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Constitution of the Netherlands Antilles
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| Netherlands Antilles |
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The Constitution of the Netherlands Antilles (1954) is a codified document (constitution) describing the foundation of the government of the Netherlands Antilles - it is known as a staatsregeling, as is the Constitution of Aruba.
The region is still part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and hence has no autonomy over issues including defence, foreign affairs, citizenship and extradition. However, like European Netherlands and Aruba it is autonomous over internal affairs and the three are constitutionally equal.
The region has a federal government under which state governments operate, as described by the constitution. It sets out for a federal government of three parts: Governor of the Netherlands Antilles, representing the Monarch of the Netherlands; a Council of Ministers; and a four-year elected 22-member parliament.
The Netherlands Antilles consists of five islands: Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten. After referenda were held on all these islands, they are currently in the process to change their constitutional status. In effect the Netherlands Antilles is set to be dissolved (by the end of 2008). Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius will continue as so called 'gemeentes', which means that they will become part of the country of the Netherlands. St. Maarten will obtain a separate status as a country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as will Curacao. However, as the island council (eilandsraad) of Curacao rejected the final statement (slotverklaring) entered into between the governments of Curacao, St. Maarten and the Netherlands in November 2006 to arrange this separate status also for Curacao, the constitutional future of Curacao is somewhat uncertain.
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