What does the government do and what are the duties of the prime minister?
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In the Netherlands, the government makes decisions for the country every day. These decisions are about healthcare and education, about security and climate, and also about asylum and migration. But what exactly does the government do? And what role does the prime minister have in the government?
Who make up the government, the cabinet and the council of ministers?
Many people do not know the difference between the
The government consists of the king and ministers. The king primarily has a symbolic role. The ministers lead the various ministries, such as Education, Finance and Justice, and take care of the day-to-day administration. They implement the laws and ensure that the Netherlands continues to function properly.
The cabinet consists of all ministers and the
The council of ministers is the meeting of all ministers together, without the secretaries of state. Here the most important decisions are made before they go to the
In short, the government is the formal entity, but in practice the cabinet makes the plans and the council of ministers makes the major decisions.
Duties of the government
The government makes laws and implements them. New laws must first be approved by the House of Representatives and then the
In addition, every year on
The prime minister is ultimately responsible
The prime minister - often called minister president - is the leader of the government. The prime minister presides over ministerial meetings and ensures that ministers work well together. The prime minister speaks on behalf of the government in the House of Representatives and in the media. He or she also represents the Netherlands at international meetings, such as the European summit.
The prime minister has their own ministry: the Ministry of General Affairs. This is the smallest ministry in the Netherlands, but it supports the prime minister in all their duties. Employees of this ministry give advice, prepare meetings and help with government communications.
The prime minister is the face of the government, but they never make these decisions alone. Decisions are always made together with the ministers.
How does cooperation between the government and parliament work?
The government always needs the support of the
The House of Representatives and the Senate control the government. In doing so, they ensure that the Netherlands remains a democracy and that laws and plans are fair and enforceable.
Political crises occur when this cooperation does not go well. This can lead to delays in new laws, uncertainty for people who need help or tensions in society.