Please allow me to state some facts and my opinion on them. In the Netherlands the governing powers are divided in three: the legislative power, the executive power and the judiciary power (Trias Politica). As legislative power you have the First and Second Chamber and as executive power you have the Queen as head of state and the Cabinet (Council of Ministers).
The ministers are (politically) responsible for the daily running of the country. The ministers are held accountable by and execute orders from the members of the Second Chamber. The members of the Second Chamber also come with proposals to amend and/or introduce laws. The members of the First Chamber approve or deny amendments/introduction of the Law. The system in the Second Chamber is based on dualism. This means separation of executive and legislative power. This leads to members of the Second Chamber not having to follow "party politics" to please ministers from the same party.
Government of the Netherlands without the judiciary power:
- 1 Queen
- 12 Ministers (of which 1 is Prime Minister)
- 8 Secretaries of State
- 150 Members of the Second Chamber
- 75 Members of the First Chamber
- 1 President of the Second Chamber
- 2 Griffiers (no governing power)
- 40.000 signatures from voters needed to have a subject put on the agenda in the Second Chamber
- Advisory councils without decision making authority
Government of Sint Maarten without the judiciary power:
- 7 Ministers (of which 1 is Prime Minister)
- 15 Members of Parliament
- 1 President of Parliament
- 1 Griffier
- 1 Governor (no governing power)
- Advisory councils without any decision making authority
Question is: How can we have "dualism" with just a handful politicians who don't even communicate with their membership or the electorate in general?
Sjaoel "Shooz" Richardson