Editing Constitution of the Netherlands (section)

===Constitutional Reform of 1848===
[[File:Bronzen herdenkingsplaquette - 's-Gravenhage - 20363430 - RCE.jpg|thumb|right|A plaque commemorating the actions of [[William II of the Netherlands|William II]] during 1848.]]
{{Main|Constitutional Reform of 1848}}
The constitution as it was revised on 11 October 1848 is often described as the original of the version still in force today. Under pressure from the [[Revolutions of 1848]] in surrounding countries, King [[William II of the Netherlands|William II]] accepted the introduction of full [[ministerial responsibility]] in the constitution, leading to a system of [[parliamentary democracy]], with the House of Representatives directly elected by the voters within a system of single-winner [[electoral district]]s. Parliament was accorded the right to amend government bills and to hold [[Hearing (law)|investigative hearing]]s. The States-Provincial, themselves elected by voters, appointed by majorities for each province the members of the Senate from a select group of upper class citizens. A commission chaired by [[Johan Rudolph Thorbecke]] was appointed to draft the new proposed constitution, which was finished on 19 June. [[Suffrage]] was expanded (though still limited to [[census suffrage]]), as was the bill of rights with the [[freedom of assembly]], the [[privacy of correspondence]], freedom of ecclesiastical organisation and the [[freedom of education]].