Netherlands: Government

Government

The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy governed under the constitution of 1815 as amended. The hereditary monarch is the head of state; the prime minister is the head of government. There is a bicameral legislature, the States General. Members of the deliberative upper house, the 75-seat First Chamber, are elected by the 12 provincial councils. Members of the more powerful lower house, the 150-seat Second Chamber, are popularly elected. All legislators serve four-year terms. The royal succession is settled on the house of Orange (see Nassau), which adheres to the Dutch Reformed Church. Administratively, the country is divided into 12 provinces.

Sections in this article:

Introduction
The Postwar Years
The Kingdom of the Netherlands
A Succession of Wars
The United Provinces
Revolt in the Netherlands
The Rise of the Netherlands
Government
Economy
Land and People
Bibliography

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Benelux Political Geography