Netherlands

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Netherlands

Kingdom Council of Ministers Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba Minister Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles Constitution Charter Constitution Human Rights Monarchy Queen Beatrix Prince Willem-Alexander (heir apparent) States-General Senate Historic composition House of Representatives Current composition Historic composition Cabinet Cabinet list current Prime Minister list current Political parties Liberal Socialist Christian Democratic Elections 2009 European 2007 provincial 2006 general 2006 municipal 2005 Referendum 2004 European Decentralized gov't Provincial politics in the Netherlands Water board Municipal politics in the Netherlands Foreign policy Politics of the European Union Foreign relations Missions to the Netherlands Missions of the Netherlands Related subjects High Councils of State National Ombudsman Council of State Court of Audit Social Economic Council Supreme Court Dutch Central Bank Contemporary history Politicians

Other countries · Atlas Politics portal view • talk • edit

The Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands (in Dutch: Statuut voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden; in Papiamentu: Statuut pa e Reino di Hulanda) describes the political relationship between the three different countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands: the Netherlands in Europe and the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean. It is the leading legal document of the Kingdom. The Constitution for the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Basic Laws of the two other countries are legally subjected to the Charter.

Contents 1 Countries 2 Constitution 3 Affairs of the Kingdom 4 Other provisions 5 Future status 6 See also 7 References

[edit] Countries

The three countries mentioned in the Charter are the Netherlands, Aruba, and the Netherlands Antilles. The Charter stipulates that the Netherlands is governed according to the provisions of the Constitution for the Kingdom of the Netherlands and that Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles are governed according to their respective Basic Laws.

[edit] Constitution

Until 1954 the Constitution for the Kingdom of the Netherlands was the leading document of the Kingdom. It remains however the document in which, according to art. 5 of the Charter, the institutions of the Kingdom, as mentioned in the Charter, are regulated. These institution, as regulated in the Constitution for the Kingdom of the Netherlands govern the Netherlands proper. The Charter itself gives additional regulations for these institutions for the purposes of the Kingdom as a whole. The Netherlands is the only of the three countries that conducts its business internally and externally as the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

[edit] Affairs of the Kingdom

The Charter states explicitly which elements of lawmaking and policy that involve Aruba and / or the Netherlands Antilles, are to be dealt with on the level of the Kingdom as a whole and are thus valid for all three countries. Any matter not explicitly mentioned to be an affair of the Kingdom that involves Aruba and / or the Netherlands Antilles, is considered to be an affair of the different countries.

Affairs of the Kingdom that do not involve Aruba and / or the Netherlands Antilles are dealt with according to the provisions of the Constitution for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In practice by the Netherlands alone, in its capacity as the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Responsibility for affairs of the Kingdom that involve Aruba and / or the Netherlands Antilles rests with the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom. The affairs of the Kingdom are:

• maintenance of the independence and the defence of the Kingdom;
• foreign relations;
• Netherlands nationality;
• regulation of the orders of chivalry, the flag and the coat of arms of the Kingdom;
• regulation of the nationality of vessels and the standards required for the safety and navigation of seagoing vessels flying the flag of the Kingdom, with the exception of sailing ships;
• supervision of the general rules governing the admission and expulsion of Netherlands nationals and aliens;
• extradition.

[edit] Other provisions

In addition, the Charter contains provisions on mutual assistance and co-operation between the three countries. All three countries are, per the Charter, obliged to promote the realisation of human rights and good governance. The Charter can only be amended with the approval of all three countries.

[edit] Future status

The Netherlands Antilles is to be disbanded on October 10, 2010. The idea of the Netherlands Antilles as a state never enjoyed the full support of all of the islands, and political relations between islands were often strained. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986. The desire for secession has also been strong in Sint Maarten.^[1]

[edit] See also

• Aruba
• Koninkrijksdag
• Netherlands Antilles

[edit] References

1. ^ "Antillen opgeheven op 10-10-2010" (in Dutch). NOS. 2009-10-01. http://www.nos.nl/nosjournaal/artikelen/2009/10/1/011009_antillen.html. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 

Dutch Wikisource has original text related to this article: Statuut voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

• Website of the Dutch ministry of Internal Affairs
• Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands