Constituent Session (GO)
Table of Provisions (145)
Statutory Text (145 Provisions)
1. The agenda of the inaugural session shall include, in the following order
a) Opening of the session by the oldest (by service) council member present (President by Age),
b) Verification of the presence of council members,
c) Speech by the President by Age,
d) Appointment of provisional vote counters,
e) Acknowledgment of the report by the Council of Ministers on the general elections and the confirmed results of the Council of Ministers elections, as well as the determination of the election result of the Great Council elections, upon the request of the Justice Commission,
f) Election, swearing-in, and speech of the President of the Great Council,
g) Swearing-in of council members,
h) Election of the First Vice President and the Second Vice President,
i) Swearing-in of the members of the Council of Ministers,
k) Election of the President and Vice President of the Council of Ministers,
l) Election of the Secretary General of the Great Council,
m) Election of the State Secretary,
n) Election of the members of the standing committees and their Presidents,
o) Election of the vote counters.
1. The provisions for constituting apply mutatis mutandis to each first meeting of a term of office.
2. The Bureau of the Grand Council may bring forward the timing of the election of council bodies.
1. During the swearing-in, all persons in the council chamber shall rise.
2. The President of the Grand Council shall have the oath or pledge formula read by the Secretary General of the Grand Council.
3. The oath is as follows: "I solemnly swear to uphold the rights and freedoms of the people and the citizens, strictly adhere to the constitution and constitutional laws, and faithfully and conscientiously fulfill the duties of my office, so help me God!"
4. The pledge is as follows: "I solemnly pledge on my honor and conscience to uphold the rights and freedoms of the people and the citizens, strictly adhere to the constitution and constitutional laws, and faithfully fulfill the duties of my office!"
5. The person taking the oath shall say, with raised fingers, the words "I swear it". The person taking the pledge shall say the words "I pledge it".
1. The Grand Council usually convenes annually for five sessions.
2. The sessions customarily take place in the city of Bern and last a maximum of two weeks, typically from Monday to Thursday.
3. The council meetings generally last
a) in the morning from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.,
b) in the afternoon from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
c) on Thursday afternoons from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
4. The Wednesday evening of the first session week and the Tuesday evening of the second session week can be reserved for evening meetings. Evening meetings last from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
5. Faction meetings generally last a total of three days per session. For these meetings, Monday mornings of both session weeks and Tuesday afternoon of the first session week are reserved.
6. The Grand Council may extend, conclude early, or adjourn sessions and meetings.
1. The session schedule determines the time and duration of each session.
2. The session program specifies the key meeting times, the matters to be discussed, the forms of discussion, and, if necessary, the speaking times.
1. Admission to the Council Chamber during the sessions of the Grand Council is granted to
a. Members of the Grand Council, the Executive Council, and the judiciary leadership,
b. Employees of the parliamentary services and the state chancery, insofar as their function requires it,
c. Persons accompanying a member of the Executive Council or the judiciary leadership,
d. Media representatives who can provide appropriate identification.
2. During confidential deliberations, only the persons specified in Paragraph 1, letters a and b, have access to the Council Chamber. The galleries are cleared and closed, and any transmissions of the deliberations are interrupted.
The public gallery of the council chamber is available to the public. Visitors are expected to maintain decorum, silence, and order. Anyone violating these provisions will be removed. In the case of continued disruption, the session will be adjourned and the gallery cleared.
1. To ensure safety and order in the town hall, the office management may implement appropriate measures and issue house rules.
1. The Grand Council and its bodies support media professionals in reporting on the Grand Council.
2. The activities of media professionals must not impair the operations of the council.
3. Media professionals who can identify themselves as such have access to the press gallery and the lobby.
1. The Official Journal of the Grand Council fully reproduces the deliberations, including the resolutions of the Grand Council, in a verbatim transcript and also includes the consultation documents. Exempted are secret deliberations and related documents.
2. The Official Journal is continuously published in electronic form.
1. Corrections of Statements in the Grand Council can be requested by the speakers at the Bureau until the end of the following session.
1. The deliberations of the Grand Council and its bodies shall be conducted in German (dialect or Standard German) and French.
While the sessions of the Grand Council are in progress, simultaneous interpretation is ensured.
Simultaneous interpretation is also provided for the sessions of the Council bodies, unless a Council body unanimously waives it.
Council bodies that have waived simultaneous interpretation may reconsider this decision at any time upon the request of a member.
For committee sessions of the commissions, no simultaneous interpretation is ensured. The German-speaking Council members express themselves in written German.
1. Motions submitted during the deliberations in the Grand Council that request an alteration of the subject matter under discussion shall be translated without delay.
2. If the motions cannot be submitted in writing to the Grand Council due to time constraints, they shall be communicated orally in both official languages immediately before the vote.
1. The following documents are available in both official languages
a) Documents that are the subject of a decision by the Grand Council,
b) Documents presented to the Grand Council for acknowledgment,
c) Presentations by the Government Council or the competent parliamentary body accompanying the documents,
d) Documents intended for all council members.
2. All other documents may be drafted in only one official language.
3. Minutes are drafted in the language of the person taking the minutes. The statements are reproduced in the official language in which they were made.
