Maatschappijleer PTA samenvatting chapter 2
2.2) constitutional background and principles of democracy in NL
Road to NL democracy:
- between uprising Spanish occupation (-> 16th and 17th century) and French
occupation (1795) Dutch Republic -> fledgling (pril) democracy -> small group of
privileged men governed together, who were elected by other groups of privileged
men
- 1814: introduction bicameral legislature under a constitutional monarchy (two
independent law making institutions(1st & 2nd chamber)) Second Chamber(House
of representatives): indirect suffrage (kiesrecht) by members of provincial councils
and other influential members of society. First Chamber (Senate) until 1848
appointed by the King.
- 1848: NL became a constitutionally (grondwet) governed democratic political system
with a figurehead monarch (king had lost many powers to parliament and
government)
1919: nation became a fully-fledged democracy with universal suffrage (men and women
2.3) representative democracy in NL
Separation of powers: Trias Politica (Montesquieu)
- Executive (governmental (ministers, teachers etc) To help prevent corruption or
- Legislative (law making or parliamentary) abuse of power
- Judicial
Electing leaders in modern democracies:
USA: process indirect, but by Electoral College votes
EU: indirect voting: head government elected by being leader of the party
Two main forms of democratic election:
- Regional system (uk) ; parliament or President chosen by geographical constituencies
(each vote of each voter in country does not carry equal weight)
- proportional representation system (nl) ; one large electoral constituency -> all the
votes of a party in the country are counted up and divided by the amount of total
seats
comparison: proportional representation system: fairer (government less likely to be elected
by a minority of the electorate, but regional system closer to local interests of the people
(represent local or regional interests/areas).
Proportional representation system: also easier for a small party to enter parliament (easier
to get minimum of votes required for one seat) lots of small parties: government made up
of coalitions of parties with conflicting interests. Not in USA (Republicans vs Democrats) or
UK (Labour - or Conservative Party)
combination two systems, concession (tegemoetkoming) NL: voters can not only vote for a
specific party, but also for a specific politician, other than the ‘list-puller’ representing that
party
, Dutch systems cons: country is officially divided into constituencies but do not count in
parliamentary representation. Also, compulsory voting abolished in 1970 (number of vote
cast proportional to votes cast, rather than proportional to number of eligible voters (in
aanmerking komende kiezers))
Beginning 20th century: increasingly weakened parliament, increasingly powerful
government
- Introduction universal suffrage (privileged men do not control parliament anymore)
- Increasing complexity of society requires increasingly decisive action from a
powerful, effective central government
- Rise of political parties because of universal suffrage end age of privileged
parliamentarians ruling alone
2nd half 20th century: powerful governments themselves begin to lose power to combination
of actors:
- Decentralisation: central government found itself too powerful, and work load was
too high: power, tasks and responsibilities were given to provincial councils, city and
town councils. Also: Dutch voters were losing interest in politics: by outsourcing:
closer to the people
Provincial level of decision-making in NL: all have their own legislative parliament
(election every 4 years) -> make decisions to do with infrastructure, zoning, planning
etc. Also: oversee policy and supervise implantation of those policies by
municipalities. Also elect members of the First Chamber / Senate. (have lost power,
while central government and municipal have gained)
Municipal level (city and town councils): beginning: lots of super small municipalities
-> size of local councils are increased (con: not so close to the people anymore, pro:
unburdens central government in The Hague). Election: elected every 4 years. The
council itself elects 2-9 Aldermen/ -women -> work together with Mayor to from the
municipality’s executive branch. Since 2002, Aldermen can’t be members of their
municipal councils (function more like central government and parliament) -> Mayor
and Aldermen propose municipal laws and carry those out (central government)
Municipal Council controls them (parliament).
