Rules of Procedure of the Cantonal Council (GO KR) - Composition (GOKR)

1. The President of the Council and the two Vice Presidents must not all belong to the same political group.

1. The Office has the following duties, in particular

a) It plans the operation of the Council and coordinates the planning with the Government Council;

b) It conducts business planning;

c) It prepares the Council meetings;

d) It sets the meeting dates and the agenda after consulting with the Government Council;

e) It selects three tellers from among the Council before the first meeting of the Council year;

f) It assigns matters for discussion to the commissions for reporting and making proposals to the Council;

g) It prepares the elections of the commissions and the office;

h) It examines whether any incompatibilities exist under Art. 33 KRG or arise anew and, if necessary, proposes to the Council to establish the incompatibility;

i) It regularly reviews the legislation concerning the Cantonal Council and, if necessary, proposes adjustments;

j) It approves permanent changes in the Cantonal Council chamber.

1. The President of the Council invites participants to the meetings of the Bureau. He or she presides over the meetings.

2. The Head of the Parliamentary Service participates in an advisory capacity. He or she has the right to make motions.

3. The Bureau may invite third parties to attend the meetings in an advisory capacity.

1. In order to negotiate validly, at least half of the members must be present. The office can pass resolutions by circular.

2. For a resolution to be valid, it requires the majority of the members present. A circular resolution is valid if the majority of the members agree. In the case of a tie, the chairperson has the casting vote.

3. The members of the office inform their factions about the decisions and the essential reasons of the office. They treat the votes of the participants in the meetings and the meeting documents confidentially.

1. The head of the Parliamentary Services manages the secretariat.

1. The Council shall, at the beginning of its term, elect the following permanent committees and their presidencies

a) Business Audit Committee (BAC);

b) Finance Committee (FC);

c) Education and Culture Committee (ECC);

d) Health and Social Affairs Committee (HSAC);

e) Construction and Economics Committee (CEC);

f) Internal Affairs and Security Committee (IASC).

2. The Business Audit Committee shall consist of at least 9 council members, who may not simultaneously belong to another committee. The permanent preparatory committees shall generally comprise 7 council members each.

1. The Audit Commission exercises supreme oversight on behalf of the Cantonal Council. In doing so, it examines the conduct of business by the Government Council, the administration, and the courts, as well as the state budget with regard to legality, effectiveness, and economic efficiency. Within the scope of this mandate, it establishes the focal points of its audit activities.

2. It promptly informs the office about the formation of subcommittees, as well as their composition and duties.

1. The permanent preparatory commissions handle the matters assigned to them for consideration. They carry out the necessary clarifications and consultations, report to the Cantonal Council, and submit proposals. Any minority motions are deemed submitted upon inclusion in the report.

2. They participate in external relations pursuant to Article 82 of these Rules of Procedure.

1. To prepare for items to be discussed, the Council may establish special commissions upon the request of the Office. The resolution specifies the mandate and designates the members and the presidency.

2. Upon fulfilling their mandate, they are considered dissolved.

1. The committees shall adopt rules of procedure.

2. Unless otherwise specified, the committees shall constitute themselves.

3. As part of their constitution, the committees shall elect a vice-chairwoman or a vice-chairman.

1. Members of preparatory commissions are authorized to inform their factions about the state of discussions and their outcomes. They must treat the votes of the participants in the meetings and the meeting documents confidentially.

1. The Parliamentary Service conducts the secretariat.

1. The commissions inform the office about the status of their work.

2. Reporting in the council is done by the president or an appointed member.

1. The commissions may invite third parties to attend meetings in an advisory capacity.

2. If the inclusion of third parties incurs costs, prior approval must be obtained from the office. The expenditure authorities of the commissions pursuant to a special mandate are reserved.

1. Resignation from a commission must be submitted in writing to the office by the end of January. The office shall promptly inform the presidium of the affected commission.

1. The Council Clerk supports the office in the fulfillment of its duties. They are responsible for the organization of the council operations and coordinate the business transactions with the Executive Council.

1. **The Parliamentary Service is a service of the Cantonal Chancellery. It is professionally subordinate to the bodies of the Cantonal Council.**

2. **The Parliamentary Service fulfills, in particular, the following tasks:**

a) Preparation of Council meetings;

b) Management of the secretariats of the office and the commissions;

c) Minute-taking in the Council;

d) Information and documentation for the Council and its bodies.

