**1926 Dutch Senate election**
**Definition:**
The 1926 Dutch Senate election was a parliamentary election held in the Netherlands to elect members of the Senate (Eerste Kamer) of the States General. This indirect election determined the composition of the upper house of the Dutch Parliament for the subsequent term.
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## 1926 Dutch Senate election
The 1926 Dutch Senate election was an important political event in the Netherlands, held to elect the members of the Senate, the upper chamber of the Dutch Parliament. Unlike the directly elected House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer), the Senate was elected indirectly by the members of the provincial legislatures (Provinciale Staten). This election shaped the legislative balance of power in the Netherlands during the interwar period.
### Background
The Dutch parliamentary system is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. While the House of Representatives is directly elected by the public, the Senate is elected by the members of the provincial councils every four years. The Senate’s role is primarily to review legislation passed by the House of Representatives, providing a check on the lower house.
The 1926 Senate election followed the provincial elections held earlier that year. The composition of the provincial legislatures directly influenced the outcome of the Senate election, as the members of these bodies cast votes weighted by population to elect the 50 members of the Senate.
During the 1920s, Dutch politics was characterized by pillarization, a system in which society was divided into several socio-political groups or “pillars” based on religion and ideology. The main political pillars were the Protestant, Catholic, Socialist, and Liberal groups, each represented by their respective political parties. This system influenced voting behavior and coalition formation in both houses of Parliament.
### Electoral system
The Senate election was conducted through an indirect proportional representation system. Members of the twelve provincial legislatures voted for Senate candidates, with votes weighted according to the population of each province. This system aimed to balance regional representation with population size.
Each provincial council member’s vote was assigned a value proportional to the population they represented. The total weighted votes determined the allocation of the 50 Senate seats among the competing political parties. The election used a party-list system, where parties presented lists of candidates, and seats were distributed based on the proportion of votes each list received.
### Political context
The 1926 election took place in a period of relative political stability in the Netherlands, following the post-World War I adjustments and economic challenges. The major political parties included:
– **Roman Catholic State Party (RKSP):** Representing the Catholic pillar, it was one of the largest parties in the Senate.
– **Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP):** A Protestant Christian democratic party.
– **Christian Historical Union (CHU):** Another Protestant party with a conservative orientation.
– **Social Democratic Workers’ Party (SDAP):** The main socialist party.
– **Liberal parties:** Including the Liberal State Party (LSP) and smaller liberal groups.
Coalitions between Christian democratic parties and liberals were common, while socialists generally formed the opposition.
### Results
The 1926 Senate election resulted in the continuation of a Christian democratic majority in the Senate. The Roman Catholic State Party remained the largest party, followed by the Protestant parties ARP and CHU. The Social Democratic Workers’ Party maintained a significant presence but did not achieve a majority.
The distribution of seats was as follows:
| Party | Seats Won | Change from Previous Election |
|——————————-|———–|——————————-|
| Roman Catholic State Party | 22 | +1 |
| Anti-Revolutionary Party | 12 | -1 |
| Christian Historical Union | 7 | 0 |
| Social Democratic Workers’ Party| 6 | 0 |
| Liberal State Party | 3 | 0 |
The Christian democratic parties collectively held a majority, enabling them to influence legislation and government formation.
### Aftermath and significance
The 1926 Senate election reinforced the dominance of Christian democratic parties in Dutch politics during the interwar period. The Senate’s composition ensured that legislation passed by the House of Representatives would be carefully reviewed and often moderated by the upper house.
This election also reflected the stability of the pillarized political system, with little change in party strength compared to previous elections. The indirect election method underscored the importance of provincial politics in shaping national governance.
The Senate continued to serve as a conservative check on the more directly representative House of Representatives, contributing to the balance of power within the Dutch parliamentary system.
### Conclusion
The 1926 Dutch Senate election was a key event in the Netherlands’ parliamentary history, maintaining the status quo of Christian democratic dominance and the pillarized political landscape. Through an indirect electoral system based on provincial legislatures, the election shaped the upper house’s composition and its role in legislative oversight during a period of political stability.
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**Meta description:**
The 1926 Dutch Senate election was an indirect parliamentary election that determined the composition of the Netherlands’ upper house, reinforcing Christian democratic dominance during the interwar period. This election reflected the pillarized political system and the role of provincial legislatures in national governance.