1. Each member of the Grand Council shall inform the office about
a) their professional activities; if the council member is an employee, their position and employer must be specified,
b) activities in executive or supervisory boards, as well as advisory boards and similar bodies of Swiss and foreign corporations, institutions, and foundations under private and public law,
c) permanent management or consultancy activities for Swiss and foreign interest groups,
d) participation in commissions and other bodies of the federal government, the canton, or municipalities of Bern,
e) the holding of significant political offices, excluding the mandate of the Grand Council.
1a. For activities pursuant to paragraph 1 letters b to e, the council member must indicate whether
a) the activity is carried out by virtue of office,
b) it is an honorary or paid mandate, with expense reimbursements not being taken into account.
2. The professional secrecy as defined in the Swiss Criminal Code of December 21, 1937 (SCC) remains reserved.
3. A publicly accessible register of the members' interests is maintained.
1. The President of the Grand Council directs the deliberations of the Grand Council and its office and is particularly responsible for
a determining the quorum of the Grand Council,
b proposing voting procedures,
c signing the resolutions and decrees of the Grand Council,
d administering oaths to Council members, members of the Government Council, and other persons to be sworn in by the Grand Council,
e supervising compliance with Grand Council legislation,
f maintaining peace and order in the council chamber and the galleries,
g **\*** approving expenditures according to Grand Council legislation,
h **\*** conducting votes by circulation procedure (Art. 105b).
2. The Vice Presidents represent the President of the Grand Council in their absence and perform additional assigned duties.
1. The office members from permanent commissions, the deputation, or the factions may be represented by the respective Vice President.
2. The President of the Grand Council informs the Grand Council about important decisions of the bureau.
1. The management of the office consists of the President of the Grand Council and the two Vice Presidents.
1. The management convenes the inaugural meeting of the Grand Council.
2. It plans the meetings of the office, prepares them, and conducts them.
3. It represents the Grand Council both internally and externally.
4. It orders security measures in the town hall if necessary.
1. The management decides on corrections to the daily gazette.
2. It may issue regulations concerning the activities of the media.
3. It conducts the public relations of the Grand Council.
1. The management may grant additional compensations.
2. Concerning the Special Account of the Grand Council
a. it reviews the preliminary budget, the task and financial plan, and the business report,
b. it may apply for an additional credit,
c. it approves budget overruns and credit transfers.
1. The management supervises the Parliamentary Services.
2. It prepares the nomination proposal for the Office of the Grand Council for the election of the Secretary General of the Grand Council.
3. It prepares the creation of staff positions for the Parliamentary Services.
4. It determines the initial salary for the Secretary General.
1. In urgent cases, the management also has the following responsibilities
a. conducting business with the Executive Council and the highest judicial authorities, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Justice Directorate,
b. allocating matters to organs of the Grand Council,
c. representing the canton in appeal proceedings,
c1 **\*** making decisions regarding external voting during sessions or via the circular process, including setting the technical requirements for voting (Art. 77a and Art. 77b of the GRG),
c2 **\*** determining the timeframe for possible virtual meetings of council bodies, as well as any clarifications regarding these virtual meetings or the circular process in council bodies (Art. 108a),
c3 **\*** engaging in communication with the Executive Council regarding the definition of the beginning and end of an extraordinary situation (Art. 91 of the Cantonal Constitution [CC][[3]](#enumeration_itemtext_content_fn_3314141_2_3_c)),
d. handling additional matters assigned by the Grand Council or for which no other council body is responsible.
1. The Office plans and prepares the sessions of the Grand Council.
2. It determines the session schedule and the session program.
3. It decides on the advancement of the timing for the appointment of council bodies.
1. The Bureau decides in cases of discrepancies in the coordination among council bodies.
2. It decides whether an uncontested election shall be conducted by standing vote.
1. The office receives requests to submit a matter to the Grand Council (Right of Submission).
2. It assigns matters to specific council bodies.
3. It receives requests for corrections to the official gazette.
4. It submits proposals to the Grand Council regarding requests to lift immunity.
4a. It exchanges views with the Government Council regarding the interpretation of the beginning and end of an extraordinary situation (Art. 91 KV).
5. It handles other matters assigned to it by the Grand Council or for which no other council body is responsible.
1. The office maintains communications with the executive council and the judiciary leadership, except when the judicial commission is responsible for communications with the judiciary leadership.
2. It decides to invite additional members of the executive council for the discussion of a matter in the Grand Council.
3. It receives information from the executive council regarding contested records of the Grand Council.
4. It decides on the representation of the canton by the Grand Council when an act of the Grand Council is contested by means of a complaint. Article 24 remains reserved.
5. It resolves, after consulting with the executive council, differences between the Grand Council, council bodies, or the parliamentary services and the organizational units of the cantonal administration regarding the involvement of the cantonal administration (Art. 96 GRG).
1. The bureau establishes the allocation key according to which seats and presidencies in the committees are distributed among the parliamentary groups.
2. It decides on the establishment and size of special committees.
3. It appoints the members as well as the presidents of the special committees.
4. It decides on exceptions regarding the number of committee memberships.
1. The office conducts the formal examination of parliamentary initiatives and parliamentary proposals, as well as their possible referral back.
2. It is responsible for the declaration of urgency for parliamentary proposals.
3. It submits a request to the Grand Council in the event of differences regarding the guideline character of a motion.
4. It extends the processing period for a parliamentary initiative or a parliamentary proposal after hearing from the originator.
1. The office elects the presidents and members of the special commissions and the members of the editorial commission.
2. It accepts the nominations and candidacies for elections by the Grand Council. Excluded are elections prepared by the Judiciary Commission.