3. **The office and the Council clerk jointly prepare the proposal for the election of the head of the Parliamentary Service in mutual agreement.**

4. **The office is responsible for the termination of the employment relationship with the head of the Parliamentary Service. It consults with the Council clerk beforehand.**

5. **The rights and obligations of the employer are otherwise exercised by the Council clerk.**

1. The Cantonal Chancellery provides the following additional services in particular

a) Legal advice to the Council and its bodies;

b) Public information on behalf of the Cantonal Council;

c) Usher services for the Cantonal Council;

d) Operation of information and communication facilities in the Cantonal Council Chamber.

1. The incumbent office typically invites the council to its constitutive meeting in June.

2. The oldest serving council member opens the meeting and presides over the proceedings until the election of the President of the Council.

3. After the prayer, the agenda items are addressed in the following order

a) Confirmation of the election results for the Cantonal Council;

b) Confirmation of incompatibilities;

c) Swearing-in of the newly elected council members;

d) Election of the President of the Council;

e) Address by the President of the Council;

f) Election of the two Vice Presidents and the other members of the office;

g) Swearing-in of the newly elected members of the Government Council;

h) Swearing-in of the newly elected members of the Supreme Court;

i) Election of the members and chairpersons of the permanent commissions;

j) Address by the Landammann;

k) Acknowledgment of the elections in the municipalities;

l) Swearing-in of the newly elected municipal authorities and officials;

m) Further items for deliberation.

1. The provisions regarding constitution, with the exception of Art. 19 para. 3 lit. j, apply mutatis mutandis to each first session of a term of office.

1. The session documents shall be published and provided to registered media representatives as well as, upon request, to third parties.

2. Audio and video recordings in the council chamber require the permission of the President of the Council. Registered media representatives are exempt from the requirement for permission. The conduct of the council must not be disrupted.

3. An audio recording of the deliberations shall be transmitted to another room.

1. The Office decides on the publication of the session documents.

2. Access to the council chamber is granted only to members of the Cantonal Council and the Executive Council, as well as the staff necessary for the council's operations. The Office may grant access to other persons if their presence is required.

3. The Council may allow registered media representatives to attend the deliberations. The reporting must take into account the protective interests that the non-public deliberation serves.

4. The motions and resolutions are to be published in an appropriate manner. The verbatim record shall not be published.

1. Upon the request of a committee, the bureau may approve a public session of this committee.

2. In special cases, the bureau may declare its sessions to be public.

1. The Register of Permanent Reporters pursuant to Art. 29 KRG provides information on the name, first name, address, and, if applicable, the employer of the registered individuals.

2. Registered media personnel are, as far as possible, assigned suitable workspaces in the gallery.

3. Media personnel who violate the provisions of the Cantonal Council legislation or the instructions of the office may be removed from the register. The office makes the final decision.

1. The minutes of the meeting shall include

a) The individual items of deliberation;

b) The names of those absent;

c) The verbatim text of motions along with the names of the proposers;

d) The resolutions passed, including the voting results, if votes were counted;

e) The voting results in the form of a roll call, if voting was conducted electronically;

f) A summary interpretation of the discussion.

2. A summary record, containing the names of those absent, the motions, the resolutions, and the texts of decrees arising from the deliberations, shall be published in the official gazette without delay.

3. The voting results in the form of a roll call shall be published without delay.

1. The office approves the verbatim record.

2. Members of the Cantonal Council and the Government Council may submit a written request for correction within ten days after publication. The office makes the final decision.

3. The corrected verbatim record is to be signed by the President of the Council or the Vice-President, as well as by the Secretary or the Recorder.

1. Minutes shall be kept of the proceedings of the Bureau and the Committees.

1. The office shall adhere to the directives of the government council when preparing the budget proposal for the cantonal council.

2. Any discrepancies between the office and the government council should be resolved as much as possible.

1. The Cantonal Chancellery collects the conflicts of interest at the beginning of each term of office.

1. Requests for recusal are treated like motions for order.

1. The Bureau, in collaboration with the Cantonal Chancellery, ensures that new members of the council are introduced to their official duties.

2. The Bureau ensures appropriate office-related further training for the members of the council.

1. A parliamentary group consists of at least five council members.

2. Parliamentary groups constitute themselves. At the beginning of each term of office, they provide the office with their designation and the name of their president in writing. They promptly inform the office of any changes.

