Eerste Kamer

The Eerste Kamer (in Dutch “First Room”) is the name of the Upper House of the General states of the Netherlands, the Dutch Parliament. It includes/understands 75 members elected with the Vote for all indirect by the 12 provinces of the kingdom for a 4 years mandate. The dissolution of the Tweede Kamer involves that of Eerste Kamer.

Role

Control executive

The First Room has 4 methods of control of the executive commun runs with the Second Room:

budgetary capacity: it approves or disapproves the budget presented by the Government
the right of interpellation: each member of the Room can challenge a minister on a subject which is not with the day order by asking for the behavior of a debate. This request must be approved by the Room.
the members of the First Room have the right to put questions with the ministers. These questions can be only written (only the Second Room can raise oral questions). The ministers are held to answer it.
the Room has a right of investigation, which she exerts by constituting a parliamentary board of inquiry. The people convened by the commission have the obligation to appear there under oath.

Like the Second Room, the Senate can adopt a motion to formulate an opinion or a wish intended for a Minister or the whole of the Government. This motion is not imperative. To be subjected to the vote, it must be constant by 5 members of the Room.

The Second Room can adopt a motion of censure, involving the resignation of a minister or Government.

The vote of the law

The role of the Upper House in the vote of the law is restricted compared to that of the Lower House. The bills are transmitted to him after approval by the latter. It cannot amend the text, but only to approve it or reject it.

External bonds

Official site in Dutch
the result of the elections in Eerste Kamer since 1946

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