CH-SG
Rules of Procedure of the Cantonal Council (GeschKR) - Exercise of Powers a) Principle (LPRÉS)
Table of Provisions (184)
Statutory Text (184 Articles)
1. The Cantonal Council exercises its constitutional and statutory powers in its entirety.
2. The Presidency, commissions, and factions participate in the preparation. They may act independently to the extent this regulation provides for it.
**1. The Cantonal Parliament exercises its powers through:**
a)* Elections and approval of elections;
b) Constitutional revisions;
c) Laws;
d) ...
e) Cantonal parliamentary resolutions subject to the financial referendum;
f)* Approval of decrees as well as government decisions on the conclusion and termination of interstate agreements with constitutional and legal status;
g)* Simple cantonal parliamentary resolutions concerning the state's budget and accounts, as well as other matters for which the Cantonal Parliament is conclusively responsible;
h) Other resolutions, particularly concerning
1. Validity of cantonal parliamentary elections,
2. Responses to reports from the government, independent institutions, and the highest cantonal courts, as well as plans for state activities,
3. Orders, such as motions and postulates;
i)* Decisions, especially on objections from members of the Cantonal Parliament, on requests, and in disciplinary, penal, and liability matters;
k) Receipt of answers, particularly on interpellations and simple inquiries.
1. After a complete renewal, the youngest serving President of the Council in office, who is present, opens the first session of the Cantonal Council. If no former President of the Council is present, the eldest member in office present opens the session; among multiple members, the eldest by age does so.
2. She or he shall preside over
a)* the proceedings concerning the validity of the elections;
b)* the swearing-in of the Council;
c)* the election of the vote counters;
d)* the election of the President.
3. Three Council members, who have previously served as vote counters in former terms, shall act as provisional vote counters.
1. The Presidium of the Cantonal Council consists of the President, the Vice President, three vote counters, and the Presidents of the parliamentary factions.
1. The cantonal council elects the vote counters first, then the president and the vice president at the beginning of the summer session.
2. The president, vice president, and the vote counters may not be re-elected in the same capacity for the following two years.
3. The elected individuals remain in office until their successors are elected.
1. The chairpersons of the parliamentary groups may, by way of exception, be represented at the meetings of the presidium.
1. The Presidium
a) plans the activities of the council for at least four years and sets the dates for the regular sessions;
b) establishes the agenda for the sessions after consulting with the government;
c)* selects members as well as presidents of the committees, insofar as they are not elected by the cantonal council;
cbis)* appoints the head of parliamentary services upon the request of the State Secretary, sets the corresponding election procedure in advance, and terminates the employment relationship. The election and termination of the employment relationship of the head of parliamentary services are subject to approval by the cantonal council. The head of parliamentary services is the Secretary-General of the cantonal council;
cter) appoints the representation for the hearing by the responsible committee of the federal councils in the case of initiatives submitted by the cantonal council;
cquater* approves the appointment of the head of the cantonal data protection office or the termination of the employment relationship;
cquinquies)* approves the appointment of the head of financial control or the termination of the employment relationship;
d) interprets the regulations and monitors their application;
e) submits a report to the cantonal council in the middle of the four-year term on the activities of the parliament and proposes improvements to the organization and procedures if necessary;
f) prepares amendments to regulations and resolutions concerning the bylaws of the cantonal council;
g)* drafts the "Cantonal Council" and "Parliamentary Services" sections of the budget;
gbis)* oversees the use of credits, insofar as this task is not delegated to the Secretary-General of the cantonal council;
h)* agrees with the State Secretary on the supportive services provided by the state chancellery within the scope of parliamentary services.
2. Decisions of the presidium can be appealed to the cantonal council. Approvals of elections according to paragraph 1 lit. cquater and cquinquies of this provision cannot be appealed.
2bis Protocols and other information and documents of the presidium are exempt from inspection according to Article 7 paragraph 1 lit. a and b of the Public Access Act of November 18, 2014.
3. The presidium issues explanatory reports for referendums with the involvement of the president of the preparatory committee, unless the cantonal council decides otherwise in individual cases.
4. The presidium proposes to the cantonal council the size and composition of delegations in inter-cantonal and international parliamentary bodies.
5. The presidium maintains exchanges with the youth parliament. It addresses its demands, insofar as they are directed at the cantonal council.
1. The President shall preside over the proceedings of the Cantonal Council and the Presidency.
2. He or she shall represent the Cantonal Council externally, oversee its rights as well as compliance with the regulations, and ensure peace and order in the meeting hall.
3. He or she shall sign on behalf of the Cantonal Council, together with the Secretary-General of the Cantonal Council.
4. He or she may make urgent replacement appointments to commissions on behalf of the Presidency.
1. The Vice President shall represent the President in the event that the President is unable to fulfill their duties.
1. If the President and the Vice President are incapacitated, the former President, or, if necessary, their predecessor, shall preside over the proceedings of the Cantonal Council.
2. If no former President is present, the oldest member in attendance shall preside over the election of an Interim President.
1. The vote counters conduct the attendance control of the Cantonal Council and determine the voting and election results.
2. If a vote counter is unable to attend the council proceedings, the President shall appoint a former vote counter as a substitute. This substitute should, if possible, belong to the same faction as the prevented vote counter.
3. If time-consuming secret ballots need to be conducted in a session, the Presidium may deploy additional groups of vote counters. Whenever possible, former vote counters are called upon.
1. The Cantonal Council elects the following standing committees at the beginning of its term of office
a) ...
b) Judicial Committee;
c) Committee on Public Economy;
d) Finance Committee;
dbis)* ...
e) ...
f) Editorial Committee.
1. The Commission for the Administration of Justice reviews, based on reports and through its own inspections, the conduct of the offices of criminal investigation and enforcement authorities, the bankruptcy office, as well as the courts and their subordinate authorities.
a) ...
abis)* ...
ater)* ...
b)* ...
bbis) ...
c)* ...
d)* ...
e)* ...
1bis It advises in particular on
a) the validity of the election of the members of the Cantonal Council;
b) the annual reports of the cantonal courts;
c) the election proposals of the factions for the cantonal courts;
d)* reports and applications from administrative investigations, disciplinary cases, and liability claims concerning the highest cantonal authorities;
e)* ...
1ter It handles the following requests
a)* submissions addressed to the Cantonal Council, provided they are not referred to another permanent commission;
b)* petitions addressed to the Cantonal Council;
c)* authorization to initiate a criminal proceeding pursuant to Art. 23 para. 2 of the Introductory Act to the Swiss Code of Criminal Procedure and Juvenile Criminal Procedure of August 3, 2010;
d)* approval of secondary employment for full-time judges as well as communications from part-time judges of the Cantonal Court, the Administrative Court, and the Social Insurance Court pursuant to Art. 40 para. 3 of the Judiciary Act of April 2, 1987.