1. Compensation of the Fractions pursuant to Art. 39 para. 4 KRG amounts to CHF 5,000 annually.

1. Annual allowances are granted for the following functions

a) President of the Council CHF 8,000;

b) 1st Vice President CHF 1,000;

c) Chairperson of the Audit Committee CHF 6,000;

d) Other members of the Audit Committee CHF 3,000;

e) Chairpersons of the Standing Committees CHF 1,000.

2. In the event of a supplementary election during the term of office, the allowance is granted on a pro rata basis.

3. The allowance for the chairperson of a special committee is determined by the Council in the election resolution, taking into account the mandate of the committee. The entitlement arises with the commencement of the committee's activities.

1. For meetings of the Council and its bodies, at delegations, conferences, information events, and similar occasions, the following daily allowances are granted

a) Full day CHF 300;

b) Half day CHF 150.

2. The chairing of meetings in the office and in the committees entitles one to receive double the meeting allowance.

1. Council members responsible for the care of children up to and including the age of 12, or for dependent relatives, may claim a caregiving allowance.

2. The caregiving allowance amounts to CHF 100 per half-day meeting, but shall not exceed CHF 2,500 per council member per year.

3. The office makes a final decision upon a justified application.

1. Expenses Related to Official Duties

Expenses incurred in connection with official duties shall be reimbursed in accordance with the following provisions.

1. For journeys using public transportation, first-class ticket costs are reimbursed.

2. For journeys using private vehicles, all costs (including parking expenses) are reimbursed with a flat rate mileage compensation of CHF 0.70 per kilometer. If more than one meeting occurs on the same day, only the additional kilometers traveled for the second and any subsequent meetings may be calculated.

1. If a council meeting lasts more than half a day, council members are entitled to a flat-rate meal allowance of CHF 30.-.

2. Costs for meals are reimbursed if they have to be taken outside due to an official obligation. A main meal is compensated with a flat rate of CHF 30.-. In exceptional cases, actual higher expenses may be reimbursed. These must be documented and justified.

1. For an overnight stay away from home, the actual costs of a mid-range hotel will be reimbursed, provided that returning to the place of residence is not reasonable.

1. Other expenses shall be reimbursed based on the documented actual expenditure.

1. The office regulates the details in a directive. In particular, it establishes the modalities for billing and payment.

2. The office regularly reviews the compensations and, if necessary, submits a request for amendment of the bylaws.

1. The office invites for full-day or half-day meetings. Multi-day meetings are also possible.

2. Requests for convening a meeting must be addressed to the office. The office determines the location and date.

1. The invitation to the meeting, the agenda, and all related documents are generally to be sent to the members of the Cantonal Council and the Government Council at least 20 days prior to the meeting. The agenda is to be published in the official gazette.

2. A subsequent dispatch is to be announced in the invitation.

3. The President of the Council may invite third parties to the negotiations.

1. Excuses must be communicated to the President of the Council in a timely manner.

2. At the beginning of a meeting, following the prayer, the number of attendees is established. Any registrations or cancellations occurring during the meeting must be taken into account and announced accordingly.

3. Council members shall wear appropriate attire.

1. The council members are seated according to electoral districts.

2. The office establishes the seating arrangement before the commencement of a term of office and after each supplementary election.

1. The President of the Council exercises the authority over the premises in the council chamber and the anteroom on meeting days.

2. Persons who disrupt the proceedings may, after a prior warning, be expelled or removed by the police.

3. To ensure safety, protect health, and guarantee the undisturbed operation of the council, the office may impose conditions on access to the council chamber.

1. The floor shall be granted exclusively by the President of the Council. Whoever wishes to speak must register with her or him.

2. If the President of the Council wishes to participate in the deliberation, the First Vice President shall take over the chair.

3. The floor shall be granted in the order of registration. The reporters of the competent committees and the members of the Executive Council shall be entitled to the floor as soon as they request it. The floor may be requested at any time for procedural motions and replies.

4. Speakers who stray too far from the subject matter in their remarks shall be admonished to stay on topic.

5. The Bureau may, if necessary, limit the speaking time.

1. If a council member has been personally attacked, they have the right to a brief response. A discussion does not take place.

1. The discussion shall be declared closed when no one else requests to speak.

2. If a motion to close the discussion is accepted, only those who have already registered to speak may do so.

3. The representative of the government council and, finally, the rapporteur of the competent commission may briefly respond to the statements made in any case.

