Chapter 2: Government Constitution of the Netherlands

article 24 stipulates there kingship , kingship held william of netherlands , lawful successors. articles 25 , 26 regulate line of succession dutch throne; since 1983 female successors have equal rights throne. further articles regulate abdication (article 27); parliamentary approval of royal marriage on penalty of loss of right throne (art. 28); exclusion of unfit possible heirs (art. 29); appointment of successor if heirs absent (art. 30 , 31); oath , inauguration in capital of netherlands, amsterdam (art. 32); age of royal majority @ eighteen (art. 33); guardianship on minor king (art. 34); declaration parliament of king s inability (art. 35); temporary relinquishment of exercise of royal authority (art. 36); regency (art. 37 , 38); membership of royal house (in practice consisting of members of house of orange) (art. 39); payment (art. 40) , organisation of royal household king (art. 41).

§2: king , ministers

article 42 states main principles of dutch government: formed king , ministers (subarticle 1) , king inviolate; ministers responsible (subarticle 2). before 1848 inviolacy of king interpreted judicial one: never tried in court whatever reason. still so, ministerial responsibility implies there since revision of 1848 political inviolacy. means king cannot act in public capacity without ministerial approval: externally governmental policy represented responsible minister who, should feel king s personal influence in threatens become predominant, has resign if cannot prevent it; happens internally between king , ministers crown secret, never divulged. little of nevertheless has come public attention, shows common conception kingship since reign of william iii of netherlands has in fact been ceremonial, not supported facts. assumed there derived ministerial responsibility members of royal house.

the prime minister , ministers appointed , dismissed royal decree (article 43). such decrees signed prime minister himself, signs own appointment , of others (article 48).royal decree institutes ministries (article 44), have tended variable in number , scope, , non-departmental ministers (subarticle 2), officially have no ministry whom in fact assigned necessary personnel , sign , responsible partial budget. ministers form council of ministers (article 45), presided prime minister (subarticle 2), assembles (in fact weekly) promote unity of general governmental policy (subarticle 3). though existing since 1823, council has been mentioned since revision of 1983; constitutional powers such nil. proceedings secret period of fifty years. outwardly council acts if there complete agreement between ministers: so-called homogeneity . royal decree appointed secretaries of state (article 46); these subordinate minister responsible acts (subarticle 2). laws , royal decrees have countersigned responsible minister(s) or secretaries of state (article 47). countersign has been mandatory since revision of 1840. since 1983 such laws , decrees have affirmed signed affirmation; assumed these acts coincide. ministers , secretaries of state have swear oath of purification (declaring not having bribed obtain office, nor having been bribed commit acts when in office) , swear allegiance constitution (article 49).

the individual ministers not have (general) executive power, other attributed them special law.