Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1187

 GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION 1065

Government and Constitution.

I. Central Government.

The first Coustitution of the Netherlands after its reconstruction as a kingdom was given in 1815, and was revised in 1848 and in 1887. According to this charter the Netherlands form a constitutional and hereditary monarchy. The royal succession is in the direct male line in the order of primogeniture : in default of male heirs, the female line ascends the throne. In default of a legal heir, the successor to the throne is desig- nated by the Sovereign and a joint meeting of both the Houses of Parliament (each containing twice the usual number of members), and by this assembly alone if the case occurs after the Sovereign's death. The age of majority of the Sovereign is 18 years. During his minority the royal power is vested in a Regent— designated by law— and in some cases in the State Council.

The executive power of the State belongs exclusively to the Sovereign, while the whole legislative authority rests conjointly in the Sovereign and Parliament, the latter— called the States General— consisting of two Chambers. The Upper or First Chamber is composed of 50 members, elected by the Provincial States from among the most highly assessed inhabitants of tha eleven provinces, or from among some high and important functionaries, mentioned by law. Members of the First Chamber not residing in the Hague, where the Parliament meets, are allowed 10 guilders {16s. 8d.) a day during the Session of the States- General. The Second Chamber of the States-General numbers 100 deputies, who are elected directly.

First chamber : 18 Catholics, 10 Anti-Revolutionists, 4 Protestant Party, 3 old Liberals, 15 Liberal Union.

Second chamber : 4 old Liberals, 21 Liberal Union, '26 Catholics, 21 Anti- Re ^olutionists, 12 Protestant Party, 9 Democrats, 7 Socialists.

According to the electoral reform act, passed in 1896, voters are all male Dutch citizens not under 25 years of age, in profession of certain outward and positive sisns of capacity and well-being. The chief sign is the fact of payment of one or more direct State taxes (for the land tax an amount of 1 florin is sufficient). Besides these, the Reform Act admits as electors all those who can prove that they are householders, and have paid rent of houses or lodgings during a fixed term, or that they are owners or tenants of boats of notless than 24 tons capacity, or that they have been during a fixed term in employment with an annual wage or salary of at least 22^. 18s. 4d., or possess a certificate of State interest of at least 100 florins, or a savings bank deposit of at least 50 florins, or the legal qualifications for any profession or employment. The mode of voting adopted is based u^.on the coidoir system. Voting is not compulsory. The efectoral body numbered January 1, 1912, 891,279 voters, i.e. 63 4 per cent, of the number of male citizens of 25 years and older.

The members of the Second Chamber receive an annual allowance of 2,000 guilders (166^.), besides travelling expenses. They are elected for 4 years, and retire in a body, whereas the First Chamber is elected for 9 years, and every 3 years one-third retire by rotation. The Sovereign has the power to dissolve both Chambers of Parliament, or one of them, being bound only to order new elections within 40 days, and to convoke the new meeting within two months.

The Government and the Second Chamber only may introduce new bills ; the functions of the Upper Chamber being restricted to approving or rejecting them, without the power of inserting amendments. Th( meetings of both Chambers are public, though each of them, by the decision of the majority, may form itself into a private committee. The minister