Artikel 137: First and second reading; splitting of proposals; dissolution of the Chamber

Artikel 137
  1. An Act of Parliament shall be passed stating that an amendment to the Constitution in the form proposed shall be considered.
  2. The Lower House may divide a Bill presented for this purpose into a number of separate Bills, either upon a proposal presented by or on behalf of the King or otherwise.
  3. The Lower House elected after the Act of Parliament referred to in the first paragraph has been published shall consider, at second reading, the Bill for the amendment of the Constitution as referred to in the first paragraph. If this Lower House does not decide on the Bill, the Bill will fall by operation of law. As soon as this Lower House has passed the Bill, the Upper House shall consider it at second reading. The Bill shall be passed by both Houses only if at least two-thirds of the votes cast are in favour.
  4. The Lower House may divide a Bill for the amendment of the Constitution into a number of separate Bills, either upon a proposal presented by or on behalf of the King or otherwise, if at least two-thirds of the votes cast are in favour.

In andere talen:

English

  1. An Act of Parliament shall be passed stating that an amendment to the Constitution in the form proposed shall be considered.
  2. The Lower House may divide a Bill presented for this purpose into a number of separate Bills, either upon a proposal presented by or on behalf of the King or otherwise.
  3. The Lower House elected after the Act of Parliament referred to in the first paragraph has been published shall consider, at second reading, the Bill for the amendment of the Constitution as referred to in the first paragraph. If this Lower House does not decide on the Bill, the Bill will fall by operation of law. As soon as this Lower House has passed the Bill, the Upper House shall consider it at second reading. The Bill shall be passed by both Houses only if at least two-thirds of the votes cast are in favour.
  4. The Lower House may divide a Bill for the amendment of the Constitution into a number of separate Bills, either upon a proposal presented by or on behalf of the King or otherwise, if at least two-thirds of the votes cast are in favour.

Français

  1. La loi déclare qu'une modification de la Constitution, telle qu'elle la propose, sera prise en considération.
  2. La Seconde Chambre peut, en se fondant ou non sur un projet déposé à cet effet par le Roi ou en son nom, diviser en plusieurs projets le projet d'une telle loi.
  3. La Seconde Chambre élue après la publication de la loi visée au paragraphe 1 examine en seconde lecture le projet de modification visé au paragraphe 1. Si ladite Chambre ne statue pas sur le projet, celui-ci est abrogé de droit. Dès qu’il est adopté, la Première Chambre l’examine en seconde lecture. Les deux Chambres ne peuvent adopter le projet de modification qu’aux deux tiers au moins des voix exprimées.
  4. La Seconde Chambre peut, en se fondant ou non sur un projet déposé à cet effet par le Roi ou en son nom, et aux deux tiers au moins des voix exprimées, diviser en plusieurs projets un projet portant modification.

Deutsch

  1. Durch ein Gesetz wird erklärt, dass eine Verfassungsänderung, wie sie darin vorgeschlagen ist, beraten werden soll.
  2. Die Zweite Kammer kann aufgrund eines vom König oder in seinem Auftrag eingereichten Vorschlags oder von sich aus die Vorlage eines solchen Gesetzes teilen.
  3. Die Zweite Kammer, die nach Verkündung des Gesetzes nach Absatz 1 gewählt wird, berät in zweiter Lesung die Änderungsvorlage nach Absatz 1. Fasst diese Zweite Kammer keinen Beschluss über die Vorlage, ist diese von Rechts wegen hinfällig. Sobald sie die Vorlage angenommen hat, berät die Erste Kammer diese in zweiter Lesung. Für die Annahme der Vorlage ist in beiden Kammern eine Mehrheit von mindestens zwei Dritteln der abgegebenen Stimmen erforderlich.
  4. Die Zweite Kammer kann aufgrund eines vom König oder in seinem Auftrag eingebrachten Vorschlags oder von sich aus mit einer Mehrheit von mindestens zwei Dritteln der abgegebenen Stimmen eine Änderungsvorlage teilen.

Español

  1. Se declarará por ley que una modificación de la Constitución, tal como la misma ley la propone, será tomada en consideración.
  2. Un proyecto de tal ley podrá ser dividido por la Segunda Cámara, mediando o no propuesta presentada al efecto por el Rey o en su nombre.
  3. La Segunda Cámara que se elija después de que se publique la ley mencionada en el apartado primero deliberará en segunda lectura sobre el proyecto de modificación a que se refiere el apartado primero. Si esa Segunda Cámara no adopta ninguna resolución sobre el proyecto, este caducará automáticamente. Una vez haya sido aprobado, la Cámara Primera deliberará sobre el proyecto en cuestión en segunda lectura. Ambas cámaras únicamente podrán aprobar el proyecto de modificación con una mayoría de al menos dos tercios de los votos emitidos.
  4. La Segunda Cámara podrá, mediando o no propuesta presentada al efecto por el Rey o en su nombre, dividir un proyecto de modificación, con una mayoría de al menos dos tercios de los votos emitidos.

Inhoud

  1. Explanation
  2. Constitutional Amendment Procedure
  3. Right of Splitting

Explanation

Please note: Only the Dutch-language version of the Constitution has legal effect. 

Constitutional Amendment Procedure

Given the special nature of the Constitution, a more extensive procedure applies to amending the Constitution than to amending an ordinary law. However, just like with an ordinary legislative amendment, a constitutional amendment is achieved through cooperation between the government and parliament. The special elements are:

  • A constitutional amendment is considered twice by both chambers of the States General. Elections for the House of Representatives are held in between.
  • The newly elected House of Representatives and the Senate can only adopt proposals accepted in the first reading unchanged and with at least two-thirds of the votes cast.

Should the newly elected House of Representatives, if new House of Representatives elections are held, not yet have decided on the proposal being considered for the second time, the entire proposal lapses.

This last provision came into force with the 2022 constitutional amendment. Constitutional proposals still pending at that time are handled in accordance with the old Article 137, in accordance with the Additional Article V introduced simultaneously. This Additional Article also provides for the event that the pending proposal to handle the second reading in a joint session is adopted.

Right of Splitting

Another peculiarity of the procedure is that the House of Representatives may split the submitted proposal for constitutional revision into multiple bills in the first or second reading. This may be done at the suggestion of the government.

For example, it may occur that amendments to different constitutional articles are proposed in a single bill that have no direct connection to one another. By splitting the proposal, it can be prevented that the entire proposal is rejected while objections exist only against a single part.

At least two-thirds of the votes cast are required for splitting in the second reading.