Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Encyclopedia
The Council of Ministers of the Kingdom is the executive council of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
, which is a state consisting of four constituent countries: Aruba
, Curaçao
, the Netherlands
, and Sint Maarten. The Council of Ministers of the Kingdom consists of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands
complemented by one Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba
, one Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao
, and one Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten
. The Dutch Prime Minister
chairs the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom. Together with the Queen, the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom forms the Government of the Kingdom, also known as the Crown.
A significant difference between the Netherlands Ministers and the Ministers Plenipotentiary is that the former Ministers are accountable for their politics and policies to the Dutch parliament. The Ministers Plenipotentiary, however, are accountable to their national governments. Therefore, the Ministers Plenipotentiary usually do not resign in the event of a Dutch cabinet crisis.
Though the Kingdom of the Netherlands is statutorily distinguished from the Netherlands
, and therefore the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom is a distinct body from the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands
it is often perceived as being the same body, since the Netherlands is by far the most powerful of the four countries in federal affairs.
Laws applicable to the whole Kingdom are known as Kingdom Acts. An example of such a law is the "Kingdom Act regarding Dutch citizenship" .
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
, which is a state consisting of four constituent countries: Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
, Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and Sint Maarten. The Council of Ministers of the Kingdom consists of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands
Council of Ministers of the Netherlands
The Dutch Council of Ministers is the executive council of Dutch government, formed by all the ministers. This executive council initiates laws and policy. The Council of Ministers is distinct from the Cabinet which also includes state secretaries...
complemented by one Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba
Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba
The minister plenipotentiary of Aruba represents the constituent country of Aruba in the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The current Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba is Edwin Abath...
, one Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao
Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao
The Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao represents the constituent country of Curaçao in the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The current Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao is Sheldry Osepa...
, and one Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten
Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten
The Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten represents the constituent country of Sint Maarten in the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. The Dutch Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
chairs the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom. Together with the Queen, the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom forms the Government of the Kingdom, also known as the Crown.
A significant difference between the Netherlands Ministers and the Ministers Plenipotentiary is that the former Ministers are accountable for their politics and policies to the Dutch parliament. The Ministers Plenipotentiary, however, are accountable to their national governments. Therefore, the Ministers Plenipotentiary usually do not resign in the event of a Dutch cabinet crisis.
Though the Kingdom of the Netherlands is statutorily distinguished from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and therefore the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom is a distinct body from the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands
Council of Ministers of the Netherlands
The Dutch Council of Ministers is the executive council of Dutch government, formed by all the ministers. This executive council initiates laws and policy. The Council of Ministers is distinct from the Cabinet which also includes state secretaries...
it is often perceived as being the same body, since the Netherlands is by far the most powerful of the four countries in federal affairs.
Laws applicable to the whole Kingdom are known as Kingdom Acts. An example of such a law is the "Kingdom Act regarding Dutch citizenship" .