States-General of Holland,
One of the five chief powers of the government of the Netherlands, established after the declaration of their national independence.
These powers were the States-General, the Council of State, the
Chamber of Accounts, the Stadtholder, and the College of the Admiralty.
The States-General usually sat at
The Hague.
It was not in any true sense a representative body, but rather a deputation.
It had no claim to sovereignty.
It obeyed the instructions of its constituents to the letter.
When new subjects were introduced for consideration, the States-General applied to the provinces for direction.
Neither war nor peace could be made without unanimous consent of the provinces, nor troops raised without the same unanimity.
The States-General constituted a congress of the same general character of that of the
United States under the
Articles of Confederation.
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