2. ...
1. If difficult or extensive clarifications regarding the validity of the election of the Cantonal Council need to be made, the Judicial Committee shall convene for provisional deliberation upon invitation by the presidency prior to its election based on faction proposals.
2. In the case of by-elections during the term of office, the committee shall convene only if ordered by its president or if requested by the presidency or from within the council. Otherwise, the committee president shall examine whether the election is valid.
1. The State Economic Commission examines based on reports and through its own controls
a)* the administration of the government, its subordinate authorities and offices, the cantonal office for data protection, organizations with cantonal participation, as well as private entities, insofar as they are entrusted with state tasks;
abis)* the implementation of the strategy for foreign relations and intergovernmental agreements;
b)* the planning and management of state activities and the results of government controlling;
bbis)* ...
c)* the processing of approved parliamentary motions and the fulfillment of mandates given to the government by the Cantonal Council.
2. ...
3. It particularly advises on
a)* the government's annual report;
b)* the annual and business reports of independent public-law institutions;
c)* the activity report of the cantonal office for data protection;
d)* the strategy for foreign relations;
e)* reports and applications from the government regarding extensions for the treatment of initiative requests.
4. ...
**1. The Finance Commission examines the financial budget based on reports and through its own audits. It can provide opinions on the management of the finances of autonomous public-law institutions.**
a)* ...
b)* ...
c)* ...
**2. ...**
**3. It specifically advises prior to:**
a)* the task and financial plan;
b)* the budget;
c)* the accounts;
d)* proposals concerning salaries.
**4. ...**
1. The Editorial Commission reviews the following for language, legislative technique, and consistency with other legislation
a) Proposals that are subject to a referendum;
b) Laws and financial resolutions that the Cantonal Council enforces immediately due to reasons of urgency;
c) Proposals referred to it by the Cantonal Council for review.
2. It is composed of one member from each political faction.
1. The presidents of the Judiciary, State Economy, and Finance Commissions discuss the demarcation and mutual supplementation of the commission's activities. The president of the Cantonal Council invites them for a discussion when needed.
2. The presidency can convene the presidents of the permanent commissions to discuss common issues.
1. The Chairwoman or Chairman of a standing committee may, if necessary, attend meetings of other standing committees with an advisory role for the purpose of mutual information and coordination of committee activities.
2. Their participation occurs
a) on their own initiative;
b)* by resolution of the committee they lead;
c) at the invitation of other standing committees.
1. To the extent that these regulations do not explicitly assign a matter to a standing committee, the presidium shall designate the appropriate committee when multiple committees could be considered for handling the matter.
1. The Cantonal Council shall appoint preparatory committees for proposals that are not assigned to a permanent committee by regulation or resolution. It determines the number of members and the parliamentary group that provides the chairperson. In exceptional cases, it elects the members and the chairperson.
2. If the handling of a proposal is urgent, the presidency decides on the appointment of the committee.
1. In exceptional cases, the Cantonal Council may establish special committees for proposals and matters that are assigned by regulation to a standing committee. It determines the number of members and the faction that provides the chairwoman or chairman. Exceptionally, it elects the members and the chairwoman or chairman.
1. The Presidium may appoint a special commission when there is an urgent need for regulation as defined in [Art. 75](https://www.gesetzessammlung.sg.ch/data/111.1/en/art75) of the Cantonal Constitution of June 10, 2001[[13]](#paragraphtext_content_fn_542159_2_13_c).
2. The government shall inform the presidium and the special commission in advance about the measures to manage the situation, particularly concerning the issuance of urgent ordinance law.
3. Proposals submitted to the Cantonal Council concerning the management of the situation shall be preliminarily reviewed by the special commission.
1. Parliamentary Groups, the Presidium, and the Council shall ensure during the preparation and execution of the election of commissions that the commission activities are not impaired by the bias of members.
1. The Commission is entitled to all information that is suitable and necessary for the fulfillment of its duties. In exercising this entitlement, it may, within the scope of its mandate
a)* inspect business-related files. For files subject to official secrecy, the Commission may inspect them through a delegation;
b)* question employees of the canton and of organizations with cantonal involvement, as well as private entities insofar as they have been delegated state tasks, regarding facts;
c) conduct inspections;
d) consult and request reports from expert third parties;
e)* hear from interest group representatives.
1bis. The Commission independently decides how to exercise its rights to information. The Commission's decisions in this regard cannot be appealed to the Cantonal Council.
2. If it concerns a criminal procedure, a disciplinary procedure, or a liability claim, the Commission may interrogate informants.
3. If summonses in the same matter result in costs exceeding CHF 3000, and expert reports in costs exceeding CHF 4500, the approval of the presidency must be obtained.
4. The Commission is bound by the principles of the separation of powers.
1. Parliamentary groups may delegate a group member as an observer to the standing committees in which they are not represented.
2. The observer may participate in the discussion and submit motions in the committee, but may not vote.
1. The Cantonal Council elects the representatives at the beginning of the term of office.
2. Upon the motion of the presidency, it determines the size and composition of the representations. In doing so, it considers the goals and purpose of the committees.
3. ...
1. The Cantonal Council may be represented by council members in inter-cantonal and international parliamentary bodies.
2. The duties of the representatives are determined by the aims and purposes of the bodies to which they belong.
3. The representatives shall periodically report to the Cantonal Council.
1. A group of at least seven members of the Cantonal Council is deemed a parliamentary group.
2. A member may belong to only one parliamentary group.
1. Fractions must be adequately considered during elections. The election of the representatives remains reserved.
2. The Cantonal Council determines the allocation key for commission seats to the fractions upon the proposal of the presidium.
3. The president of the preparatory commission should generally belong to a different fraction than the head of the competent department.
1. The parliamentary groups prepare the proceedings of the Cantonal Council.
1. The faction secretariats support the members of the faction in their official duties.
2. They are entitled to documents and information just like the council members.
1. Members of the Cantonal Council take the oath of office according to the oath formula: "You shall pledge and swear to fulfill the duties imposed upon you by your office with all conscientiousness and fidelity, irrespective of any person, and to promote the public welfare to the best of your abilities, as you can answer to God and your conscience."
2. After the oath formula is read aloud, the oath-taking formula is to be repeated with raised index fingers: "What has been read to me, I swear to do and uphold, so help me God."
3. The oath of office is administered at the beginning of the term to the entire Cantonal Council under the ringing of all the bells of the Cathedral and the St. Laurenzen Church by the council member who opens the first session of the Cantonal Council after a complete renewal.
