Municipal authorities are responsible for water supply, traffic, housing, public-authority schools, social services, health care, sport, recreation, and culture and are responsible to the province and central government. Municipal councils are directly elected by local residents and the mayor is appointed by the Queen s Commissioner of the province. The central government is a Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch. As in the US, the Netherlands is a government of laws, not of men. All of the government s acts must have a basis in Acts of Parliament and courts may not apply criminal laws retrospectively.
Separation of powers is also an important aspect of Dutch government.
Government branches 1. The monarch is the chief of state and the Cabinet is the head of government, chaired by the Prime Minister . While the monarch s function is largely ceremonial, she does exercise considerable influence over the workings of the government. The monarch may dissolve either or both houses of Parliament on condition that new elections be held within 40 days. Following Parliamentary elections, the monarch appoints the formateur who in turn forms the Council of Ministers.