Provincial politics in the Netherlands
Encyclopedia
The Politics of the Dutch provinces takes places within the framework of the politics of the Netherlands
. The province is the second highest level of government, after the national government. The Netherlands is divided into twelve provinces
.
, that is they have separated responsibilities.
The States Provincial are elected four yearly by the general population. All major political parties contest in the election and most of them are represented in each States Provincial. All citizens in a province have the right to vote and almost all citizens can be elected, ministers and state secretaries in the national government
are barred from standing in elections as well as Queen's Commissioners and civil servants employed by the province. The number of members of States Provincial depends on the number of inhabitants.
After the elections the parties in the states elected the States Deputed. Moreover the States Provincial also elect
the Senate of the national parliament on the first day of a new term.
The States Provincial is supported by its own civil service headed by the Statengriffier. Members of the Provincial States are not paid as full time politicians, instead most of them have day job. Like most legislatures, the members of Provincial States work in both political groups and policy area related committees. The Queen's Commissioner chairs the meetings of the States Provincial.
and most decisions are taken by consensus.
and the municipal government
, it is responsible for those affairs for which the national government is too large and the municipalities too small. In most competencies the provinces have an executive function, executing policy which is made at the national level. The provincial competencies, often shared with national and municipal government include:
of the European Union
. Finally some provinces have their own savings, from which they receive interest
.
Politics of the Netherlands
The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
. The province is the second highest level of government, after the national government. The Netherlands is divided into twelve provinces
Provinces of the Netherlands
A Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the local municipalities, having the responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance. The government of each province consists of three major parts: the Provinciale Staten which is the...
.
Provincial Politics
In provincial politics there are three functions: the Queen's Commissioner, the States Provincial and the States Deputed. Together they share legislative power. The Queen's Commissioner chairs both the States Provincial and the States Deputed. The States Deputed and the Queen's Commissioner exercise the executive power of the provincial government. The relationship between the States Deputed and the States Provincial is officially dualisticDualism (politics)
In Dutch politics the term dualism is used to refer to the separation of powers between the Dutch cabinet and parliament. In this respect, the way the Dutch cabinets function is somewhere in between the USA and UK systems of government...
, that is they have separated responsibilities.
Queen's Commissioner
The Queen's Commissioner (Commissaris van de Koningin) chairs both the States Deputed and the States Provincial. He is a member of the States Deputed and often has his own portfolios, often including safety and public order. He also has a representative role, as the head of the provincial government. He is appointed by the national government fo a renewable six year term. When a vacancy occurs the States Provincial express their preferences to the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. All Commissioners are member of a national political party, but they are expected to exercise their office in a non partisan fashion.States Provincial
The States Provincial (Provinciale Staten, PS) is the elected assembly of the provinces. Its main role is laying down the guidelines for the policy of the States Deputed and exercising control over its execution by the States Deputed.The States Provincial are elected four yearly by the general population. All major political parties contest in the election and most of them are represented in each States Provincial. All citizens in a province have the right to vote and almost all citizens can be elected, ministers and state secretaries in the national government
Cabinet of the Netherlands
The cabinet of the Netherlands is the main executive body of the Dutch government. The current cabinet of the Netherlands is the Rutte cabinet.-Composition and role:...
are barred from standing in elections as well as Queen's Commissioners and civil servants employed by the province. The number of members of States Provincial depends on the number of inhabitants.
After the elections the parties in the states elected the States Deputed. Moreover the States Provincial also elect
Elections in the Netherlands
Elections in the Netherlands are held for six territorial levels of government: the European Union, the state, the twelve Provinces of the Netherlands, the 25 water boards, the 418 municipalities and in two cities for neighbourhood councils...
the Senate of the national parliament on the first day of a new term.
The States Provincial is supported by its own civil service headed by the Statengriffier. Members of the Provincial States are not paid as full time politicians, instead most of them have day job. Like most legislatures, the members of Provincial States work in both political groups and policy area related committees. The Queen's Commissioner chairs the meetings of the States Provincial.
States Deputed
The States Deputed (Gedeptueerde Staten, GS) are executive councillors of the province. Together with the Queen's Commissioner they form the College van Commissaris van de Koningin en Gedeputeerde Staten, which is the executive council of the province. States Deputed are elected by the States Provincial. The members of the States Deputed all have their own competence on which they prepare, coordinate and plan policy and legislation for the States Provincial and execute legisation. The States Deputed have the duty to inform the States Provincial on all aspects of their policy. The States Deputed functions a collegial bodyCollegiality
Collegiality is the relationship between colleagues.Colleagues are those explicitly united in a common purpose and respecting each other's abilities to work toward that purpose...
and most decisions are taken by consensus.
Provincial competencies
Dutch provinces do not have many competencies. As the level of government between national governmentPolitics of the Netherlands
The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
and the municipal government
Municipalities of the Netherlands
|All provinces of the Netherlands are divided into municipalities , together 418 , excl. the 3 "special municipalities" of the Caribbean Netherlands.Among the municipalities we can distinguish:...
, it is responsible for those affairs for which the national government is too large and the municipalities too small. In most competencies the provinces have an executive function, executing policy which is made at the national level. The provincial competencies, often shared with national and municipal government include:
- Land managementLand managementLand management is the process of managing the use and development of land resources. Land resources are used for a variety of purposes which may include organic agriculture, reforestation, water resource management and eco-tourism projects.-See also:*Sustainable land management*Acreage...
, specifically regional zoning laws; - transportTransportTransport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
, regional infrastructureInfrastructureInfrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
and regional public transportPublic transportPublic transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
; - economyEconomyAn economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
and agricultureAgricultureAgriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
; - environmentEnvironment (biophysical)The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
and conservationConservation ethicConservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to...
; - recreationRecreationRecreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
, welfareWelfareWelfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
and cultureCultureCulture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
; - control over water boardWater boardA water board is a regional organisation that has very different functions from one country to another, ranging from flood control, water resources management, water charging and financing, and bulk water supply.-Philippines:The...
s and the finances of municipalities.
Finances
The provinces get most of their finances from the national government. Partially through the provincial fund in which the national government puts part of its tax income. This money is divided evenly over the provinces, which can spend it as they see fit. Moreover provinces receive earmarked budgets from the national government, with which the province can take care of specific competences such as regional public transport. Moreoer provinces can levy their own taxes. The most well known is the opcent, a small increase in the tax on cars which the provinces uses for infrastructural investments. Provinces also receive administrative payments from citizens who need particular services such as environment permits. Some provinces receive money from the Structural Funds and Cohesion FundsStructural Funds and Cohesion Funds
The Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund are financial tools set up to implement the Cohesion policy also referred to as the Regional policy of the European Union. They aim to reduce regional disparities in terms of income, wealth and opportunities...
of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. Finally some provinces have their own savings, from which they receive interest
Interest
Interest is a fee paid by a borrower of assets to the owner as a form of compensation for the use of the assets. It is most commonly the price paid for the use of borrowed money, or money earned by deposited funds....
.