4. Members who are absent during this oath-taking or enter the Cantonal Council through a replacement election shall take the oath of office before the assembled council.
1. In lieu of the oath, a written pledge can be made: "I pledge to fulfill the duties imposed upon me by my office with all conscientiousness and fidelity, without regard to the person, and generally to promote public welfare to the best of my abilities."
2. Members who make the pledge must submit it signed to the President. The President informs the council thereof.
1. Anyone who neither takes an oath nor makes a vow is not permitted to participate in the proceedings.
1. Members shall conduct themselves in a manner befitting the dignity of the Council during deliberations and shall express this through appropriate dress.
1. Upon taking office, the member discloses
a) professional activity and employer;
b) activity in management and supervisory bodies of economic enterprises and corporations, institutions, and foundations under private and public law;
c) permanent management and advisory roles for significant interest groups and associations;
d) participation in commissions and other bodies of the federal government, canton, and municipality;
e) exercise of significant political offices.
2. The member reports changes on an ongoing basis.
3. Before the member expresses an opinion on matters that directly affect their interests or those of third parties with whom they have a significant personal or legal relationship, they must disclose their conflict of interest.
1. The parliamentary services maintain a register of the council members' information.
2. The register is public.
1. A member shall recuse themselves if
a) the validity of their election is contested;
b)* they themselves, a close relative, or a private client have a direct private interest in a non-binding resolution of the Cantonal Council.
1. Members have the right
a) to participate in the discussion;
b) to submit proposals and motions regarding the procedure;
c) to submit motions, postulates, interpellations, and simple inquiries.
1. Members are entitled free of charge to
a) government publications necessary for the exercise of their office;
b) oral or written information on factual and straightforward legal questions, if such information is necessary for the clarification of a motion or initiative.
1. Members are accountable only to the Cantonal Council for the opinions they express in the Cantonal Council and its committees. The immunity of the members is governed by the cantonal constitution.
2. The President issues oral or written admonitions to members who
a) disregard regulations of the rules of procedure;
b) violate the dignity of the Council, individual members, other authorities, or fellow citizens through their statements or behavior;
c) seek to gain a private advantage for themselves or others from their office.
3. The President may, in cases of repetition or severe violations, reprimand a member or withdraw the floor. In cases of particularly severe misconduct, he or she may expel the member from the meeting room. The Cantonal Council decides on any objections.
1. The government is represented in the sessions of the Cantonal Council by the competent members for its proposals and motions. These members have an advisory vote and the right to make motions. The members of the government receive the consultation documents in the same manner as the members of the Cantonal Council.
2. The head of the responsible department represents the government in the sessions of the preparatory commission.
1. Members of the government shall take the oath of office or make the solemn affirmation upon assuming office and before the start of their term before the Cantonal Council.
2. The oath formula is as follows: "You shall swear: to faithfully adhere to the constitution and laws, to fulfill the duties of your office with all conscientiousness, without regard to person, to accept neither money nor gifts for this, be it directly or indirectly, and to promote the public welfare to the best of your ability, honestly, faithfully, and without deceit, as you can answer for it before God and your conscience." After the reading of the oath formula, the formula is to be repeated with raised oath fingers: "What has been read to me, I swear to do and uphold, so help me God."
3. The solemn affirmation formula is as follows: "You shall solemnly affirm: to faithfully adhere to the constitution and laws, to fulfill the duties of your office with all conscientiousness, without regard to person, to accept neither money nor gifts for this, be it directly or indirectly, and to promote the public welfare to the best of your ability, honestly, faithfully, and without deceit, as you can answer for it before your conscience." After the reading of the solemn affirmation formula, members of the government shall extend their right hand to the President and repeat: "I solemnly affirm this."
1. The government submits the necessary proposals to the cantonal council.
2. It has the right to give an opinion on proposals and motions from the council.
1. The government executes the resolutions of the Cantonal Council, insofar as this regulation does not stipulate otherwise.
1. The Cantonal Council requests the necessary services and information from employees of the state administration through the intermediary of the competent department.
2. The permanent commissions may address employees of the state administration directly during their supervisory activities, but they must inform the competent department.
2. The State Secretary participates in the meetings of the Cantonal Council and has the right to take part in the discussion on matters concerning the State Chancellery.
3. He or she has an advisory voice in the presidium, insofar as the sphere of activity of the State Chancellery or the cooperation between the government and the Cantonal Council are concerned.
1. The Secretary of State shall take the official oath or give the solemn affirmation before the Cantonal Council together with the members of the government.
1. The Secretary-General of the Cantonal Council conducts parliamentary services under the supervision of the Presidium and according to its instructions. He or she is subordinate to the President.
2. The Secretary-General of the Cantonal Council
a) is at the direct disposal of the Cantonal Council and the Presidium;
a bis) assists the President in the conduct of office;
b) ensures the minute-taking for the Cantonal Council and the Presidium;
c) manages the affairs of the Presidium and participates in meetings with an advisory vote;
d) conducts proceedings pursuant to the Public Disclosure Act of November 18, 2014, concerning the Cantonal Council and its organs. The Secretary-General of the Cantonal Council regularly informs the Presidium about decisions on requests for information and access.
3. The Presidium regulates the representation.
**1. The Council Service ensures the operation of the Cantonal Council by specifically:**
a) planning and organizing the council's operations;
b) drafting and delivering minutes and resolutions;
c) reproducing and delivering consultation documents and other materials;
d) providing materials that serve documentation purposes;
e) conducting or supervising projects and preparing proposals and matters within the purview of the presidium;
f) making documents and data available in electronic form and promoting electronic communication between the organs and members of the Cantonal Council;
g) conducting inquiries and reporting on the results;
h) providing procedural, legal, and factual information directly or forwarding inquiries to the appropriate department;
i) maintaining the register of information about council members;
j) introducing new members of the Cantonal Council to official duties;
k) ensuring the beadle service;
l) informing the public about matters concerning the Cantonal Council and the presidium;
m) organizing the guided group visits to the Cantonal Council's proceedings.
1. The Parliamentary Commission Service supports the committees and the representations of the Cantonal Council by
a) managing the administration;
b) drafting and delivering protocols and resolutions;
bbis)* dispatching consultation documents and other documents;
c) providing documents for documentation purposes;
d) conducting inquiries and reporting on the results;
e)* directly providing procedural, legal, and factual information or forwarding inquiries to the competent department;
ebis)* informing the public about matters concerning committees and representations;
f)* performing other tasks assigned to it by the Presidium and, in individual cases, by the chairwoman or chairman of the committee.