1. For each item of consultation, a debate on whether to consider the item generally takes place. Consideration is mandatory for

a) popular initiatives;

b) elections mandated by law;

c) budget, task, and financial plans as well as state accounts;

d) business reports;

e) further items of consultation whose treatment is prescribed by legislation.

2. The following parties are granted the floor in sequence

a) the competent committee;

b) the government council;

c) other committees with a subject-matter connection to the item under consultation;

d) the factions;

e) the members of the council;

f) the government council;

g) the competent committee.

3. If no motion for non-consideration is made, consideration is deemed resolved.

4. If the council decides not to consider an item of consultation, it, including any possible parliamentary motions, is removed from the agenda as completed.

1. After the preliminary debate, the detailed discussion follows in one or more readings. A proposal can be discussed article by article, section by section, or as a whole.

2. At the beginning of the second reading, the Government Council and the Cantonal Council may make general remarks on the proposal and the outcome of the public discussion.

1. Proposals subject to a mandatory or optional referendum undergo two readings.

2. In the cases referred to in paragraph 1, the council may decide on a third reading, and for other proposals, a second reading.

3. If a proposal is rejected in the final reading, it, along with any potential parliamentary motions, is considered completed and removed from the list of business.

1. Following the detailed deliberation, a final vote on the proposal shall take place.

1. Each council member may submit motions regarding an item under discussion in the council and in the preparatory commission. The right of factions to submit motions is limited to the debate in the council.

2. Motions in the council must be submitted in writing and fully formulated. Procedural motions may be made orally.

3. Motions in the council are reviewed for formal legality upon submission.

1. With the referral back, the Cantonal Council instructs the Executive Council or the preparatory commission to supplement or amend a draft or to provide an additional report.

2. Motions to refer back may concern the entire draft or individual provisions.

1. Until the conclusion of a session, any council member may request to revisit specific, precisely designated articles or sections of a draft. A brief justification of the request is permitted. The council decides without further discussion.

2. If the council agrees to such a request, the relevant articles or sections will be discussed again.

1. Procedural motions refer to motions aimed at removing an item from the agenda, postponement, or concerning the manner of handling or the application of the legislation regarding the cantonal council in general.

2. Procedural motions are addressed immediately.

1. The President of the Council votes.

2. In the event of a tie, the President of the Council casts the deciding vote, which can be briefly justified. No discussion takes place.

1. Voting is generally conducted using the electronic voting system, in the case of secret ballots or votes by means of a ballot paper.

2. In the event of a failure of the electronic voting system, the President of the Council shall decide whether voting will be conducted by a show of hands or through roll call.

1. The votes cast in each voting session shall be counted and stored electronically. The result and the voting behavior of the council members shall be displayed on display boards. The President of the Council shall announce the result.

2. In the case of secret ballots, the ballots cast shall be counted by the vote counters. The President of the Council shall announce the result.

3. In the event of a failure of the electronic voting system, the counting of votes may be dispensed with, provided there is no doubt about the result and neither a council member nor the government council objects.

1. Before the vote, the President of the Council provides a brief overview of the motions submitted and presents a proposal to the Council regarding the order of the voting.

2. Any objections are immediately resolved by the Council.

1. An amendment motion aims for the partial modification of a main motion, and a sub-amendment motion aims for the partial modification of an amendment motion.

2. Sub-amendment motions are put to a vote before amendment motions, and these, in turn, are voted on before the main motions.

3. If a council member agrees to a sub-amendment motion, it does not obligate them to also agree to the amendment motion. Similarly, agreement to an amendment motion does not require agreement to the main motion.

4. Contingency motions are those which, according to the will of the applicant, should only be put to a vote if a certain condition is fulfilled.

1. Motions are considered equivalent if they can be substituted for one another entirely.

2. Equivalent motions are put to a vote simultaneously. Each council member may only vote for one of these motions.

3. If more than two equivalent motions are presented and none receives a majority of the votes of those present, the one with the least number of votes is eliminated from the voting process. The voting then continues in the same manner among the remaining motions.

1. For the acceptance of a proposal or submission, a majority of those present is required in the first vote, and a majority of those voting is required in the second vote, unless an expressly different regulation applies.

1. If a motion that has been delivered with the documents for the meeting is not contested, it is deemed to be tacitly accepted.

