The political system of the Netherlands (WIKI)

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Originally Posted by Civis Batavi

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An almost uniquely Dutch institution - more can be found on
Wikipedia.

Waterschap (Water Board)

For it Flemish/ Northern French counterpart: the watering / watringue.

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The building has very interesting crests on it.

They represent the Hoogheemraadschap of Delfland. Which is one of the water boards. And they each seem to represent another mediaeval/ former historical figure that is connected to it.

I do believe that the Dutch system is generally sound but it needs to be adapted to the "needs of our times":

I think that the monarchy should be given a purely ceremonial role so mayors and provincial commissioners should be elected directly by the people and the separation of powers should be completed: the Queen (nor is any member of the Royal Family) should no longer be allowed to be a member of the government (as is the case now) or select the judges of the Constitutional Court. The government (without the Queen) should now become the executive branch, while parliament remains the legislative branch and the courts and the Constitutional Court or Raad van State should serve as the judiciary. It should also become possible for a court to check a law on it's constitutionality.

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Originally Posted by Civis Batavi

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The modifications to the 1814 Constitution that became the basis to the present Dutch system of government (constitutional monarchy) were proclaimed on 3 november 1848. After 1848 there have been several more revisions:

• 1887 (first steps towards universal male suffrage),
• 1917 (universal male suffrage for all men older the 23 and "passive voting rights" (electability) for women. Proportional representation replaces the previously used majority system and religious education receives the same rights to be financed by the government as public education.
• 1922. Women now have full voting rights after they had already received it by law in 1919. The Netherlands East Indies, Surinam and Curaçao are no longer mentioned as "colonies" but as parts of the Dutch Realm.
• The constitution now allows for provisions to be made for conscientious objectors and puts the right to declare war firmly in the hands of parliament.
• 1938. It now becomes possible to appoint a minister without portfolio. And to create statutory corporations for certain professions and businesses where private employers organisations and trade unions are being represented like for instance the SER. This is the first step towards the Dutch Polder Model.
• 1946. It now becomes possible to send conscripted troops to the Indies. Indonesia becomes independent in 1949. In 1948 the possibility of transferral sovereignty over the Netherlands East Indies to Indonesia is passed in the constitution.
• 1954. The relations with the remaining realms (Netherlands Antilles, Suriname and Netherlands New Guinea) are arranged within the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
• 1956. A new office is created (staatssecretaris), there are some modifications in simplifying the arrangements to sign international treaties and the number of parliamentarians is expanded from 100 to 150 in the Lower House and from 50 to 75 in the Upper House.
• 1963. Transfer of Netherlands New Guinea to Indonesia.
• 1971. The voting age is lowered to 18. It now becomes possible to arrange by law who is a member of the Royal Family and who is not.

The general revision of 1983.

• General freedom of speech is assured. (yes right..:rolleyes:)
• A ban on hate speech and discrimination (so far for freedom of speech)
• The personal integrity (the sanctity of the house and ownership over one's own body) are protected.
• The government becomes responsible for employment, social security and the environment.
• Ministerial responsibility no longer has legal repercussions - meaning that ministers can no longer be held legally responsible.
• The death penalty is outlawed.
• Amsterdam now officially becomes the capital of the Netherlands.
• The age of electability is lowered to 18.
• Members of the Upper House are now elected at the same moment for a period of 4 years.
• The members of the Upper and Lower House now vote for their own chairmen (before that they used to be appointed by the Crown).
• It becomes possible for resident foreigners to vote in municipal elections.
• The introduction of the National Ombudsman is now set in the constitution.
• Suriname is now no longer constitutionally a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (having become independent in 1975).

The political proposals as done by the Cals-Donner Commission during the 1970s in regards to a more direct democracy are not adopted.

After 1983 there were some more minor revisions amongst which (in 1987,1999, 2000, 2005, 2006 and 2008):

• There are more possibilities for the police to enter a home without permission from the owner. Some of the legal barriers have been dismantled.
• The draft is suspended.
• The armed forces can be send abroad for "peacekeeping operations".
• The national ombudsman now gets a fully constitutional bases.

So now that we know where the problems are.. we now know what we should do to fix them. :thumb001:. More about the political system of the Netherlands.

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The political system of the Netherlands (WIKI)



Note: this is NOT about Belgium but about the Netherlands so in case you don't understand the system use this to look up information that will prevent you from making a fool out of yourself.

• Government.nl - the official website of the Dutch government.
• The Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. (in English)
• The differences between the Netherlands and Holland explained.
  
• The differences between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Netherlands explained.
  
• The workings of the Polder Model (Dutch consensus model)
• Just another quick link to the other unique institution known as het Waterschap (Water Board).
• For it's Flemish/ Northern French counterpart: the watering / watringue.

• Pillarisation (the past and it's remnants) - Historic and present divisions within our society and how we dealt with it.
  
• Sphere sovereignty - The theoretical basis behind pillarisation.
  
• Netherlands Public Broadcasting - The public broadcasting system: how does it work and who runs it ?
  
• Media of the Netherlands - How does it work and who runs it ?

• Politics and government of the Netherlands (1581–1795) -- how did the Dutch Republic work ?

People are now free to ask questions in regards to the Dutch political system. But before you do: be informed.. read the pages and then ask questions.

Democratisch deficit van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (Dutch wiki page)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/P1...ARpEHLh3tCk=s0

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The political system of the Republic of the United Netherlands explained.

The system of Generality Lands.

Religion and tolerance.

• Trias Politica in Nederland
• Johan Thorbecke, grondlegger van de parlementaire democratie
• Marga Klompé – Eerste vrouwelijke minister
• Geschiedenis van het CDA
• Geschiedenis van de VVD
• Geschiedenis van de PvdA
• Het belang van het Binnenhof
• De invloed van het Communistisch Manifest

(All in Dutch)

• Zicht op verschil: Een verkenning naar stemgedrag en ruimte in Nederland. (Dutch)