with indonesia's independence, a federal constitution was considered too heavy as the economies of suriname and the netherlands antilles were insignificant compared to that of the netherlands. by the charter for the kingdom of the netherlands, as enacted in 1954, a composite state was created (also known as the "tripartite kingdom of the netherlands"), consisting of the netherlands (mainland), suriname and the netherlands antilles. under the provisions of the charter, both former colonies were granted internal autonomy. suriname and the netherlands antilles each got a minister plenipotentiary based in the netherlands, who had the right to participate in dutch cabinet meetings that discussed affairs of the kingdom as a whole when they pertained directly to suriname or the netherlands antilles. delegates of suriname and the netherlands antilles could participate in sessions of the first and second chamber of the states general. an overseas member could be added to the council of state when appropriate. according to the charter, suriname and the netherlands antilles could each alter its "basic law" (). the right of the two autonomous countries to leave the kingdom, unilaterally, was not recognised; yet it also stipulated that the charter could be dissolved by mutual consultation.