1. The Cantonal Financial Control manages the secretariat of the Finance Commission.
2. It supports the Finance Commission. In particular, it provides its audit reports and executes audit assignments.
3. Upon request, it provides other commissions with documents and information.
1. The Cantonal Council meets in the Cantonal Council Chamber.
1. Members of the Cantonal Council are provided with workspaces for their parliamentary activities.
1. To ensure safety, protect health, and guarantee the smooth conduct of meetings, the presidium may decide to impose conditions on access to the sessions of the Cantonal Council and its bodies.
1. The President of the Commission shall determine the place and time of the commission meeting after consulting the competent department. When determining the location, it must be ensured that no costs are generally incurred for room rental and usage.
2. The Commission shall decide on any additional commission meetings.
1. An employee of the Parliamentary Commission Service acts as the executive secretary of the standing commission, with the exception of the Finance Commission.
2. The commission president appoints the executive secretary of a non-standing commission
a) in agreement with the Secretary General of the Cantonal Council, an employee of the Parliamentary Commission Service, or
b) in agreement with the head of the relevant department, an employee of that department.
3. The executive secretary, under the supervision of the commission president, records the minutes, is available for further services, and provides the necessary information and communications to the parliamentary services.
1. The President of the Commission, after consulting the responsible department, designates the staff members of the state administration who are to be involved in the commission meeting.
2. The Commission decides on the invitation of experts and representatives of interests.
1. Administrative staff have an advisory voice. They may attend commission meetings insofar as they have worked on the proposal.
2. Otherwise, the involvement of state administration staff, experts, and representatives of interests is limited to being questioned. As a rule, they leave the commission meeting after the questioning.
1. Commission members participate in commission meetings.
2. If a commission member is unable to attend a meeting, they must inform the chairperson of the commission in advance.
3. If a commission member is generally unable to participate in the proceedings, they must submit their resignation to the head of the parliamentary group. The head will then propose a candidate for the replacement election to the chairperson.
4. In special cases, the presidium may provide for the substitution or temporary replacement of members of non-permanent commissions.
1. The chairwoman or chairman conducts the attendance check of the preparatory commission.
2. At the beginning of each meeting, the members must sign an attendance list. The chairwoman or chairman of the commission may delegate the keeping of the list to the parliamentary services. He or she may have the attendance of the members verified a second time during longer meetings.
3. Anyone who does not sign in within an hour is considered absent.
1. The Commission can only deliberate if the majority of its members are present.
1. The Commission may adopt a circulation resolution upon request by the President of the Commission if
a) a meeting can no longer be held in due time;
b) minor issues need to be resolved.
2. The request must be delivered to the members for comment within a reasonable period and is considered accepted if no member raises an objection.
1. Unless otherwise specified in this decree, the provisions of this decree regarding the procedure of the cantonal council shall apply accordingly.
2. The commission conducts a general debate on the proposal in place of an admission debate, followed by a specialized debate.
3. The chairperson votes and casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie.
4. Commission members are allowed to speak more than twice on the same matter.
1. The deliberations of the commission serve the free formation of opinion.
2. The following may not be disclosed
a) matters of the commission's deliberations subject to official secrecy;
b) the authors of individual expressions of opinion.
1. At the conclusion of the commission's deliberations, a collective vote is taken to determine whether it will be proposed to the Cantonal Council to enter into discussion on the revised draft.
1. The Managing Director shall transmit the committee motions immediately after the conclusion of the deliberations to the Secretary General of the Cantonal Council for forwarding to the Cantonal Council and to the State Secretary for forwarding to the Government.
2. The committee shall provide a brief explanation and justification for essential motions to the Cantonal Council and the media.
3. The financial implications of a motion shall be briefly presented.
1. The commission may submit a written report to the Cantonal Council.
2. The commission submits a written report to the Cantonal Council if it proposes not to proceed with a proposal or to amend it in its fundamental aspects.
3. The Judiciary Commission, the State Economic Commission, and the Finance Commission usually provide a written report to the Cantonal Council on the results of their examination.
1. If no written report is submitted, the Commission shall arrange for an oral report to be presented by its President.
2. The Commission may designate another rapporteur.
3. The oral report is limited to a brief presentation of the Commission's work, any disagreements with the government or within the Commission, differing and additional viewpoints of the Commission, as well as changes in the conditions for decision-making.
1. The commission may issue a press release regarding the outcome of its deliberations or, in appropriate cases, arrange for a press conference.
2. Minority opinions and motions must be appropriately considered.
1. The Commission minutes situate the Commission meeting and make it comprehensible.
2. It contains at least
a) the essential course of the meeting;
b) the motions and their justification;
c) the decisions of the Commission.
3. A detailed record is kept on the specialized discussion of drafts with legislative decrees and equivalent decisions.
4. A member of the Commission may request that a statement be recorded verbatim.
1. The motions of the editorial committee take the place of meeting minutes.
1. The Managing Director shall submit the draft minutes to the Chairperson of the Commission for approval within one week.
2. The Managing Director shall promptly distribute the approved minutes.
1. The commission minutes are confidential, subject to paragraphs 3 and 4 of this provision. They are part of the legislative materials and are distributed to
a)* the members of the commission;
b)* the department responsible for the submission;
c)* the presidents of the parliamentary groups;
d)* ...
2. The minutes of the standing commissions are also distributed to the presidents and the executive directors of the other standing commissions.
a)* ...
b)* ...
3. The Secretary General of the Cantonal Council may grant third parties access to commission minutes after the conclusion of the Cantonal Council's deliberations if an interest within the scope of parliamentary work, law application, or science is credibly demonstrated.
4. Once a legislative enactment is legally valid, the parliamentary services publish commission minutes, which contain the preliminary consultation of the enactment, in electronic form.
1. The Cantonal Council meets four times a year for regular sessions, with an additional cleanup session in the last year of the term of office.
1bis The regular sessions generally take place as follows
a) Spring Session: Beginning of March;
b) Summer Session: Beginning of June;
c) Autumn Session: Mid-September;
d) Winter Session: Beginning of December;
e) Cleanup Session: Beginning of May.
2. The presidency determines at least four years in advance when the regular sessions will begin.
1. The Cantonal Council may decide on extraordinary sessions.
2. Additionally, it convenes if ordered by the Presidium or the government, or if the Cantonal Council decides to do so upon a request from among its members.
1. The business directory is available no later than three weeks before the start of the session.
2. It
a) provides an overview of the session;
b) informs about the pending matters before the Cantonal Council. Matters not yet ready for consideration are marked;
c) indicates the upcoming sessions for at least the next four years.
