History Constitution of the Netherlands

a plaque commemorating actions of william ii during 1848.

the constitution revised on 11 october 1848 described original of version still in force today. under pressure revolutions of 1848 in surrounding countries, king william ii accepted introduction of full ministerial responsibility in constitution, leading system of parliamentary democracy, house of representatives directly elected voters within system of single-winner electoral districts. parliament accorded right amend government law proposals , hold investigative hearings. states-provincial, elected voter, appointed majorities each province members of senate select group of upper class citizens. commission chaired johan thorbecke appointed draft new proposed constitution, finished on 19 june. suffrage enlarged (though still limited census suffrage), bill of rights freedom of assembly, privacy of correspondence, freedom of ecclesiastical organisation , freedom of education.

in 1884 there minor revision. in 1887 census suffrage system replaced 1 based on minimal wealth , education, allowed ever-growing percentage of male population given right vote; therefore provision @ time nicknamed caoutchouc-article . election interval house of representatives changed 2 (with half of replaced) 4 years (with full replacement of hundred members). eligibility senate broadened. penal measure not based on formal law prohibited.

in 1917, in 1848 influenced tense international situation, manhood suffrage introduced combined system of proportional representation elect house of representatives, states-provincial , municipality councils. senate continued elected states-provincial, employing system of proportional representation, no longer majorities per province. christian-democrat parties allowed manhood suffrage in exchange complete constitutional equality in state funding between public , denominational schools, ending bitter school struggle had antagonised dutch society 3 generations.

by revision of 1922 universal suffrage explicitly adopted in constitution, after had been introduced law in 1919. each 3 years half of members of senate elected states-provincial period of 6 years, within system of proportional representation.

in 1938 there minor revision, introducing elements of fashionable corporatism giving constitutional base public bodies regulating sectors of economy. proposal make possible impeach revolutionary members of representative bodies, directed against communists , fascists, failed two-thirds majority.

after second world war in 1946 revision failed attempting simplify revisional procedure. however, change accepted allowing send conscripts colonial war in dutch east indies.

in revision of 1948 complete new chapter added facilitate incorporation of new state of indonesia within kingdom. become irrelevant indonesia severed ties netherlands in 1954. revision created office of secretary of state, kind of subminister or junior minister 1 subordinate minister.

in 1953 new articles introduced concerning international relations, netherlands abandoning old policy of strict neutrality.

in revision of 1956 constitution changed accommodate full independence of indonesia. number of members of house of representatives members brought 150, of senate members 75.

the revision of 1963 accommodated loss of dutch new guinea indonesia. voting age lowered 23 21.

in 1972 there minor revision; main change lowering of voting age 18.

in 1983 constitution entirely rewritten. many articles abolished. social rights included, articles reformulated (the main exception being article 23 still sensitive freedom of education) using new uniform legal terminology , sequence changed. bill of rights expanded prohibition of discrimination, prohibition of death penalty, general freedom of expression, freedom of demonstration , general right privacy.

in 1987 there minor revision. in revision of 1995 introduction of professional army, replacing conscript army, regulated. in revision of 1999 proposal introduce advisory referendum rejected senate. after minor revision in 2002, last changes made in 2005; proposal introduce elected mayor rejected senate.