3. It submits an electoral proposal to the Grand Council for the election of the tellers and the Secretary General of the Grand Council.
The Office receives the disclosure of interest ties from council members.
It decides on information requests from council members.
It receives requests for the lifting of immunity of council members.
1. The bureau enters into a service agreement with the parliamentary services concerning the services for the Grand Council.
2. It enters into a service agreement with the Executive Council concerning the services of the State Chancellery and any other organizational units of the cantonal administration for the Grand Council.
3. It determines the staffing positions for the parliamentary services.
1. The office makes final decisions in crises regarding external voting during sessions or a circulation procedure for session matters and establishes the technical requirements for voting (Art. 77a and Art. 77b GRG).
1. The office may clarify the guidelines for virtual meetings and for the circulation procedure of the council bodies.
2. It decides conclusively on the period during which virtual meetings of council bodies may be held (Art.108a).
1. The office is responsible for organizing special occasions for the Grand Council.
1. The Vote Counters fulfill the following tasks in particular
a. Conducting the elections by the Grand Council,
b. Determining the election and voting results when the votes are not determined using the electronic voting system,
c. Maintaining the minutes of resolutions of the Grand Council,
d. Managing and controlling the attendance list in the Grand Council.
1. The Finance Commission consists of 17 members.
2. It is responsible for the management of finances and services and exercises overall supervision of the financial budget.
2a In the event of disasters, major events, emergencies, as well as extraordinary situations and crises, it is consulted in advance regarding planned expenditures by the government council, new regulations, and amendments to regulations (Art. 41a GRG, Art. 80 of the Cantonal Civil Protection and Civil Defense Act of March 19, 2014 [KBZG]). If, in its opinion, another council body should review a new regulation or a regulation amendment, it immediately transfers the matter to that body and informs the office of the Grand Council.
3. It specifically reviews the following matters
a Budget,
b Task and financial planning, including investment planning,
c Annual report and other reports that are significant for the management of finances and services and for the overall supervision of the finances,
d Supplementary credits,
e Tax rate,
f Framework for new debt,
g Commitment and additional credits that were not included in the budget or that do not fall within the purview of a permanent subject area commission,
h Financial motions.
3a It generally consults other permanent commissions on matters according to paragraph 3 letters a and b.
4. It handles committed expenditures according to Article 48, paragraph 3 of the Law of March 26, 2002, on the Management of Finances and Services (FLG).
5. In coordination with the Audit and Justice Commission, it examines particularly
a the regularity of accounting and financial reporting, legality, frugality, efficiency, appropriateness, and effectiveness of budget management,
b the controlling of the government council, the directorates, and the offices,
c the reconciliation of finances and services.
6. It handles other financial matters when no other council body is responsible.
7. It is the subject area commission for matters of the finance directorate as well as for the areas of economy and levies.
8. It is also the supervisory authority for the head of financial control.
1. The Audit Commission consists of 17 members.
2. It has the following specific tasks
a. Exercising oversight over the Government Council, the cantonal administration, and other entities carrying out public tasks,
b. Reviewing the implementation of resolutions of the Grand Council that are significant for oversight,
c. Examining reports that are significant for oversight and providing preliminary advice on corresponding reports to the Grand Council,
d. Conducting investigations and analyses on oversight matters,
e. Monitoring the Government Council's experimental ordinance authority as per Article 44 of the Act of June 20, 1995, concerning the organization of the Government Council and Administration (Organization Act, OrG).
3. It exercises oversight insofar as no other council body is responsible.
4. It essentially determines the focus of its audit activities independently.
5. It is also the supervisory authority for the Secretary General of the Grand Council, the State Clerk, and the Data Protection Officer.
1. The Judicial Commission consists of 17 members.
2. It has the following specific tasks
a) Supreme oversight of the administration of the High Court, the Administrative Court, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Judicial Administration,
b) Consultation on the budget proposal, the program and financial plan, supplementary credits, the annual report, as well as financial motions and other financial matters concerning the court authorities and the public prosecutor's office,
c) Preparation of the elections and re-elections of the members of the court authorities, the Attorney General, and the Deputy Attorneys General, as well as the submission of election recommendations,
d) Preliminary consultation on the government council's nomination for the Data Protection Officer,
e) Approval of applications by members of the High Court, the Administrative Court, and the Office of the Attorney General to engage in secondary occupations and hold public offices,
f) Preliminary consultation on applications for the remission of sentences,
g) Decisions on the formation or dissolution of municipalities or the alteration of their territories according to municipal legislation regulations.
3. It also handles petitions and other submissions to the Grand Council.
4. Furthermore, it serves as the supervisory authority for the members of the High Court, the Administrative Court, the Attorney General, and the Deputy Attorneys General.
1. The Committee for State Policy and Foreign Relations consists of 17 members.
2. It deals with fundamental questions of the political system as well as with issues of foreign relations of the canton assigned to it within the framework of the Grand Council's legislation.
3. It is responsible for the political dialogue between the Grand Council and the Government Council.
4. It particularly prepares political and strategic planning, namely
a) the guidelines of government policy,
b) other long-term planning and evaluation reports of the Government Council.