3. Matters received later are added subsequently.
1. The session shall last no longer than three days.
2. The presidium shall announce the maximum duration of the next session no later than the current session.
1. The first session of the term begins on Monday at 2:00 PM and lasts until 6:00 PM. For the first session of a term, the cantonal council convenes at 10:00 AM to appoint the Judiciary Committee.
2. On the following days, sessions begin at 8:30 AM and last until 5:00 PM, unless shortened sessions are decided by the presidency. The sessions can be interrupted by breaks.
3. The council may decide on extensions and additional sessions.
4. Half an hour before the session begins, the cathedral bell is rung.
1. The agenda of the first day of a session is attached to the register of business.
2. The agenda for the subsequent days is distributed in the council chamber on the previous day.
3. The president determines the agenda.
1. If a person cannot attend a meeting, they must inform the President of the reason in writing in advance if possible, but no later than two hours after the meeting has started.
1. At the beginning of each session, members are required to sign an attendance list. The President may delegate the management of this list to the parliamentary services. During longer sessions, the vote counters may verify the presence of the members a second time.
2. Anyone who does not sign in within two hours is considered absent.
3. Absentees are recorded in the minutes as either excused or unexcused.
4. Only those at their designated seats may propose motions, participate in discussions, and take part in elections and votes.
1. The Cantonal Council may only deliberate if the majority of its members are present.
2. If the President suspects that the number of attendees is lower, he or she shall have the presence of the council members verified.
1. The proceedings of the Cantonal Council are public.
1. Visitors are permitted in the gallery as long as space is available.
2. Space can be reserved for guided groups. The parliamentary services provide them with an introduction to the council proceedings.
3. Visitors who express applause or disapproval or otherwise disrupt the order will be removed.
1. Media professionals shall be allocated special seats as far as possible.
2. They must report to the parliamentary services.
3. Media professionals who regularly report on the cantonal council proceedings shall receive the consultation documents and organizational notices at the same time as the members of the cantonal council.
1. The Cantonal Council may exceptionally exclude the public from a meeting if an overriding public interest or protectable private interests justify it.
2. Media representatives may be allowed to attend a closed meeting on the condition that they report succinctly and without naming names.
3. The exclusion of the public may already occur during the discussion on whether the meeting should be closed.
1. If there is a disturbance in the stands, the President, after a fruitless warning, shall have them cleared and closed.
2. The session shall be suspended until the order has been carried out.
1. The Cantonal Council addresses the elections, proposals, and motions listed in the business directory individually.
2. Motions concerning the same subject matter may be discussed together.
3. Apart from the matters listed in the business directory, only communications from the President and, exceptionally, if permitted by the presidency, statements from the government and the factions, personal explanations from council members limited to a maximum of three minutes, and corrections are permissible.
1. Advisory documents shall be made continuously available to the members of the Cantonal Council in electronic form.
2. They must be available at the latest
a) 12 days before the start of the session in electronic form;
b) 11 days before the start of the session in printed form, in the possession of those council members who expressly request delivery in printed form.
1. Motions from preliminary commissions and the government that cannot be made available with the consultation documents will be provided in electronic form as soon as possible and will be distributed at the beginning of the session to those council members who expressly request delivery in printed form.
2. Motions from council members will be provided in electronic form during the session if they are submitted to the parliamentary services in a timely manner. Otherwise, they must be submitted in writing to the president, who will announce them orally to the council. Motions submitted in writing to the parliamentary services or the president require confirmation by the proposer during the consultation.
1. Procedural motions are motions concerning the process of an ongoing debate, an ongoing vote, or an ongoing election.
1bis. Procedural motions aimed at the arrangement of the session and the meetings are inadmissible.
2. If a procedural motion is made, the discussion on the main subject is suspended and will only resume after the procedural motion has been dealt with.
1. If the admissibility of an application is contested, the council shall decide on the question of admissibility.
2. The deliberation on the main subject shall be interrupted and shall only be continued after the issue of the application's admissibility has been resolved.
1. Anyone wishing to speak must register with the President.
2. The President grants the floor in the order of registration. However, the committee rapporteur and the head of the responsible department have priority.
3. If the President exceptionally wishes to speak as a member of the council, she or he must register with the Vice President. Members of the presidium speak from the center of the council.
1. Except for the committee rapporteurs and the representative of the government, no member may speak more than twice on the same subject. However, a personal correction is permitted.
2. If a speaker deviates from the subject under discussion, the president shall admonish him or her to stick to the topic.
3. In suitable cases, the presidium may exceptionally limit the speaking time available for a proposal. It allocates a portion of the total speaking time to the factions and to members not belonging to any faction.
1. If the closure of the speakers' list is requested and decided by the council, the members already registered on the speakers' list, the representative of the government, and finally the rapporteur of the preparatory commission shall be granted the floor.
1. If the closure of the discussion is requested and decided by the majority of the council members, the discussion shall be terminated immediately.
2. The President must inform about this consequence before the resolution is passed.
3. The rapporteur of the preparatory commission and the government are entitled to a brief concluding statement.
1. Once the registered speakers have spoken or the termination of the discussion has been decided, the President declares the discussion closed.
2. Thereafter, no one may take the floor regarding the subject.
1. Proposals are submitted by the government based on constitutional and legal provisions, in fulfillment of special mandates from the Cantonal Council, or on its own initiative.
2. The presidency and the permanent committees can independently submit proposals within the scope of their mandate. The government retains the right to comment on them in a report.
1. The preliminary committee shall, if possible, issue a statement on the proposal by the next session.
2. The basis for the council's deliberation is the version in accordance with the requests of the preliminary committee.
1. The deliberation of a proposal opens with the commencement of proceedings.
2. If the commencement on the proposal is disputed, an entrance discussion shall be conducted. During this, motions for non-entrance, for postponing the entrance decision, as well as for referral of the proposal back to the preparatory commission or to the government can be made. First, a vote is held on entrance, then if applicable, on referral.
3. If the commencement is not disputed, no entrance discussion is conducted. However, the presidency or the cantonal council may decide to hold an entrance discussion.
4. If there is a legal obligation to proceed with the proposal, the President shall make reference to it. After an entrance discussion, a vote on entrance is waived.
1. The entry is followed by the detailed discussion.
2. In the detailed discussion, the provisions of the proposal are debated individually.
1. During the deliberation of a proposal, mandates can be given to the preparatory committee, the government, or the presidium. The mandates of the Cantonal Council must be fulfilled within three years. The government shall annually report to the Cantonal Council on the status of the fulfillment of the mandates assigned to it. It may include a justified request for an extension of the deadline for processing in the report.
