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How is the Kingdom of the Netherlands governed?

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The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. Under the constitution, the monarch serves as the head of state and is considered inviolable, embodying the principle of ministerial responsibility.12

The government, officially known as the Crown, consists of the monarch acting in conjunction with ministers. Legislative power is shared between the government and the States General, which comprises two houses:1

First Chamber (Senate): Members are elected by the councils of the 12 provinces. It can approve or reject legislation but cannot propose or amend it.1
Second Chamber (House of Representatives): Members are directly elected by the public through a system of proportional representation.31

Following elections, party leaders engage in a bargaining process to form a coalition government that commands a parliamentary majority. No government may remain in power against the will of the parliament. The Kingdom also includes autonomous countries and special municipalities in the Caribbean, such as Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.142