Respecting the Order and Liberty of Deliberations. Continuity of meeting practices in the Dutch States General (c. 1750-1830)

Between 1815 and 1830 Northern and Southern members of the States General clashed over how to behave as political representatives. This article presents this conflict as evidence of the continuity of the meeting practices employed in the States General since the Dutch Republic. Examples from three different periods show the continuity of three elements of the Northern meeting practice. Pragmatic, secluded and dignified meetings aimed at achieving consensus among the provinces or among members, Chamber, king and government. Deliberations on a resolution or a bill had to take place in an orderly... Mehr ...