Acceso usuarios
John H. Grever
The city councils were the main source of the political power of the urban deputies of the States of Holland. Therefore, this article, which forms part one of a study of the city councils, intends to examine the membership requirements in terms of religion, wealth and legal education. Through a selection of case studies from the councils of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, it seeks to explore the impact of patronage, kinship ties and factional rivalries. Within the councils the two most important groups of officeholders were the burgomasters and the pensionaries. The present and former burgomasters were the local power‐brokers. The pensionaries served as the main links between the councils and the provincial assembly in The Hague, while at the same time enhancing the professional quality of the local and provincial government.