1. First, the members are elected and subsequently the president is elected from among them.

2. Committees can be elected as a whole if the council so decides.

1. Authorities or commissions may be confirmed in their entirety, unless the council decides otherwise.

2. The presidents shall be confirmed individually in every case.

1. The results of the elections shall be communicated in writing to the elected individuals, the authorities, and other affected parties.

1. The public discussion takes place after the first reading.

2. Within four weeks after publication in the official gazette, any person residing in the canton may submit written applications to the Cantonal Council. The submissions are presented to the council members, usually in full text, before the second reading and are published.

3. The documents pertaining to the subject of discussion are distributed to the participants of the public discussion. Restrictions aimed at protecting the privacy of third parties are reserved.

1. Anyone who wishes to personally justify their proposals from the public discussion before the council must register with the Chairwoman or Chairman of the Council no later than 10 days before the relevant meeting.

2. The Chairwoman or Chairman of the Council shall regulate the procedure on a case-by-case basis. In particular, she or he may limit speaking time and decide on the distribution of documents to the council members.

3. Generally, the same person will be granted the floor only once.

1. The competent commission expresses itself in its report and motion on the statement of the initiators according to Art. 49 KRG.

2. If the council declares a popular initiative to be completely invalid in the first reading, a second reading does not take place.

1. The office places a question time on the agenda at least twice a year.

2. Questions must be submitted in concise written form and without justification to the office 30 days before the meeting. The President of the Council may reject lengthy questions for abbreviation.

3. The questions are neither presented nor justified in the council. The responsible member of the government council answers briefly. A subject-related supplementary question from the questioner is permissible. A discussion does not take place.

4. In exceptional cases, written documents may be submitted. The President of the Council decides.

1. A parliamentary initiative must be submitted in writing and with reasoning to the bureau. The parliamentary initiative must be formally and materially revised in advance as part of a preliminary examination procedure. The provisions of the government council regarding the preliminary examination procedure shall apply accordingly.

2. The bureau shall inform the members of the council and the government council of the text of the parliamentary initiative and publish it.

3. The bureau shall place the parliamentary initiative on the agenda no later than six months after submission. The responsible committee and the government council shall be given the opportunity to provide a written statement.

1. A parliamentary initiative is initially justified orally. Subsequently, the competent committee and the government council are given the opportunity to express their views on it.

2. After the discussion, a vote is taken on whether the parliamentary initiative should be declared significant.

1. The competent commission conducts a consultation procedure if such a procedure is indicated. The provisions of the government council regarding the consultation procedure apply accordingly.

2. Upon submitting the proposal to the cantonal council, the competent commission forwards the proposal to the government council for its opinion.

1. Motions, postulates, and interpellations must be submitted in writing to the office. The office places them on the agenda of the meeting following the next at the latest, informs the council members and the government council of the text, and publishes it.

2. An interpellation designated as urgent will be placed on the agenda of the next meeting, provided it is signed by at least 20 council members and submitted no later than 10 days before the dispatch of the meeting documents.

1. A motion or a postulate is initially explained orally. Subsequently, the competent committee and the government council are given the opportunity to comment on it.

2. The wording of a motion or a postulate may not be changed during the course of the deliberation.

3. After the discussion, a vote is taken on whether the motion or postulate should be declared substantial.

1. The interpellation may be justified orally. After the response from the government council, the floor is granted only once more to the interpellant and the government council.

2. A general debate only takes place if requested by a parliamentary group or decided by the council.

3. A vote on a motion for discussion is taken without further debate.

1. A written request must be submitted to the office. It is forwarded to the Council of Ministers. The text is brought to the attention of the council members and published.

2. The response from the Council of Ministers is delivered to all council members and published.

1. The declaration of the withdrawal of parliamentary motions shall be addressed to the office.

1. The competent commissions monitor the development of the inter-cantonal and international cooperation of the canton in their area of responsibility.

2. They participate in the decision-making process by exercising the information and consultation rights pursuant to Art. 68 et seq. of the Cantonal Constitution (KRG).

3. The commissions may jointly deliberate with parliamentary bodies of other cantons if a matter concerns inter-cantonal and international cooperation.

1. The initial election of the permanent preparatory committees shall take place within 7 months after the entry into force of these Rules of Procedure.

2. Special committees elected under the old law shall remain in existence until they have fulfilled their mandate or are replaced by a committee under the new law.