The Constitution of the Netherlands at 200: Adaptive Capacity and Constitutional Rigidity
20 Pages Posted: 23 May 2015 Last revised: 2 Jul 2015
Date Written: July 1, 2015
Abstract
Amazingly, the Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has endured for more than 200 years now. It has provided the foundation for one of the most stable constitutional democracies in the world.Surely a constitution cannot endure for two centuries if it would not have included sufficient means of reform.
In this paper I ask: How has the Constitution of the Netherlands been adapted as circumstances and demands changed? And what lessons might be relevant for countries facing similar challenges and undergoing constitutional transition in contemporary times? These questions are extremely relevant since, besides drafting a constitution, constitutional change is one of the most difficult challenges facing a constitutional democracy.
Keywords: constitution, constitution-making, constitutional endurance, constitutional transition, constitutional democracy, constitutional change, silent constitutional change, poldermodel
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