Mayors are appointed by central government in The Hague, proportionally to the
representation of their parties in the national parliament (eg VVD 30% seats, 30%
VVD mayors in country). The task of a mayor is seen as a top-level position with
administrative and political responsibility, but close to the people and closely bound
up with their concerns
Problems with the unloading of power and authority to local government:
- Central government draws up unpopular policies, which need to be implemented by
local authorities, but don’t provide enough money or personnel -> tension between
local and central government, and unpopularity of municipal authorities, and some
local authorities refuse
2.2) constitutional background and principles of democracy in NL
Road to NL democracy:
- between uprising Spanish occupation (-> 16th and 17th century) and French
occupation (1795) Dutch Republic -> fledgling (pril) democracy -> small group of
privileged men governed together, who were elected by other groups of privileged
men
- 1814: introduction bicameral legislature under a constitutional monarchy (two
independent law making institutions(1st & 2nd chamber)) Second Chamber(House
of representatives): indirect suffrage (kiesrecht) by members of provincial councils
and other influential members of society. First Chamber (Senate) until 1848
appointed by the King.
- 1848: NL became a constitutionally (grondwet) governed democratic political system
with a figurehead monarch (king had lost many powers to parliament and
government)
1919: nation became a fully-fledged democracy with universal suffrage (men and women
2.3) representative democracy in NL
Separation of powers: Trias Politica (Montesquieu)
- Executive (governmental (ministers, teachers etc) To help prevent corruption or
- Legislative (law making or parliamentary) abuse of power
- Judicial
Electing leaders in modern democracies:
USA: process indirect, but by Electoral College votes
EU: indirect voting: head government elected by being leader of the party
Two main forms of democratic election:
- Regional system (uk) ; parliament or President chosen by geographical constituencies
(each vote of each voter in country does not carry equal weight)
- proportional representation system (nl) ; one large electoral constituency -> all the
votes of a party in the country are counted up and divided by the amount of total
seats
comparison: proportional representation system: fairer (government less likely to be elected
by a minority of the electorate, but regional system closer to local interests of the people
(represent local or regional interests/areas).
Proportional representation system: also easier for a small party to enter parliament (easier
to get minimum of votes required for one seat) lots of small parties: government made up
of coalitions of parties with conflicting interests. Not in USA (Republicans vs Democrats) or
UK (Labour - or Conservative Party)
combination two systems, concession (tegemoetkoming) NL: voters can not only vote for a
specific party, but also for a specific politician, other than the ‘list-puller’ representing that
party
, Dutch systems cons: country is officially divided into constituencies but do not count in
parliamentary representation. Also, compulsory voting abolished in 1970 (number of vote
cast proportional to votes cast, rather than proportional to number of eligible voters (in
aanmerking komende kiezers))
Beginning 20th century: increasingly weakened parliament, increasingly powerful
government
- Introduction universal suffrage (privileged men do not control parliament anymore)
- Increasing complexity of society requires increasingly decisive action from a
powerful, effective central government
- Rise of political parties because of universal suffrage end age of privileged
parliamentarians ruling alone
2nd half 20th century: powerful governments themselves begin to lose power to combination
of actors:
- Decentralisation: central government found itself too powerful, and work load was
too high: power, tasks and responsibilities were given to provincial councils, city and
town councils. Also: Dutch voters were losing interest in politics: by outsourcing:
closer to the people
Provincial level of decision-making in NL: all have their own legislative parliament
(election every 4 years) -> make decisions to do with infrastructure, zoning, planning
etc. Also: oversee policy and supervise implantation of those policies by
municipalities. Also elect members of the First Chamber / Senate. (have lost power,
while central government and municipal have gained)
Municipal level (city and town councils): beginning: lots of super small municipalities
-> size of local councils are increased (con: not so close to the people anymore, pro:
unburdens central government in The Hague). Election: elected every 4 years. The
council itself elects 2-9 Aldermen/ -women -> work together with Mayor to from the
municipality’s executive branch. Since 2002, Aldermen can’t be members of their
municipal councils (function more like central government and parliament) -> Mayor
and Aldermen propose municipal laws and carry those out (central government)
Municipal Council controls them (parliament).
Mayors are appointed by central government in The Hague, proportionally to the
representation of their parties in the national parliament (eg VVD 30% seats, 30%
VVD mayors in country). The task of a mayor is seen as a top-level position with
administrative and political responsibility, but close to the people and closely bound
up with their concerns
Problems with the unloading of power and authority to local government:
- Central government draws up unpopular policies, which need to be implemented by
local authorities, but don’t provide enough money or personnel -> tension between
local and central government, and unpopularity of municipal authorities, and some
local authorities refuse