5. It discusses and adopts the voting explanations of the Grand Council in a public session.
6. In the area of foreign relations, the committee has the following tasks in particular
a) Handling strategic questions related to foreign relations,
b) Dialogue with the Government Council on important dossiers, fundamental issues, objectives, measures, and decisions in the area of foreign relations for the canton,
c) Coordination of the activities of the Grand Council,
d) Acknowledgement of treaties (Art. 88 para. 4 of the Cantonal Constitution) and other matters within the sole responsibility of the Government Council as part of parliamentary oversight,
e) Handling matters concerning foreign relations that do not fall within the responsibilities of a permanent subject-matter committee,
f) Representation of the Grand Council in international or inter-cantonal parliamentary bodies that do not fall within the responsibilities of a permanent subject-matter committee.
1. The following permanent subject area commissions are composed of 17 members each
a. Education Commission (EC),
b. Health and Social Commission (HSC),
c. Construction, Energy, Transport, and Spatial Planning Commission (CETSPC),
d. Security Commission (SC).
2. The commissions have the following tasks in their respective subject areas
a. Preliminary discussion of legislative matters,
b. Examination and preliminary discussion of reports and reporting to the Grand Council,
c. Preliminary discussion of commitment and additional credits.
3. In the area of external relations, they have the following tasks in their respective subject areas
a. Preliminary discussion of international and inter-cantonal treaties,
b. Preliminary discussion of expenditure decisions based on international and inter-cantonal treaties,
c. Preliminary discussion of matters concerning the canton’s participation in federal decision-making,
d. Consultation on reports and other matters within the competence of the Grand Council concerning external relations.
4. The commissions
a. delegate members of the Grand Council to international and inter-cantonal parliamentary bodies within their subject area, which are
1. mandated to comment on negotiations concerning international or inter-cantonal treaties, or
2. established based on international or inter-cantonal treaties,
b. ensure that the leadership and the majority of this representation consist of members from the respective subject area commission.
1. Special committees are established when a matter does not fall within the responsibilities of a standing committee or when the establishment of a special committee is warranted for other reasons.
2. They are considered dissolved at the latest upon the expiration of the legislature of the Grand Council.
3. The office of the Grand Council decides on the establishment of a special committee.
1. The Commission fulfills its responsibilities through supervisory, functional, or cross-sectional roles.
1. The allocation of seats in the committees is based on the strength of the factions, in accordance with the rules of seat allocation for parliamentary elections. Factions that are too small for a direct mandate in a committee are combined in the allocation process.
2. For the allocation of seats in supervisory committees on one hand, and in standing subject-area committees on the other, the number of members in the committees is totaled respectively. The distribution of the seats allocated to the factions among the individual committees is based on faction strength. Factions that are too small for a direct mandate in a committee are combined in the allocation process.
3. Changes in faction strength during the legislative term do not affect the seat allocation as calculated at the beginning of the legislative term.
4. If a faction is dissolved or newly formed during the legislative term, a recalculation and reallocation with any potential new seat distribution is conducted.
1. In the appointment of the commissions, the deputation is entitled to at least one seat per commission, provided it can propose a sufficient number of candidates.
A council member may belong to a maximum of one oversight commission and one subject matter commission, or to a maximum of two subject matter commissions. In addition, they may belong to special commissions.
The office of the Great Council may grant exceptions.
A council member may serve on the same commission for a maximum of eight years.
1. The commissions are convened by the President of the Commission. The convening takes place for standing commissions at the start of a new term of the Grand Council, and for special commissions after their appointment.
2. The commissions elect a Vice President from among their members. This person assumes the duties of the President of the Commission in case of their absence.
3. The commissions independently organize their work.
1. Secretariat and minute-taking for the commissions and their committees are the responsibility of the parliamentary services, unless otherwise stipulated by the legislative provisions of the Grand Council. In justified cases, an external body can be entrusted with the secretariat and minute-taking functions.
2. The commissions and parliamentary services may involve the directorates, the state chancellery, or third parties for support in secretariat and minute-taking, as well as for documentation, consultation, and further expert assistance.
3. Minutes of the commissions on legislative matters must be prepared as verbatim records without exception. Verbatim records fully reproduce the discussions.
4. Standing commissions may have verbatim records or expanded resolution minutes prepared. An expanded resolution minute includes at least the names of those present and absent, the motions, a summary of the discussions, and the resolutions.
5. Furthermore, resolution minutes may be prepared unless a commission or committee decides that an expanded resolution minute or a verbatim record should be prepared. The resolution minute includes the names of those present and absent, the motions, and the resolutions.
6. The minutes are to be distributed to the members of the commission or committee and the parliamentary services. The organizational unit of the cantonal administration involved in the matter and, upon request, the other meeting participants will receive an appropriate excerpt of the minutes.
1. Commission documents related to decrees can be reviewed by Council members and are also available for scientific purposes and legal applications after the decree comes into effect.
2. Council members may review additional documents if permitted by the President of the Commission or the President of the Grand Council. Exceptions include facts protected by official secrecy.
3. Oversight committees may exchange commission documents among themselves.
4. Furthermore, documents of the commissions and committees are not public.
5. Commission documents are made electronically accessible to authorized individuals via a protected information technology system.
1. The President of the Commission shall inform the public orally or in writing about the results of commission deliberations of general interest. They may provide information on proposals, key opinions, commission decisions, and voting ratios, but not on the statements and voting behavior of individual commission members.
2. The commission may assign other commission members with the task of providing information and may also provide for the prompt publication of an investigation result.
3. Commission members may express themselves on commission deliberations within the parliamentary groups and the Grand Council. Exceptions are facts that are subject to official secrecy.
