How Parliament works

I'm adjourning the session for a short moment.

Another parliamentary year is behind us.

Recently, I presented the House of Representatives' annual figures. The annual figures show exactly how many motions and amendments were proposed, how many sessions, including evening sessions, we had. All this is mentioned in our annual report.

I'm proud of it, because we've worked very hard again this past year. 

We'll vote, and I assume you've all signed the attendance list. I just thought I'd mention it. We'll vote on the motions proposed in the emergency debate. 19637, number 1186.

The House of Representatives has a number of important tasks such as monitoring the government. The House and government also jointly make laws.

The House is called co-legislator.

The rights and tasks of the House are set out in the Constitution and in the House's Rules of Order. The Rules of Order are drawn up by the House itself and is occasionally amended.

I open the session for Tuesday 8 April 2008. Under discussion is Question Time.

The authority exerted most by the House is the right of each individual MP to ask ministers and state secretaries for information. This is called the right for information. This can be done both orally or in writing. By law, a minister must answer MPs questions. This past year, MPs asked 2671 questions in writing and 113 oral questions. Oral questions are asked during Question Time on Tuesdays.

The House of Representatives is also co-legislator. One of the House's special rights is its right of initiative. MPs can put forward a bill on their own initiative. But they can also propose a motion or amendment, of course. An amendment means a bill is changed. A motion is less drastic: it asks the House to make a statement. It can be a request to government to do, or sometimes not to do, something. Amendments are far more complicated and are far less frequent than motions. Last year, 141 amendments were passed by the House. Compared to almost 2000 motions.

The SP, PvdA, GroenLinks, D66, Partij voor de Dieren, VVD, ChristenUnie, SGP. Sorry, not VVD. ChristenUnie, SGP, CDA, Partij voor de Vrijheid, passed.

To perform this monitoring and co-legislative task MPs hold many sessions. We have 150 MPs and they often meet at the same time but at different locations. In the chamber we're in now, laws are set out and parliamentary statements, motions, are passed. At the same time, meetings take place in committee rooms.

MPs are often experts when it comes to a particular issue. And they often discuss this issue with a group of representatives. But if the House accepts a decision, it must take place in this main chamber. I hope I have been able to give you a clear picture of how we carry out our work here at the House of Representatives and what the House's work actually entails. You've seen what kind of committee meetings are held and how written questions are asked.

But if you would like to know more, please visit the House's website:

www.houseofrepresentatives.nl.

You can also visit us. We have a public gallery, and we like to see it full of people.

I thank the members, and also the members of the cabinet. This session is now closed.