Article 1: Organization of the Bernese Jura Council (BJR) - Seat (GOBJR)

1. The BJR is headquartered in Neuenstadt.

2. As a rule, four plenary sessions per year are held in Neuenstadt. The other plenary sessions each take place at a different location in the Bernese Jura.

1. The amendment of Articles 13 and 19 shall apply from June 1, 2022.

The election of the bureau shall take place by the end of May at the latest or at the inaugural session of the respective legislative term.

1. The outgoing President is responsible, with the support of the General Secretariat, for the preparation and conduct of the election. He or she sets the date and location of the election and provides notice of the meeting to the members of the BJR as follows

a. at least one week in advance for plenary sessions, and

b. at least two weeks in advance for constituent sessions.

2. If the outgoing President is no longer a member of the BJR, the preparation and conduct of the election fall to the eldest member.

3. The members of the BJR may individually or as a faction propose candidates for the election.

1. The outgoing President or the oldest member presides over the meeting until all members of the board are elected.

2. The BJR elects two tellers from among its members.

3. The order of elections shall be as follows: President, Vice President, first teller, second teller. Political groups must be appropriately represented in accordance with Article 9, Paragraph 2 of the SStG.

4. The elections are conducted in a single secret ballot. A separate election is conducted for each position.

5. Elected is the candidate who has received the most votes. In the event of a tie, the election is decided by lot by the chairperson.

6. If the elected person declines the election, a new ballot is conducted in which that person can no longer be elected.

**1. The President**

a) convenes the members of the BJR for plenary sessions;

b) presides over the BJR's plenary sessions;

c) represents the BJR externally, unless this task is assigned to a BJR commission;

d) signs on behalf of the BJR jointly with the Secretary-General;

e) heads the BJR's Secretariat;

f) informs the public about the BJR's activities, unless this task is assigned to the office or a BJR commission.

**1a**

In the cultural sector, the signing authority under Paragraph 1, Letter d may be delegated as follows

a) purely administrative correspondence is signed by the chairperson of the Culture Commission and the BJR’s Culture Officer, with copies to the office and the Secretary-General;

b) decisions regarding contributions and other communications are signed by the President of the BJR and the BJR’s Culture Officer.

**2. The Vice President** fulfills the duties of the President in their absence, and the first vote counter or the second vote counter fulfills the duties of the Vice President.

1. The Office

a) prepares all matters to be presented to the BJR and may propose motions;

b) sets the agenda and determines the date for plenary sessions;

c) proposes to the BJR the composition of the commissions;

d) prepares expenditure decisions for the BJR;

e) submits an annual budget draft to the BJR for the attention of the State Chancellery;

f) ensures the exchange of information between the commission chairpersons.

2. The two members of the office who hold neither the presidency nor the vice-presidency determine the voting results in their capacity as vote counters.

1. Each member of the BJR has the right to

a) * submit motions concerning matters dealt with by the BJR;

b) * request the BJR to address a matter of their choice;

c) participate in votes and elections, propose amendments, and nominate candidates;

d) demand that a vote be taken on contentious issues.

2. The members of the BJR are subject to official secrecy. Article 58 paragraph 1 of the Personnel Act (PA) of September 16, 2004[[3]](#paragraphtext_content_fn_3689016_2_3_c) and Article 43 of the Grand Council Act (GCA) of June 4, 2013[[4]](#paragraphtext_content_fn_3689016_2_4_c) apply mutatis mutandis.

1. The BJR typically convenes for a plenary session at least once a month at the invitation of the President.

2. A convocation is additionally possible

a. at the request of a cantonal directorate or the state chancellery,

b. at the request of at least five members.

3. The invitation is delivered at least four working days before the meeting date, along with the agenda and necessary documents.

4. The notice period for convening a plenary session may be shortened in urgent cases, particularly for extraordinary plenary sessions.

1. The BJR can only validly deliberate on items that are on the agenda.

2. It can decide that a specific matter must be placed on the agenda for the next plenary session.

1. Plenary sessions are not open to the public, unless the plenary decides otherwise.

2. The Secretary-General participates in the plenary sessions in an advisory capacity.

3. The President or, by decision of the BJR, the Executive Committee or a member of the BJR, informs the public about the outcomes of the deliberations that are of general interest.

4. The Secretary-General is involved in activities to inform the public.

5. These provisions apply mutatis mutandis to the meetings of the Executive Committee.

1. The BJR and the office may invite representatives from the cantonal administration to their meetings, particularly when dealing with matters concerning the granting of contributions or school coordination with Western Switzerland and the Canton of Jura.

2. They may also invite other individuals whose expertise is necessary for the consideration of a matter.

3. Individuals invited to the meetings pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 have an advisory vote.

1. For the BJR to have a quorum, the presence of the majority of all council members is required.

2. All votes are conducted by a show of hands, except when the BJR decides on a secret ballot in individual cases.

3. Decisions are made by a majority of the votes cast (Art. 7 Para. 1 SStG).

4. The president participates in the voting and casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie (Art. 7 Para. 2 SStG).

1. The BJR stipulates the details for conducting its plenary sessions in a regulation.

1. The BJR forms the following permanent committees from among its members, consisting of seven to ten members

a) Committee on Institutions and Youth,

b) Economic, Energy, and Environmental Committee,

c) Health, Social, and Integration Committee,

d) ...,

e) Security and Finance Committee,

f) Education Committee,

g) Cultural Committee,

h) Construction and Transportation Committee.

