Section 2: Procedure

A statement of the policy to be pursued by the Government shall be given by or on behalf of the King before a joint session of the two Houses of the States General that shall be held every year on the third Tuesday in September or on such earlier date as may be prescribed by Act of Parliament.

1. The sittings of the States General shall be held in public.
2. The sittings shall be held in camera if one tenth of the members present so require or if the Speaker considers it necessary.
3. The House, or the two Houses meeting in joint session, shall then decide whether the deliberations are to continue and the decisions to be taken in camera.

1. The two Houses may deliberate or take decisions, either separately or in joint session, only if more than half of the members are present.
2. Decisions shall be taken by majority.
3. The members shall not be bound by a mandate or instructions when casting their votes.
4. Voting on items of business not relating to individuals shall be oral and by roll call if requested by one member.

Ministers and State Secretaries shall provide, orally or in writing, the Houses either separately or in joint session with any information requested by one or more members, provided that the provision of such information does not conflict with the interests of the State.

1. Ministers and State Secretaries shall have the right to attend sittings of the States General and may take part in the deliberations.
2. They may be invited to be present at sittings of the Houses of the States General meeting either separately or in joint session.
3. They may be assisted at the sittings by persons nominated by them.

The two Houses shall jointly and separately have the right of inquiry (enquête) to be regulated by Act of Parliament.

Members of the States General, Ministers, State Secretaries and other persons taking part in deliberations may not be prosecuted or otherwise held liable in law for anything they say during the sittings of the States General or of its committees or for anything they submit to them in writing.

Each House of the States General and the two Houses in joint session shall draw up rules of procedure.