4. The commission may authorize non-commission members who have attended a commission meeting pursuant to Article 57 to express themselves on commission deliberations within the parliamentary groups.
1. Report by the President of the Commission
The President of the Commission reports to the Grand Council on the commission's deliberations, motions, and minority motions concerning a business that has been previously discussed.
If a minority motion in the commission receives at least one third of the votes, the commission minority may appoint a spokesperson to represent their motion in the Grand Council. The commission minority must promptly inform the commission.
The commission may assign another member of the commission to deliver the report in the Grand Council. It may also decide that the report be presented in writing instead of orally, unless otherwise specified by the Grand Council's legislation.
The supervisory commissions report to the Grand Council at least once a year on their activities. Moreover, they report to the Grand Council on the potential conduct of special investigations of significant importance within the framework of oversight and their outcomes.
1. Before oversight committees submit different proposals to the Grand Council, they attempt to reach an understanding in reconciliation conferences.
1. The Deputation Vote applies to resolutions of the Grand Council that particularly affect the Bernese Jura or the French-speaking population of the Biel-Seeland electoral district.
2. It is excluded for resolutions regarding
a) motions for order,
b) conflicts of competence,
c) amnesties or pardons.
1. A deputation vote must be requested by at least three members of the deputation.
2. The President of the Grand Council shall determine the quorum of the deputation.
1. If the conditions for a deputation vote are met, the voting results of the Grand Council and the deputation are determined separately.
2. If the decision of the Grand Council does not coincide with that of the deputation, the matter is referred back to the Government Council or the competent organ of the Grand Council for review.
3. The competent authority seeks a solution that could achieve a majority in both the deputation and the Grand Council. It consults the deputation before the matter is scheduled for reconsideration in the Grand Council.
4. In the event of reconsideration in the Grand Council, a deputation vote can no longer be requested.
1. The deputation has its own secretariat.
1. The parliamentary groups constitute themselves.
Factions that are not represented in a commission may appoint a member who can participate in the commission meetings concerning decrees and reports. This member is allowed to express themselves but does not have the right to propose motions or to vote.
1. Following the general elections for the Grand Council, the political groups consult regarding the future sequence for filling the presidency of the Grand Council and, if necessary, for the allocation of commission seats. They communicate the result of the consultations regarding the filling of the Grand Council presidency to the office.
1. The supervision is generally performed retrospectively.
2. It can also be conducted concurrently with an ongoing transaction.
1. The supervisory authority has the following instruments and means at its disposal, in particular
a) Approval or acknowledgment of plans or reports,
b) Rights to information as well as rights to inspect or obtain documents,
c) Rights to initiatives, proposals, and applications.
1. The overall supervision is conducted based on the following criteria
a) Legality and propriety,
b) Appropriateness and effectiveness,
c) Efficiency.
1. The supreme supervision is exercised by the Grand Council, particularly through the Finance Commission, the Business Audit Commission, the Judiciary Commission, and parliamentary investigation commissions.
1. The government council periodically informs the commissions responsible for foreign relations about matters in the field of foreign relations.
2. The commissions report back on which matters they consider important and on which they wish to be informed or consulted.
3. The competent authority provides information about the status of the procedure and accepts substantive proposals from the commissions.
1. In addition to the member of the government council heavily affected by the advisory matter, other or all members of the government council may participate or be invited.
2. The members of the government council may be accompanied by expert persons.
Participation in commission meetings is generally open to the member of the government council of the directorate to which the subject matter of the consultation belongs. If multiple directorates are concerned, further members of the government council can participate or be invited.
Commissions are authorized to invite government council members to their meetings to obtain information on additional matters.
They generally make their decisions in the absence of the government council member. They may decide on exceptions, particularly for the consultation of enactments.
Government council members may, in agreement with the commission president, exceptionally be represented by individuals in the service of the canton.
They or their representatives are authorized to be accompanied by experts.
The present provisions apply mutatis mutandis to the participation of the judiciary leadership's representatives.
1. Unless otherwise decided by the government council, the state secretary shall represent the affairs of the state chancellery.
To each enactment, international or inter-cantonal agreement, fundamental decision, or expenditure decision, a presentation must be submitted to the Grand Council. Amendments, deletions, or corrections to the presentation are possible and should be incorporated appropriately. These are carried out by the authority that drafted the presentation, usually in the form of an addendum to the presentation.
1. Presentation on a Decree, International or Intercantonal Agreement, or a Fundamental Resolution
The presentation serves to inform about the political objectives pursued by the proposal and the issues it aims to address.
2. The following points should be particularly explained
a *** Initial Situation,
b *** Main Features of the Project,
c *** ...
d Legal Aspects,
d1 *** Individual Articles or Provisions,
e *** Relationship to Government Policy Guidelines and Other Important Plans,
f Financial Impacts,
g Personnel and Organizational Impacts,
h Impacts on Municipalities,
i *** Impacts on the Economy,
k *** Outcome of Any Consultation or Feedback Procedure.
