Ordinance on the Consultation Procedure (VVV) - Purpose (VVV)

1. Consultation procedures aim to involve political parties, municipalities, and interested individuals and organizations in the formation of opinions and decision-making by cantonal authorities.

2. They should provide information on the appropriateness, feasibility, and political support of a cantonal initiative.

1. A consultation procedure is generally to be conducted in preparation for

a. constitutional amendments,

b. laws,

c. regulations that have significant impacts on individuals and organizations outside the administration, and particularly on municipalities,

d. other projects of general importance.

2. For projects of minor importance, particularly regulations of merely technical significance, the departments may conduct hearings within professional circles.

1. The Executive Council

a. decides on the initiation of a consultation procedure and authorizes the applying department or the state chancellery responsible for its implementation,

b. defines the group of organizations, public authorities, and entities to be invited for consultation,

c. determines the documents to be submitted and the duration of the consultation procedure.

2. The authorized department invites the following to the consultation

a. the political parties represented in the Cantonal Council,

b. the consultation recipients designated by the Executive Council.

3. The State Chancellery informs the public about the initiation of the consultation procedure.

1. The consultation documents are available in electronic form.

2. The consultation period is generally three months. It is determined by the nature and scope of the proposal and may be shortened, particularly in cases of urgency or if the proposal is of minor significance. Vacation periods and public holidays must be duly considered when setting the deadline.

1. The State Chancellery, in consultation with the departments, compiles a list of planned consultation procedures three times a year and publishes it on the internet.

1. The State Chancellery forwards consultation documents from the federal government and other entities and organizations to the competent department for the purpose of submitting a proposal to the government council or for direct handling, insofar as it is not itself responsible.

2. The other departments and the State Chancellery are generally to be invited to provide a co-report before the submission of a proposal.

3. The cantonal positions decided by the government council in federal consultation procedures are generally to be published on the internet by the proposing department.