Cabinet Government at the Municipal Level: the Dutch Experience

Abstract

ALTHOUGH a familiar pattern in national governments, so-called cabi/ net-type government of parliamentary systems has been far less common at local level. Yet in certain countries where some such arrangement prevails, that style has had considerable success and longevity. An examination of experience with this kind of organization, in a country such as The Netherlands, provides interesting contrasts and an opportunity for comparative evaluation with institutions common in American practice. Dutch municipalities are slightly less autonomous than their counterparts in United States, but they nevertheless cherish a long tradition of independence and frequently refer to fact that their histories go back much further than does that of national government. There is a uniform pattern of local government, 992 municipalities (gemeenten) embracing entire area of country and conducting all types of local services. Most of these units therefore contain a mixture of urban and rural territory. It is well enough known that Holland is both small and densely populated, but few persons in United States realize just how small. Its more than eleven million people are crowded into an area only slightly over half size of San Bernardino County in California. Not only is there but one type of local government unit; it is also true that organizational structure and legal powers are precisely same for crossroads village and urban metropolis. The scope of services and methods of operation will obviously vary. Despite nation's diminutive size there exists a level of government between central and municipal units. The eleven provinces have today rather limited functions, but among other things they do have some significant responsibilities in supervision of municipalities. The national government exercises considerable influence over both, but leaves far more discretion to cities than to provinces. In theory most acts of a municipality are subject to possible review by authorities of one of higher levels, a situation of limited consequence in actual practice. Local ordinances may be annulled by Crown, which for this purpose is Ministry of Internal Affairs, when they are deemed to be in conflict with national law or the general interest, but such nullifications average less than ten a year and are virtually without exception on grounds of conflict with national law. Likewise Crown must approve all local tax laws, but it is established practice to grant such approval for several years in advance. Local governments, although they are not without revenue sources of their own, are today heavily dependent financially upon central government grants and shared taxes. More detailed supervision occurs through provincial executive commissions, to which must be submitted for approval all municipal budgets and major financial transactions. Some actual control is exercised over small municipalities, but little if any in regard to large communities having professional administrative staffs.