftwing trade union FNV, the Christian trade union CNV and the trade union for managerial staff MHP, the employers' organizations VNO-NCW, the employers' organization for smaller companies MKB, and the employers' organization for farmers LTO. One third of the members of the council is appointed by the government. These include both professors of economy and related fields and representatives of the economic planning institute CPB and De Nederlandsche Bank. In the working groups of the SER representatives of environmental and consumers' organizations are also represented. A trade union or labor union is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. ... The Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV, Federated Netherlands Labour Movement) is the largest federation of trade unions in the Netherlands. ... Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond (CNV, Christian National Trade Union) is a federation of trade unions of the Netherlands. ... The Federation of Managerial and Professional Staff Unions (MHP) is a national trade union center in the Netherlands. ... An employers organization, employers association or employers federation is an association of employers. ... VNO-NCW (known in English as the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers) is a Dutch employers federation. ... The CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (Dutch: , Central Planning Bureau) is an independent Dutch government agency founded in 1945 by Jan Tinbergen. ... De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB, The Dutch Bank) is the central bank of the Netherlands. ...

Subnational Government

Main article: Provinces of the Netherlands and Municipalities of the Netherlands The modern day Netherlands are divided into twelve provinces (provincies in Dutch), listed below with their capital city: Map of the Netherlands, with provinces and capital cities See also the ranked list of Dutch provinces // Structure A Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the... All provinces of the Netherlands are divided into municipalities (gemeenten), together 458 (2006); among these we can distinguish: those comprising one main city, town or village with the same name as the municipality, and possibly some additional villages; for example Utrecht, comprising the city Utrecht and the villages De Meern...

Regional government in the Netherlands is formed by twelve provinces. Provinces are responsible for spatial planning, health policy and recreation, within the bounds prescribed by the national government. Furthermore they oversee the policy and finances of municipalities and waterboards. The executive power is in hands of the Queen's Commissioner and the College of the Gedeputeerde Staten. The Queen’s Commissioner is appointed by the national Cabinet and responsible to the minister of Internal Affairs. Members of the Gedeputeerde Staten are appointed by, and responsible to the provincial legislature, the Provinciale Staten, which is elected by direct suffrage. Spatial planning refers to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. ... For the 1914 Charlie Chaplin film, see Recreation (film). ... There are two levels of local government in The Netherlands, the provinces and the municipalities. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

Local government in the Netherlands is formed by 458 municipalities. Municipalities are responsible for education, spatial planning and social security, within the bounds prescribed by the national and provincial government. They are governed by the College of Mayor and Aldermen. The Mayor is appointed by the national Cabinet and responsible to the minister of Internal Affairs. The Aldermen are appointed by, and responsible to the Municipal Council, which is elected by direct suffrage. Spatial planning refers to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. ... Social security primarily refers to a field of social welfare service concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment, families with children and others. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

The major cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam are subdivided into administrative area’s (stadsdelen), which have their own (limited) responsibilities. Country Netherlands Province North Holland Coordinates Area 219. ... Nickname: Motto: Sterker door strijd (Stronger through Struggle) Location of Rotterdam Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province South Holland Government  - Mayor Ivo Opstelten  - Aldermen Jeannette Baljeu Hamit Karakus Orhan Kaya Lucas Bolsius Jantine Kriens Dominic Schrijer Roelf de Boer Leonard Geluk Area [1]  - City 319 km²  (123. ... A stadsdeel (pl. ...

Furthermore there are waterboards which are responsible for the country’s polders, dikes and other waterworks. These bodies are elected in non-partisan elections and have the power to tax their residents. Waterboard redirect here. ... A polder is a low-lying tract of land that forms an artificial hydrological entity, enclosed by embankments known as dikes and requiring drainage by pumps to prevent the water table within it from rising too high. ... Dyke (normal International spelling) or Dike (normal American spelling) can mean several things: A dyke / dike is a long wall built to keep out the sea or enclose land. ... Waterworks may be: Look up waterworks in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Policy

Foreign policy

Main article: Foreign relations of the Netherlands The Netherlands abandoned its traditional policy of neutrality after World War II. The Dutch have since become engaged participants in international affairs. ...

The foreign policy of the Netherlands is based on four basic commitments: to the atlantic cooperation, to European integration, to international development and to international law. While historically the Netherlands was a neutral state, since the Second World War the Netherlands became a member of a large number of international organisations. Most prominently the UN, NATO and the EU. The Dutch economy is very open and relies on international trade. One of the more controversial international issues surrounding the Netherlands is its liberal policy towards soft drugs and the position of the Netherlands one of the major exporters of hard drugs. Since the