Artikel 51: Bicameral system

Artikel 51
  1. The States General shall consist of a Lower House (Tweede Kamer) and an Upper House (Eerste Kamer).
  2. The Lower House shall consist of one hundred and fifty members.
  3. The Upper House shall consist of seventy-five members.
  4. The two Houses shall be deemed a single entity when they meet in joint session.

In andere talen:

English

  1. The States General shall consist of a Lower House (Tweede Kamer) and an Upper House (Eerste Kamer).
  2. The Lower House shall consist of one hundred and fifty members.
  3. The Upper House shall consist of seventy-five members.
  4. The two Houses shall be deemed a single entity when they meet in joint session.

Français

  1. Les États généraux comprennent la Seconde Chambre et la Première Chambre.
  2. La Seconde Chambre compte cent cinquante députés.
  3. La Première Chambre compte soixante-quinze sénateurs.
  4. Réunies en une seule assemblée, les deux Chambres sont considérées comme n'en formant qu'une.

Deutsch

  1. Die Generalstaaten bestehen aus der Zweiten Kammer und der Ersten Kammer.
  2. Die Zweite Kammer hat einhundertfünfzig Mitglieder.
  3. Die Erste Kammer hat fünfundsiebzig Mitglieder.
  4. Bei einer Vollversammlung werden die Kammern als Einheit betrachtet.

Español

  1. Los Estados Generales están formados por la Segunda Cámara y la Primera Cámara.
  2. La Segunda Cámara se compone de ciento cincuenta miembros.
  3. La Primera Cámara se compone de setenta y cinco miembros.
  4. Reunidas en una sesión conjunta las dos Cámaras serán consideradas como una sola.

Explanation

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

The Netherlands has a bicameral system. The House of Representatives, the directly elected part of the representative body, is politically the most important part of parliament and is therefore mentioned first. In addition, there is the Senate, which is also referred to as the Chamber of Reconsideration. In the legislative process, a bill is first considered in the House of Representatives and only then in the Senate.

The number of members of the House of Representatives is 150, and that of the Senate is 75. Sometimes the Chambers must meet together in a 'joint session'. In that case, the distinction between the two Chambers is abolished and they are considered as one.