2. The government may apply to the Cantonal Council to dismiss a mandate if
a) the government has fulfilled the mandate;
b) the fulfillment of the mandate would involve extraordinary efforts that were not foreseeable at the time of the mandate's issuance;
c) the fulfillment of the mandate would result in disproportionately high costs that were not foreseeable at the time of the mandate's issuance;
d) the circumstances have fundamentally changed since the issuance of the mandate, and fulfillment of the mandate can therefore be waived.
1. At the end of the special discussion, the President asks whether motions for reconsideration have been submitted.
2. The applicant may explain how they wish to see the proposal amended in the event of reconsideration.
1. The Cantonal Council may dispose of a proposal only through deliberation and adoption, by not considering it, or by rejecting it. The presidency may remove a proposal from the register of business if it has become irrelevant.
1. Decrees that are subject to a referendum shall be deliberated in two readings. This also applies if a decree is urgently enacted pursuant to Article 68 of the Cantonal Constitution of June 10, 2001.
2. The second reading shall take place no sooner than four weeks after the first. The council may decide on exceptions, but the second reading may not take place on the same day as the first.
1. The Council may, during the first reading, accept, amend, delete, or reject individual provisions of the proposal.
2. If a provision is referred back to the Commission or the Government, the first reading is suspended with respect to that provision.
3. The rapporteur of the Commission can accept suggestions for consideration in the second reading.
4. After the first reading, the proposal is forwarded to the preliminary committee for further examination.
1. In the second reading, provisions are addressed for which there are motions from the Commission, the Government, or the Presidium. Upon request from within the Council, the Council may revisit other provisions of the draft.
2. Constitutional drafts are discussed in full during the second reading.
3. If motions are introduced in the second reading that do not have a direct connection with the matters of the first reading or do not appear ready for decision, they shall either be rejected or, by suspending the second reading, be made the subject of a first reading.
1. The editorial commission generally reviews the draft after the first reading. It submits its proposals and points out any substantive ambiguities to the preparatory commission.
2. After the second reading, the editorial commission finalizes its proposals and ensures they are distributed to the cantonal council as soon as possible.
3. If the editorial commission identifies contradictions, ambiguities, or obvious gaps, it may request the council to resume the second reading on these points.
1. The final vote usually takes place at the end of the last day of the session.
2. Before the final vote, the President opens the discussion on the motions of the Editorial Commission as well as the general discussion, during which the results of the deliberations can be evaluated and positions on the final vote can be expressed.
1. If a double reading is not required, the draft is discussed article by article or section by section after the initial discussion.
2. The final vote is conducted after any motions for reconsideration have been resolved.
1. The task and financial plan, as well as the budget, are reviewed section by section, while the state accounts are discussed by department.
2. At the end of the deliberations, votes are taken on the motions associated with the proposal.
1. If an enactment only requires the approval of the Cantonal Council, the government's request for approval shall be the subject of a special discussion.
2. Motions for approval may be submitted subject to the repeal or amendment of individual provisions.
1. Reports are generally discussed section by section.
2 ...
3. After the specialized discussion, the President notes the acknowledgment of the report.
1. Members and parliamentary groups can submit motions, postulates, interpellations, and simple inquiries. Committees may submit motions and postulates.
2. Motions, postulates, and interpellations can be submitted during sessions, whereas simple inquiries may also be submitted outside of sessions. Motions and postulates from a committee can be submitted along with the requests for a proposal outside of sessions as well.
2bis. More than three initial signatories for motions, postulates, interpellations, and simple inquiries are only permissible in cases where all initial signatories belong to another parliamentary group.
3. The text along with the list of signatories shall be made available no later than the end of the session.
1. The Council may declare the treatment of a motion, a postulate, or an interpellation urgent if the request is made within two hours after the start of the session on the first day.
2. In this case, the motion, postulate, or interpellation will be dealt with in the same session.
1. The initial signatory may
a)* withdraw a motion or, by modifying its wording, convert it into a postulate or an interpellation;
b)* withdraw a postulate or, by modifying its wording, convert it into an interpellation;
c) withdraw an interpellation or convert it into a simple inquiry.
2. Motions, postulates, or interpellations that are withdrawn or converted, or whose initial signatory has left the Council, may be taken over by a co-signatory on the next meeting day.
3. Simple inquiries may be withdrawn by the questioner.
1. If the admissibility of a motion is disputed by the government, the presidency, or from the council itself, the presidency shall submit a brief report and application to the council.
2. The motion cannot be addressed before the council has decided on its admissibility.
1. The motion mandates the government to present a draft of a constitutional amendment, a law, or a cantonal council resolution within three years. In justified exceptional cases, the cantonal council can decide that the mandate must be fulfilled within one year. The mandate may include guidelines regarding the content of the draft.
2. The motion may be accompanied by a brief written justification.
1. The Postulate contains the mandate to the government, within three years
a) to report on a matter falling within the jurisdiction of the Cantonal Council and, if necessary, to submit a proposal;
b) to report on an important matter falling under the supervision of the Cantonal Council.
1. The motion or the postulate is tasked with providing a concise description.
2. The president returns verbose motions and postulates to the primary signatories for revision.
1. The government generally takes a position on the submitted motions and postulates by the next session through a written proposal.
**1. The President determines whether entry into the motion or the postulate is contested.**
2. If entry is not contested, the President determines the Council's entry into the motion or the postulate.
3. If entry is contested, a debate on the entry is conducted. The first signatory is granted the floor for a maximum of 15 minutes for explanation, followed by others who wish to participate in the discussion. If the government intends to contest the motion or postulate or to make a special declaration, its representative is granted the floor for a maximum of 15 minutes.
4. The Cantonal Council may convert a motion into a postulate by adjusting the wording. A vote is first taken on the conversion, followed by a vote on the entry.
1. If a decision is made to proceed with the motion or the postulate, a special discussion follows.
2. Proposals to amend the wording of the motion or the postulate and to fulfill the mandate of the motion may be submitted within one year. Subsequently, the council decides on the approval of the motion or the postulate.
1. The government shall annually report to the cantonal council on the approved motions and postulates. In the report, it may present a well-founded request for an extension of the deadline for dealing with individual approved motions and postulates.
2. The government may request the cantonal council to write off an approved motion if
a) the government has submitted the draft to the cantonal council;
b) fulfilling the mandate would involve extraordinary effort that was unforeseeable at the time the motion was approved;
c) the proposal would result in disproportionately high costs that were unforeseeable at the time the motion was approved;
d) circumstances have fundamentally changed since the motion was approved, and therefore, it is possible to forego fulfilling the mandate.
3. The government may request the cantonal council to write off an approved postulate if
1. the government has reported to the cantonal council;
2. fulfilling the mandate would involve extraordinary effort that was unforeseeable at the time the postulate was approved;
3. circumstances have fundamentally changed since the postulate was approved, and therefore, it is possible to forego fulfilling the mandate.
