Lately, the municipal level of government has seen much experimentation with new forms of democracy and democratic decision-making. These experiments aim to revitalize local democracy by engaging... Show moreLately, the municipal level of government has seen much experimentation with new forms of democracy and democratic decision-making. These experiments aim to revitalize local democracy by engaging citizens more directly in the preparation, decision-making and execution of municipal policy.These experiments raise certain legal questions because local democracy is not just a matter of political culture, but of rules and regulations too. There are laws which stipulate which powers local authorities may exercise, how they may exercise these and how they ought to relate to each other. The question is what room this legal framework offers for all sorts of local democratic innovations that aim to enhance the institutionalized local democracy.This question is answered in this thesis with the help of four case studies. The cases and their design are tested for their compatibility with relevant laws and regulations and with the principles that form the foundation of the institutionalized local democracy. Show less
The subject of this thesis is the administrative relation between the levels of authority in the Netherlands. Focus of attention within this study is the distribution of administrative tasks and... Show moreThe subject of this thesis is the administrative relation between the levels of authority in the Netherlands. Focus of attention within this study is the distribution of administrative tasks and legislative power between government tiers. And more particular the way it has developed since the constitutional reform in 1848; what motives have underpinned the fluctuating ways in which responsibilities and powers were divided. The constitutional reform of 1848 has laid the foundation for the current administrative structure. A three tiers-system forms the basis of its organisation. Decentralization, the transfer of functions and powers of the national government to the provinces and municipalities, gives meaning to the administrative stratification. This study shows that in The Netherlands the leitmotiv for decentralization is to improve the governmental performance; efficiency, standardization and simplification are recurring objectives. Decentralization is also often used as an instrument to resolve specific policy issues. A third motive for decentralisation is improvement of the administration and organisation of government. This study shows there is little debate about the underlying motives for decentralization. In some occasions articles of (constitutional) law are changed without any parliamentary debate whatsoever. Even if debate takes place, justifications are often unfounded or accompanied by defective reasoning. Show less
Het komt in Nederland gelukkig niet vaak voor maar soms is wetgeving in strijd met mensenrechten. Burgers kunnen deze schending in Nederland bij de rechter aan de orde stellen. Wat kan de rechter... Show moreHet komt in Nederland gelukkig niet vaak voor maar soms is wetgeving in strijd met mensenrechten. Burgers kunnen deze schending in Nederland bij de rechter aan de orde stellen. Wat kan de rechter doen als hij hen gelijk geeft? Over wat voor gereedschap beschikt de Nederlandse rechter? En gebeurt het ook weleens dat de rechter helemaal niets doet? Die vragen staan centraal in dit boek. Het geeft een uitgebreid overzicht van de constitutionele remedies in de gereedschapskist van de rechter. Het gaat vervolgens in op het gebruik van de rechter om weliswaar vast te stellen dat wetgeving in strijd is met mensenrechten, maar daaraan geen gevolgen te verbinden omdat daarmee ‘de grenzen van de rechtsvormende taak van de rechter zouden worden overschreden’. De rechter vindt het oplossen van de mensenrechtenschending dan een zaak van de politiek. Kan hij dat eigenlijk wel doen? Ubi ius ibi remedium: waar recht is, moet toch ook een remedie zijn? En doen rechters in andere landen dat ook? Het boek bevat een analyse van de eisen die het Europese recht stelt, en een rechtsvergelijking met de constitutionele stelsels in Duitsland, het Verenigd Koninkrijk en Canada Show less