3. These provisions apply mutatis mutandis to presentations on Initiatives, Counterproposals, and People's Proposals.
1. **The Presentation on an Expenditure Resolution**
The presentation on an expenditure resolution provides information on the expenditure and specifically addresses
a. the project,
b. ...
c. the possible alternatives and consequences of foregoing the expenditure,
d. the relevant legal bases and the legality of the expenditure,
e. with a detailed justification for mandatory expenditures,
f. the relationship to the guidelines of government policy and other important plans, particularly the budget and the task and financial plan as well as the overall cantonal investment planning,
f1. the impact on finances, organization, personnel, IT, and space,
f2. the nature and implications of the investments,
g. the impact on the municipalities,
g1. the impact on the economy, environment, and society.
h. ...
2. **For Important or Large Projects**
In the case of important or large projects, the presentation explains in detail the expected effects.
1. Parliamentary initiatives shall be submitted in writing. They must be accompanied by a justification and brought to the attention of all members of the council after submission.
2. The author of a parliamentary initiative may withdraw it until the preliminary commission makes a decision on its provisional support.
3. The Grand Council decides whether to provisionally support a parliamentary initiative.
1. The commission responsible for the preliminary examination of the initiative may have the draft reviewed in advance by experts.
2. During the preliminary examination, it may propose amendments or develop a commission draft.
3. The commission conducts a consultation procedure on the result of its deliberations. The regulations of the government council on the consultation procedure apply accordingly.
4. If the member of the council who submitted the parliamentary initiative is not a member of the commission, they shall be heard by the commission.
1. Simultaneously with the submission of the application to the Great Council for the parliamentary initiative, the competent commission forwards the application to the Government Council for an opinion.
2. The application is explained in a presentation.
3. Furthermore, the general procedural provisions (Art. 80 ff.) as well as the regulation regarding a potential counter-proposal (Art. 113) shall apply accordingly.
1. Motions and postulates must be accompanied by a proposal and a brief justification.
2. They can be accepted or rejected. If they are already fulfilled at the time of the discussion, they can be written off.
3. If they are divisible, individual points can be discussed and voted on separately.
4. The executive council may propose that a motion be converted into a postulate. The originator of a motion may convert it into a postulate.
5. A discussion takes place if a motion or postulate is contested by the executive council or from within the legislative assembly.
5a. Moreover, a discussion takes place at the request of the originator if a motion or postulate is rejected despite not being contested. In this case, the vote is also considered nullified.
6. At the end of the discussion, a vote is taken on the forwarding of the motion or postulate.
**1. The Author of a Parliamentary Motion May Withdraw It Before the Commencement of Deliberations in the Grand Council.**
2. The withdrawal must be communicated in advance to the President of the Grand Council.
3. It may still be briefly justified by the author in the Grand Council.
1. A parliamentary motion can be declared urgent if it is submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on the first day of the session and the urgency is justified.
2. The decision on the request for urgent treatment is made by the office of the Grand Council after consulting with the Council of State.
3. If the request for urgent treatment is approved, the motion must be discussed in the same session or at the latest in the following session.
Financial Motions are referred to the Government Council or the Justice Administration for a statement.
They must be answered within two months.
They are preliminarily reviewed by the Finance or the Justice Commission.
1. Inquiries will be answered by Thursday of the first week of the session, provided they are submitted by no later than one week before the start of the session (Sunday evening).
1. The response deadline for parliamentary motions begins on the last day of the session or, for motions submitted between sessions, on the last day of the upcoming session. The responses must be finalized for submission to the Grand Council by the last day of the response deadline.
2. For a financial motion, the response deadline begins with the submission of the motion and ends with the adoption of the response by the Finance or Justice Commission.
1. The wording of a parliamentary initiative or a parliamentary motion cannot be changed after it has been submitted.
1. If a parliamentary initiative or a parliamentary motion is submitted jointly by multiple members of parliament or factions, one spokesperson must be designated for the justification in case of any potential deliberation. This person decides on the withdrawal of the initiative or motion or the conversion of the motion into a postulate.
1. The Office of the Grand Council plans the sessions, particularly organizing them into various consultation categories and determining the speaking times. It decides on the session schedule and the session program.
2. The matters to be addressed by the Grand Council must be submitted to the Office of the Grand Council at least two weeks before the start of the session.
1. Changes to the session program are possible until the resolution on the session program is made. Thereafter, they require the approval of the Grand Council or, if there is a corresponding joint proposal from the Executive Council and the preparatory committee, the approval of the President of the Grand Council.
2. Items for discussion can be withdrawn by their originator up until the beginning of the discussion in the Grand Council.
3. The Executive Council cannot withdraw items for discussion that it has submitted after the resolution on the session program has been made.
4. Matters can be deliberated on jointly if there is a factual connection.
1. Matters for deliberation are to be preliminarily considered by a committee, with the exception of
a) parliamentary motions, unless preliminary consideration is provided for by the Great Council's legislation,
b) nomination proposals, unless preliminary consideration is provided for by the Great Council's legislation,
c) procedural motions,
d) statements from the Council of Government,
e) other matters for deliberation as determined by the Great Council's legislation.
2. Matters can also be preliminarily considered if the Great Council or a committee resolves to do so.
3. The assignment to a committee is made by the Office of the Great Council.
1. The President of the Grand Council shall convene the Grand Council at least ten days before the start of the session and provide the members of the Grand Council with the necessary session documents.
1. The presence of the council members shall be verified at the beginning of each meeting.
2. Council members who are unable to attend a meeting must provide an advance apology.
3. The names of those absent with or without an excuse shall be recorded in the minutes.
**1. In the Grand Council, anyone who is granted the floor by the President of the Grand Council may speak.**
2. Those wishing to speak must register with the President of the Grand Council.
3. If the President of the Grand Council wishes to speak, they must inform the Grand Council. During their address, another member of the presidium will conduct the proceedings.