1. In cases of urgent need for regulation as defined by [Art. 75](https://www.gesetzessammlung.sg.ch/data/111.1/en/art75) of the Cantonal Constitution of June 10, 2001[[21]](#paragraphtext_content_fn_542412_2_21_c), the Cantonal Parliament may instruct the government, through a motion, to promptly submit a proposal to the Cantonal Parliament, allowing the proposal to be addressed at the next session of the Cantonal Parliament. Any later submission requires the approval of the presidency.
1. The interpellation contains questions regarding a matter of state activity.
2. The interpellation should define the questions briefly and clearly.
3. The President refers verbose interpellations back to the primary signatories for shortening.
1. The government usually responds in writing at the next session.
2. ...
3. ...
1. The primary signatory of the interpellation and, if applicable, the representative of the government is entitled to a brief response lasting no more than three minutes following the answer.
2. The Cantonal Council may decide to hold a discussion.
1. A Simple Inquiry contains questions concerning a matter of state activity. It is only signed by the inquirer.
2. The government typically responds in writing within three months. The response should be concise and is made available to the Cantonal Council electronically.
1. If the government is not competent to handle a motion, the presidency or the standing commission shall take its place.
1. The parliamentary petition requests the Cantonal Council to adopt a cantonal initiative.
2. The submission of the parliamentary petition, the government's statement, its acceptance, deliberation, and decision-making shall be governed by the provisions of this enactment concerning motions.
3. The parliamentary petition requires justification, particularly regarding the objectives of the enactment intended to be achieved through the cantonal initiative.
1. If the Cantonal Council has approved the cantonal request, the presidency submits the cantonal initiative to the Federal Assembly.
2. It incorporates the reasoning of the cantonal request into the cantonal initiative.
1. Requests addressed to the Cantonal Council are referred to the Judicial Commission. The Judicial Commission may forward them to another standing committee.
2. The presidency may invite the government to submit a report to the Cantonal Council.
1. The President of the Commission shall reject unclear, verbose, or requests that violate decorum and propriety for the rectification of deficiencies.
2. He or she may threaten non-consideration if the deficiencies are not rectified within the set deadline.
1. The standing commission may, if the resolution is passed without opposition
a)* approve, reject, or acknowledge requests pursuant to Art. 14 para. 1ter of these regulations;
b)* dismiss requests that are manifestly untenable or outside the jurisdiction of the Cantonal Council by declaring them inadmissible.
2. Otherwise, the Cantonal Council decides.
3. The decisions of the standing commission and the Cantonal Council are final.
1. The standing committee provides an oral report to the cantonal council on those requests that it could not address on its own initiative.
2. In special cases, it submits a written report and proposal to the cantonal council.
1. The President designates the motions and the procedure of the voting prior to each vote.
2. Any objections concerning the procedure of the voting are decided by the Council before the matter is voted on.
1. If there are several motions concerning the same subject, amendments are generally first juxtaposed with each other in alternative voting, and the winning one is then compared with the main motion.
2. In the comparison, a motion from within the Council is first put to a vote, followed by the motion from the government or the commission.
3. Deviations are permitted to the extent that they serve a clear formation of will.
1. If a voting question is divisible, any member may request division.
1. In voting, a simple majority of the voting members decides.
2. However, the following are required
a) The majority (61) of the members of the Cantonal Council
1. for the proposal of a total revision of the cantonal constitution;
2. in the final votes on a partial revision of the cantonal constitution, as well as on laws and resolutions that result in a one-time new expenditure of more than CHF 3,000,000 or a new recurring annual expenditure of more than CHF 300,000 for at least ten years, at the expense of the state or the municipalities;
2bis.* in the overall voting on the determination of the state tax rate, provided that this results in an increase in the state tax rate;
3. for urgent laws and cantonal council resolutions;
4. to end the discussion;
b) One third (40) of the members of the Cantonal Council for a referendum petition originating from the Cantonal Council;
c) One sixth (20) of the members of the Cantonal Council, to
1. ...
2. decide to conduct a roll call vote.
1. The President shall vote only in the event of a tie.
2. He or she may vote when a specific number of votes is required.
1. Voting shall be conducted using the electronic voting system.
2. The presidium may issue guidelines.
3. The provisions regarding voting without an electronic voting system remain reserved.
1. The voting result and the voting behavior are recorded in the form of a nominal list.
2. The nominal list is published in electronic form.
**1. Voting Without the Electronic Voting System:**
a) in special cases by order of the President;
b) when the voting system fails to operate.
1. Voting results and voting behavior are displayed on screens.
2. The President announces the voting result.
1. Voting is conducted by a show of hands, unless this regulation provides otherwise.
2. If the vote counters do not unanimously declare that a majority is unquestionably present, the vote shall be repeated.
1. Voting by standing for the purpose of counting is conducted
a)* if, after repeating the vote, the vote counters cannot clearly determine the majority by hand vote;
abis)* if a member of the council requests it;
b)* to determine the proportion of votes required according to Art. 132 para. 2 of these regulations;
c)* ...
1. In a roll-call vote, the record shall reflect who voted in favor, who voted against, who abstained, and who did not participate in the vote.
1. The parliamentary groups submit election proposals to the Cantonal Council. The competence of the presidency is reserved.
2. The election proposals are to be made available to the council members electronically no later than the beginning of the meeting.
1. At the beginning of the election, the President refers to the election proposals.
2. He or she provides an opportunity to make further proposals from within the Council and to justify and discuss the proposals.
1. Elected is the candidate who receives the absolute majority of the valid votes.
2. In the first and second round of voting, all eligible persons can be elected. From the third round onward, no valid votes may be cast for a new candidate. From the fourth round onward, no valid votes may be cast for the candidate who received the least number of votes in the previous round. In the event of a tie, the President shall draw lots.
1. The vote counters and the permanent and preparatory committees are elected by open ballot.
2. Vote counters and committees are elected collectively, unless the council decides on an individual election.
1. Elections and approvals of elections are secret unless this regulation prescribes an open ballot. The President also votes.
2. The tellers distribute the ballot papers to the members present at their seats. The President promptly announces the number of ballot papers distributed.
3. The ushers collect the ballot papers from the members present at their seats and hand them over to the tellers. If more ballot papers are collected than were distributed, the election round is void.
1. The President announces to the Council after the voting the number of
a) distributed ballots;
b) received ballots;
c) blank and invalid ballots;
d) valid ballots;
e) absolute majority;
f)* votes received by the candidates. Candidates who have received less than seven votes are listed as individual names without mentioning their names.
