Abstract
The Government shall comprise the King and the Ministers. The Ministers, and not the King, shall be responsible for acts of government. (Art. 42 of the Dutch Constitution)
Article 42 of the Dutch Constitution determines both the legal and political setting of the cabinet. The King or Queen may still formally appoint the ministers, sign the bills, and give the annual address to Parliament outlining the government’s plans, but the ministers are answerable to Parliament, and in practice only Parliament can dismiss them. In the Netherlands there is no separation of power, as in the United States, but neither are the powers fused, as in the United Kingdom. Ministers cannot be Members of Parliament, except for the duration of an interregnum between successive governments. However, they can and do participate in parliamentary debates, seated on separate benches, facing the MPs. Both ministers and Members of Parliament can introduce legislation, but parliamentary initiatives are rare, and it is even more exceptional if they succeed. Most legislation originates with the government. The courts offer little in terms of checks and balances, as laws are not subject to judicial review.
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© 1997 Jean Blondel and Ferdinand Müller-Rommel
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Andeweg, R.B. (1997). The Netherlands: Coalition Cabinets in Changing Circumstances. In: Blondel, J., Müller-Rommel, F. (eds) Cabinets in Western Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-25359-3_4
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