Politics
Government
The Dutch government consists of the queen and a cabinet of ministers of the Crown. Because the Netherlands has a multi-party system, the government always consists of a coalition of two or more parties. The chance that one party gains the majority during elections is very small. The current government is in place since 2007 and is a coalition of the socialist PvdA and the Christian parties CDA and CU.
Parliament
All Dutch nationals aged 18 or older are allowed to vote and stand in elections for the House of Representatives. Parliament, known as the States General, consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer), with 150 members and the Senate (Eerste Kamer), with 75 members, elected by the provincial councils.
Parliament controls the government and draws up proposals to change or amend the law.