4. Generally, no one speaks more than once on the same matter. The reporters of the committees, proposers, authors of a parliamentary initiative, motion, or postulate, as well as representatives of the Government Council, may speak twice. A short rebuttal to a personal attack is excepted (see para. 6).
5. The President of the Grand Council typically grants the floor in the following order
a. Reporter of the committee representing the majority opinion of the committee,
b. Speaker of the committee minority,
c. Any proposers and authors of a parliamentary initiative, motion, or postulate,
d. Any speaker from the deputation,
e. Speakers of the factions,
f. Other council members in the order of registration,
g. Member of the Government Council,
h. Reporter of the committee and proposer, author of a parliamentary initiative, motion, or postulate.
6. The sequence is interrupted if a council member wishes to make a short rebuttal to a personal attack (personal statement).
7. Anyone who strays from the subject of the debate or violates parliamentary decorum will be called to order by the President of the Grand Council.
8. If there is a continued disruption of parliamentary order, the President of the Council will withdraw the right to speak.
1. The matters for discussion shall be deliberated in one of the following forms, with different forms particularly possible for introductory and detailed discussions
a) open debate (Category I),
b) organized debate (Category II),
c) reduced debate (Category III),
d) written procedure (Category IV).
2. The office of the Grand Council may provide for a different form of deliberation and shall inform the council of this in advance. It may also extend or shorten speaking times.
3. Any member of the council may request an open debate through a procedural motion. The motion must be submitted at the latest at the start of the deliberation.
1. In a free debate, the right to speak is granted to all members of the council.
2. The rapporteur of the commission and the member of the government council must keep their statements brief.
3. Otherwise, the speaking time is
a) five minutes for the spokesperson of the factions, the applicants, the proponents of a parliamentary initiative, motion, or postulate, and any possible spokesperson of the deputation,
b) three minutes for those who limit themselves to supporting an already submitted proposal, the remaining members of the council, and the second vote on the same subject by the rapporteur of the commission as well as the proponent of a parliamentary initiative, motion, or postulate.
4. In the event of withdrawal of a parliamentary motion, the speaking time for a possible justification is three minutes.
1. In an organized debate, the total speaking time and the number of speakers are limited.
2. The organized debate may particularly be conducted in the case of
a. the introductory debate,
b. the discussion of a report,
c. matters that have been pre-discussed by a committee.
3. The President of the Grand Council allocates the total speaking time appropriately to the committee rapporteur, the proposer, the originator of a parliamentary initiative, a motion, or a postulate, as well as to the deputation, the factions, and the member of the governing council.
4. The factions will communicate in a timely manner how the speaking time allotted to them will be distributed among the faction members.
5. Council members who do not belong to any faction will be allocated an appropriate portion of the total speaking time.
1. In the reduced debate, not all council members have the right to speak.
2. The reduced debate can, in particular, be conducted during the discussion of directive motions.
3. The committee's rapporteur and the member of the government council must keep their remarks brief.
4. Furthermore, the speaking time is two minutes, and the right to speak is granted to the following individuals
a) Speaker of the committee's minority,
b) Proposer or originator of a parliamentary initiative, a motion, or a postulate,
c) Any potential speaker of the delegation,
d) Speakers of the factions,
e) Non-affiliated council members.
1. Interpellations and inquiries are subject to a written procedure.
2. They are published on the internet along with the response in the session documents.
3. ...
Council members may submit a procedural motion at any time.
Procedural motions are typically to be addressed immediately.
They may pertain to any matters concerning the procedure or order within the council chamber.
If a motion to conclude the discussion is requested and this motion is accepted, only council members who requested the floor before this resolution may be granted the floor.
1. Council members may submit motions on a pending matter, in particular motions for non-consideration, referral, amendment, or reconsideration.
2. Motions must be submitted to the President of the Grand Council.
3. They should generally be submitted before the discussion of the pertinent matter. Motions for reconsideration are permissible up until the vote.
4. Motions to amend the wording of proposals must be submitted in writing.
5. Motions concerning constitutional and legal articles not included in the draft for the first reading must generally be submitted during the first reading.
1. Motions that do not directly pertain to a pending matter shall be rejected by the President of the Grand Council.
1. The Grand Council first decides whether it wants to deliberate on a matter (entry debate).
2. If it decides not to deliberate on the matter, it is written off.
3. If it decides to deliberate on the matter, a detailed article-by-article consultation follows. The Grand Council may decide to deliberate on the matter section by section or in its entirety.
4. Deliberation is mandatory for matters whose consideration is prescribed by the constitution or a law.
1. The Grand Council may refer the matter or individual sections or articles back to the Executive Council or to a council body following the decision to enter into deliberations or during the detailed consideration.
2. Motions for referral must specify what is to be reviewed, amended, or supplemented, and in what sense.
3. Parliamentary motions cannot be referred back.
1. Amendments specify how changes, deletions, or additions are to be made.
Until the general or final vote, a procedural motion may be made to revisit specific articles, sections, or parts of a matter.
The motion to revisit and any potential counter-motion can be briefly justified. The Grand Council decides without further discussion.
If the motion to revisit is accepted, the relevant article, section, or part of the matter will be discussed once more.
It is not possible to revisit a decision to enter into a matter.
