The Head of the state of the Netherlands is Queen Beatrix van Oranje-Nassau. The Queen has the function to nominate all the mayors in the Netherlands and the politician who who will eventually form the Dutch government. The Dutch parliament is divided in two chambers; the first (Senate) is made up of 150 members whilst the second chamber (Lower House) consists of 75 members. The Tweede Kamer (2nd chamber) is elected every four years in a direct general election. The Lower house has the power to approve the budget, the right of legal initiative, the right for submitting amendments, the right to start its own inquires and the right of interpellation. On the other hand, the First chamber has the power to approve or reject all laws in the Netherlands without the right of amendment.

The Netherlands is usually governed by a coalition of different political parties. Normally the prime minister is chosen out of that party which won most seats in the elections. Often the minister of the winning party has the task of forming the new government.