2. The members, the vice-chairpersons, and the chairpersons of the permanent committees are elected by the BJR.

3. The composition of the permanent committees remains for the duration of a legislative term. Vacancies are filled for the remaining duration of the legislative term.

1. The BJR may establish ad hoc committees from among its members for the purpose of examining or preparing specific transactions.

2. The members and the chairpersons of the ad hoc committees are elected by the BJR.

3. The ad hoc committees are considered dissolved once they have fulfilled their given mandate or, at the latest, at the end of a legislative period.

1. The BJR ensures that the parties and the former administrative districts are appropriately represented in the standing committees and in the respective presidiums.

1. The provisions of Article 10 concerning the confidentiality of plenary sessions and the information of the public shall apply mutatis mutandis to the meetings of the commissions.

The committees and the committee chairpersons may invite representatives of the cantonal administration or other individuals to their meetings when the opinion of experts is required for the handling of a matter.

1. The provisions of Article 12, with the exception of paragraph 1, shall apply mutatis mutandis to the commissions.

The Office and the Commission for Institutions and Youth generally represent the BJR in inter-cantonal and, in particular, inter-Jura relationships within the meaning of Articles 27 and 28 of the SStG.

The Education Commission represents the BJR in inter-cantonal relations within the framework of school coordination with Western Switzerland and the Canton of Jura in accordance with Article 23 of the SStG and Articles 16 to 18 of the SStV.

The competent commission may, in individual cases, authorize its president or another member to represent the BJR in inter-cantonal relations.

1. At least three members can form a parliamentary group.

2. The parliamentary groups examine the matters submitted to the BJR.

3. They contribute to the appropriate handling of the matters.

4. They report their establishment, dissolution, and any changes regarding their composition to the General Secretariat of the BJR.

1. The BJR, the office, and the commissions may appoint experts and specialists to review individual matters within the financial resources available in their budget.

2. The participation of experts and specialists in the meetings of the commissioning bodies is governed by Article 11.

1. Members of the BJR shall receive a meeting allowance in the amount of

a) 200 francs for a half-day meeting,

b) 300 francs for a full-day meeting.

2. The meeting allowances shall be provided for participation

a) in the plenary sessions of the BJR as well as in the meetings of the office and the commissions;

b) in other meetings or events, if the respective member is representing the BJR or one of its bodies there;

c) in press conferences, if these take place outside a meeting.

3. The President of the BJR and the chairpersons of the commissions shall receive double the meeting allowance. This also applies to the Vice President of the BJR and the vice chairpersons of the commissions if they actually preside over a session.

4. All members of the BJR shall receive an annual flat fee of 250 francs for the preparation of the meetings. Members belonging to a parliamentary group shall also receive a meeting allowance of 50 francs for each legislative year, starting from the sixth group meeting they attend. These compensations are provided in addition to the compensations pursuant to paragraph 1.

5. For group meetings that do not take place on the day of a plenary session, a travel allowance shall be provided.

1. The members of the BJR receive the same travel allowances as the members of the Grand Council.

1. The Secretary-General has the following duties

a. **\*** Ensuring the operation and maintaining the archives of the BJR;

b. **\*** Organizing and keeping minutes of the plenary sessions of the BJR as well as the office and commission meetings;

c. **\*** Reviewing all matters submitted to the BJR and preparing decisions;

d. Drafting opinions to be issued within the framework of political participation;

e-f. **\*** ...

g. **\*** Conducting the administrative procedure regarding the granting of state contributions from the lottery fund or the sports fund, in collaboration with the Office for Migration and Civil Status and the Security and Finance Commission, and ensuring that the RFB is consulted;

h. **\*** Examining, together with the general secretariat of the RFB and in collaboration with the French-speaking Coordination Conference of the Education and Culture Directorate (FRAKO), matters related to school coordination with Western Switzerland and the Canton of Jura;

i. **\*** Maintaining relationships and ensuring the cooperation of the BJR with the RFB, the cantonal administration, public or private organizations and associations;

k. **\*** Providing members of the BJR with the information necessary for the exercise of their mandate;

l. **\*** Drafting the annual activity report of the BJR;

m. Organizing contacts with the media and ensuring they are informed in accordance with the instructions of the competent body;

n. **\*** Managing the operational budget of the BJR and annually submitting a budget draft to the State Chancellery;

o. Appointing the secretariat staff;

p. Executing additional tasks assigned by the President.

2. The Cultural Delegate has the following duties

a. Developing, after consulting the Council for French-speaking Affairs of the Administrative District of Biel/Bienne (RFB) and in collaboration with the Office for Culture, the French-speaking Commission for General Cultural Issues, and the Culture Commission, the draft of a general cultural policy concept of the BJR;

b. Conducting the administrative procedure regarding the granting of state contributions to cultural activities, in collaboration with the Office for Culture and the Culture Commission, and ensuring that the RFB is consulted;

3. The Assistant to the Secretary-General assumes the duties of the Secretary-General in their absence.

1. The Secretary-General is administratively affiliated with the Office for Bilingualism, Legislation, and Resources (OBLR) of the State Chancellery. In the performance of his or her functions, he or she is independent, accountable only to the Bilingualism and Justice Reform (BJR) and its President, and acts according to their instructions.

2. The periodic employee evaluation with him or her takes place jointly with the head of the OBLR, as well as with the President of the BJR.

"The relations between the BJR and the RFB, as well as their cooperation, are established in regulations jointly adopted by both councils."

This Rule of Procedure shall enter into force on October 1, 2006.