Editing Politics of the Netherlands (section)

==Constitution== 
{{Main|Constitution of the Netherlands}}

The Dutch Constitution lists the basic [[Civil rights|civil]] and [[social rights]] of the Dutch citizens and it describes the position and function of the institutions that have executive, legislative and judiciary power.

The constitution applies to the Netherlands, one of the four constituent countries of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]. The Netherlands comprises all of the European territory, as well as the [[Caribbean Netherlands|Caribbean islands]] of [[Bonaire]], [[Sint Eustatius]] and [[Saba (island)|Saba]]. The Kingdom as a whole (the Netherlands along with [[Aruba]], [[Curaçao]] and [[Sint Maarten]]) has its own [[Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands|Statute]], describing its [[Federacy|federate]] political system. 

The Netherlands does not have a [[constitutional court]] and judges do not have the authority to [[Judicial review|review]] laws on their constitutionality. International [[Treaty|treaties]] and the Statute of the Kingdom, however, overrule Dutch law and the Constitution, and judges are allowed to review laws against these in a particular court case. Furthermore, all legislation that is not a law in the strict sense of the word (such as policy guidelines or laws proposed by provincial or municipal government) can be tested on its constitutionality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcbr.nl/sites/default/files/2022-01/73295%20-%20BZK%20-%20Handreiking%20Constitutionele%20Toetsing%20TG.pdf|title=Handreiking Constitutionele Toetsing|quote=Op basis daarvan is de rechter bevoegd te treden in de beoordeling van de grondwettigheid van lagere regelgeving en besluiten, maar niet van wetten in formele zin en verdragen|p=7}}</ref>

Amendments to the Constitution must be approved by both Houses of the [[States General of the Netherlands|States General]] ({{langx|nl|Staten-Generaal}}) twice. The first time around, this requires a majority vote. After parliament has been dissolved and a [[Elections in the Netherlands|general election]] has been held, both Houses must approve the proposed amendments again with a two-thirds majority.