Tracy,

>I'm not clear on the Dutch system, but isn't there not really a true separation of powers? Don't the queen and the cabinet share legislative powers? Doesn't the queen have to cosign every law to make it valid? Wasn't it not until 1848 that the Constitution provided for direct elections of the second chamber and then the right to vote was only to men who could pay a level of tax that was required to vote?

Only so called koninklijke besluiten (Freelee translated: Royal decisions) have to be co-signed. But even those are setup by the ministers and not by the king or queen. Eventually the ministers are responsible for the laws. The queen only has the power not to sign and cannot make any laws or royal decisions. The true power of the queen is rather limited as the ministers eventually even have the power to discharge the queen if need to be. Further she merely plays a role in accepting and discharging cabinets (administration) and some cerimonial issues. As far as I know the british monarchy does do the same. This has been working this way long before wilhelmina came to power.