2. The President records who is elected.
1. Multiple similar elections are conducted as list elections unless otherwise decided by the council.
2. The absolute majority is determined by the number of ballot papers containing at least one valid name.
3. The same name is only counted once.
3bis. Ballot papers are invalid if the number of names marked exceeds the number of persons to be elected. In the case of different elections listed on the same ballot paper, the invalidity only applies to the affected election.
4. If more persons achieve the absolute majority than are to be elected, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated from the election. In the event of a tie, the president draws lots.
1. The officials elected by the Cantonal Council shall take the oath of office or make a solemn promise before the Cantonal Council upon assuming office.
1. The parliamentary services publish a brief record of the proceedings of the Cantonal Council in the official gazette after the session concludes.
2. For resolutions that are not published in the compendium of laws, the brief record is authoritative.
1. The Council Minutes shall include
a) the designation of the matters and documents under discussion;
b)* the names of the speakers along with the essential content of their statements and the wording of the motions submitted during the discussion;
c) the decision of the Council regarding the motions.
2. The voting result and voting behavior shall be indicated if an electronic vote was conducted. The voting result shall be stated if votes were counted or conducted by secret ballot, with additional details on voting behavior if voting was done by roll call.
3. The Council's resolutions shall be published in the Official Gazette, insofar as they are not published in the legislative collection.
1. The parliamentary services shall prepare the minutes in electronic form without delay and shall notify when they are available.
2. For closed sessions according to Article 80 of these regulations, a summary without naming individuals shall be prepared.
3. Printed excerpts of the minutes shall be provided by the parliamentary services upon request.
1. The correction of errors in the record is decided by the presiding body based on an objection or ex officio.
2. Objections can be filed in writing with the parliamentary services within fourteen days after the record has been made available.
3. The correction shall be made in the record without delay.
1. Advisory documents and results are retained as annexes to the cantonal council's minutes.
1. The proceedings of the Cantonal Council shall be recorded verbatim through technical means to facilitate minute-taking.
2. The Cantonal Council may decide to create a verbatim transcript in special cases.
1. The electronic records of the Cantonal Council's proceedings and the electronic data of the votes shall be stored at least until the official minutes of the Cantonal Council become definitive.
1. Members of the Cantonal Council receive a basic compensation per year.
2. In the event of joining or leaving the council during the year, the basic compensation is paid on a pro rata basis.
1. Members of the Canton Council receive a daily allowance for each meeting of the Canton Council, the presidium, and committees they attend.
2. Those who participate in two or more meetings on the same day, lasting a total of at least four hours, receive an increased daily allowance.
3. ...
4. Members who reside outside the meeting location receive a distance allowance per road kilometer for each meeting day, covering the round trip from and to their residence. If the meeting takes place outside the canton of St. Gallen, a travel compensation equivalent to first-class public transportation costs from the residence to the meeting location and back is provided instead of the distance allowance.
1. Members of the Cantonal Council who conduct inspections, inquiries, and discussions on behalf of the presidency or a commission shall receive a daily allowance and distance compensation or travel reimbursement as for sessions.
2. Members of the Cantonal Council who do not receive a functional allowance shall receive a daily allowance and distance compensation or travel reimbursement when they represent the Cantonal Council at an event on behalf of the presidency.
3. Members of the presidency shall receive compensation for participating in function-related trainings according to the provisions of Art. 150 and Art. 153 para. 2 of these regulations.
1. Compensation for meetings of the Cantonal Council shall be disbursed based on the attendance register.
2. Additional compensation shall be disbursed based on lists reviewed by the chairperson of the commission, the executive director, or by the parliamentary services.
1. If a committee meeting lasts at least three hours, the costs of shared meals are borne by the state.
2. For committee meetings that last several days, the state also bears the costs of jointly booked accommodations. In this case, the distance allowance or travel compensation is granted only once.
1. In cases of hardship, members of the Cantonal Council who suffer a loss of earnings due to attending meetings or undertaking special assignments shall be granted additional compensation of up to two-thirds of the daily allowance.
2. The allocation of the additional compensation is arranged by the president of the faction to which the member belongs.
1. The members of the cantonal council are compensated for their activities in representations.
2. The compensation is determined according to the provisions of Articles 150 and 153 of this regulation.
1. The President of the Cantonal Council as well as the Presidents of the Commissions shall receive double the daily allowance for the meetings they lead.
1. The President and the Vice President of the Cantonal Council shall receive a function allowance for each year of office.
2. The Presidents of the standing committees shall receive a function allowance for each year.
3. The Presidium shall determine the amount of the function allowances.
1. The Presidium may grant an extraordinary compensation to presidents and rapporteurs of commissions if they are unusually burdened by their duties.
1. Members of the Cantonal Council are compensated per session for each faction meeting
a) Outside the session days of the Cantonal Council;
b) On a session day of the Cantonal Council.
2. They are compensated for a one-day training and development session of the faction as well as an additional faction meeting per year.
3. To prepare for the discussion of complex proposals, the presidency may decide to authorize compensation for an additional faction meeting.
1. The chairpersons of the parliamentary groups receive double the daily allowance for the sessions they lead.
2. They receive a functional allowance per year.
3. The presidium determines the amount of the functional allowance.
1. Members of the Cantonal Council participating in preparatory faction meetings held on non-session days of the Cantonal Council shall receive daily allowances and distance or travel compensation as for the sessions of the Cantonal Council.
2. Members of the Cantonal Council participating in preparatory faction meetings and sessions of the Cantonal Council held on a session day shall receive an increased daily allowance for two sessions on the same day, provided the preparatory meeting lasts at least two hours.
3. For the training and further education of the faction, participating members of the Cantonal Council shall receive daily allowances and distance or travel compensation as for the sessions of the Cantonal Council.
4. Members of the Cantonal Council participating in preparatory faction board meetings held on non-session days of the Cantonal Council shall receive daily allowances and distance or travel compensation as for the sessions of the Cantonal Council, unless a faction meeting takes place on the same day.
1. The parliamentary group receives an annual remuneration from the state for the preparation of council affairs.
2. The remuneration covers personnel and material expenses of the secretariat as well as the procurement of documents for the activities of the parliamentary group.
1. The caucus compensation consists of a basic amount and a supplement for each caucus member.
2. Members of the cantonal council who do not belong to any caucus receive an annual compensation in the amount equivalent to the supplement for each caucus member.
1. The canton provides an annual pension contribution to the members of the Cantonal Council.
1. The regulation of the Grand Council dated May 5, 1953, is repealed.
1. This regulation shall be applied from May 1, 1980.
1. For the motions and postulates approved before the commencement of this decree, the three-year period for processing begins to run from the commencement of this decree.