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The Netherlands: States-General

GOVERNMENT. The constitution of this country, or the grondwet, as it is called, received royal sanction in 1848, and was proclaimed in the same year. The legislative authority is vested in a parliament composed of two chambers called the States-General. In the upper house, or first chamber, there are 39 members, and in the second chamber, I deputy to every 45,000 inhabitants. All citizens native of the Netherlands, who have civil rights, and who pay about $7.00 in taxes, are voters. Clergymen, judges of the high court of justice, and governors of the provinces, cannot be elected to the States-General. One-half of the members retire from the first chamber every two years, and a like proportion from the second chamber every three years. New laws can be initiated only in the second chamber, together with the government, and the upper house is restricted to approving or rejecting them, but has no power to insert amendments. The constitutional advisers of the king have seats in the cabinet, are obliged to attend the sittings of both houses and are entitled to a deliberative voice, but they cannot take an active part in the debate. The full veto power is vested in the king, but this is seldom, if ever, made use of. Amendments to the constitution are made by a two-thirds vote of both houses, followed by a general election, and a second confirmation, by a two-thirds vote, of the new States-General. The council of ministers, who, under the sovereign, exercise the executive authority, is composed of 7 heads. Each one of the ministers has a salary of $5,000. Besides the cabinet councils, over which the sovereign presides, there is also a state council of 14 members, nominated by the government, which the sovereign may consult on extraordinary occasions. The army on a war footing comprises 2338 officers, 62,734 men, with a militia reserve of about 117,000. The navy at a recent date comprised 120 men-of-war, of which 24 were ironclads.