GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION 807
According to the electoral reform act, passed in 1896, voters are all male Dutch citizens not under 25 years of age, in profession of certain outward and positive signs of capacity and well-being. The chief sign is the fact of payment of one or more direct State taxes (for the land tax an amount of 1 Horin is sufficient). Besides the.se, the Reform Act admits as electors all those who can prove that they are householders, and have paid rent of houses or lodgings <luring a fixed term, or that they are owners or tenants of boats of not less than 24 tons capacity, or that they have been during a fixed term in employment with an annual wage or salary of at least 22/. 185. 4d., or possess a certificate of State interest of at least 100 florins, or a State savings bank deposit of at least 50 florins, or the legal qualifications for any profession or employment. The mode of voting adopted is based upon the couloir system. Voting is not compulsory.
The electoral body numbered, in 1897, 577,059 voters, i.e., one voter for eiffht inhabitants.
The members of the Second Chamber receive an annual allowance of 2,000 guilders (£166), besides travelling expenses. They are elected for 4 years, and retire in a body, whereas the First Chamber is elected for 9 years, and every three years one-third retire by rotation. The Sovereign has the power to dissolve both Chambers of Parliament, or one of them, being bound only to order new elections within 40 days, and to convoke the new meeting within two months.
The Government and the Second Chamber only may intro- duce new bills ; the functions of the Upper Chamber being restricted to approving or rejecting them, without the power of inserting amendments. The meetings of both Chambers are public, though each of them, by the decision of the majority, may form itself into a private committee. The ministers may attend at the meetings of both Chambers, but they have only a delibera- tive vote, unless they are members. Alterations in the Consti- tution can be made only by a bill declaring that there is reason for introducing those alterations, followed by a dissolution of the Chambers and a second confirmation by the new States-General by two-thirds of the votes. Unless it is expressly declared, the laws concern only the realm in Europe, and not the colonies.
The executive authority, belonging to the Sovereign, is exercised by a responsible Council of Ministers. There are eight heads of departments in the Ministerial Council, namely : —
1. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Ministerial Council. — Dr. W. H. de Beaufort', appointed July 26, 1897.
2. The Minister of the Interior. — Dr. H. Goeinan Boi^gesius ; appointed July 26, 1897.
3. The Minister of Finance. — Dr. K. G. Picrson; appointed July 26, 1897.
4. The Minister of Justice. — Dr. P. W A. Cort van der Linden ; appointed July 26, 1897.
5. The Minister of the Colonies. — J. T. Cremer ; appoiuted July 26, 1897.