1. A waiver of the second reading of a law must be decided before commencing its detailed deliberation.
2. The second reading must still be conducted if the Grand Council decides so before the final vote.
If the Grand Council deliberates on a proposal in two readings, a general vote takes place after the first reading. Regardless of the voting result, the proposal is returned to the commission for preparation of the second reading.
If there is only one reading, the final vote follows it. If the Grand Council approves the proposal, it is deemed validly adopted. If it rejects it, the proposal fails, and the associated parliamentary motions are considered settled and closed.
After the second reading, the final vote takes place. The legal consequences correspond to those stated in paragraph 2.
1. The President of the Grand Council closes the debate when no one else requests to speak or when speaking rights and times have been exhausted.
2. Prior to the vote, he or she provides a brief overview of the existing motions and presents proposals to the Grand Council regarding the voting procedure.
3. The Grand Council promptly decides on any objections.
1. Separate Voting on Divisible Questions
Separate votes shall be conducted upon request on divisible voting questions.
2. Voting on Two Conflicting Proposals
If there are two proposals concerning a voting issue that either pertain to the same part of the text or are mutually exclusive, they shall be submitted for a vote side by side, whereby each member of the council may approve only one proposal.
3. Individual Voting on Irreconcilable Proposals
If a side-by-side comparison is not possible, the proposals shall be put to a vote individually.
4. Approval of Uncontested Proposals
Uncontested proposals shall not be voted on. They are considered approved.
If more than two motions pertain to the same subject of voting, they must be expanded until two motions can be compared against each other. The order of voting on the motions should be structured such that the process can ascend from motions with the smallest substantive difference (sub-amendments) incrementally to those with a larger difference (amendments), and finally to those with the largest difference (main motions). If no clear order can be determined, a conditional vote will be conducted wherein the motions of the members of the council are first expanded against each other, followed by the motions of the executive council, and subsequently those of the commission minorities. The result of the final vote will then be compared against the motion of the commission majority.
1. The electronic voting system automatically records the votes cast in each vote (Yes, No, Abstentions).
2. The voting behavior of the council members and the voting result are displayed in the council chamber and published in the form of a name list.
3. If the electronic voting system is defective, voting shall be conducted by standing or upon request by 40 council members with a roll call vote.
4. In the case of confidential deliberations, voting shall also be confidential. The voting result shall not be published.
5. Council members shall vote from their seat.
1. In a vote conducted by standing, those who are in favor of the motion stand first, followed by those who oppose it, and then those who abstain.
2. If approval is evident, the counting of opposing or abstaining votes may be waived.
3. The number of votes must be precisely determined in any case for
a) overall and final votes,
b) votes for which a qualified majority of the council members is required for adoption.
1. During a roll call vote, the council members respond in the alphabetical order of their names to the voting question with "Yes," "No," or "Abstain."
2. Only the vote cast immediately after the reading of one's own name is counted.
1. Pursuant to the decision of the Bureau of the Great Council to allow external voting (Art. 77a GRG), the parliamentary services shall inform the members of the council accordingly.
2. Members of the council who wish to vote in this manner due to the crisis shall inform the presidency of the Great Council no later than the day before the session.
3. Votes cast externally shall be recorded simultaneously with the ongoing vote in the council. A vote will not be repeated if a member of the council is unable to cast their vote due to technical reasons.
1. Upon the decision of the Bureau of the Grand Council to vote on a matter through the circulation procedure (Art. 77b GRG), the Parliamentary Services shall inform the council members about it and the course of the circulation procedure.
2. The President of the Grand Council
a) conducts the voting in the circulation procedure,
b) is supported by the Parliamentary Services.
3. The voting in the circulation procedure will not be repeated if a council member is unable to cast their vote.
4. The Parliamentary Services shall inform about the voting results.
1. The President of the Grand Council does not vote, except in elections.
2. In the event of a tie vote, he or she has the casting vote. In the case of a secret ballot, if there is a tie vote, the proposal of the advisory council body is deemed accepted.
3. If the approval of a qualified majority of council members is required, the President of the Grand Council votes.
1. The President of the Grand Council announces the voting result. It is to be recorded in the resolution minutes.
1. The Grand Council shall maintain a resolution record. This record shall include
a) the name of the presiding council member, the number of members present, and the names of absent council members,
b) the discussed and withdrawn agenda items with the motions and the complete resolutions,
c) the submitted parliamentary initiatives and proposals.
2. The President of the Grand Council shall approve the record and present it for review at the next meeting of the Grand Council.
3. Any requests for corrections must be submitted in writing and with justification to the President of the Grand Council. The Grand Council shall decide on such correction requests. Through the process of correction, no resolutions of the Grand Council may be altered.
1. Meetings of the council bodies shall generally take place with the physical presence of the council members, i.e., with attendance at the meeting location.
2. Exceptionally, a meeting of a council body may occur without the physical presence of the council members, i.e., virtually, provided that
a. the office of the Grand Council definitively decides to generally permit virtual meetings of council bodies for a specified period,
b. a council body resolves, with the consent of the majority of its members, to hold such a meeting for itself,
c. matters are suitable for virtual decision-making,
d. only the IT platform provided by the Canton is utilized, and
e. meeting participants ensure that confidentiality and data protection are maintained in their surrounding environments (premises, etc.).
3. Exceptionally, a council body may decide that a matter will be voted on in writing through a circular procedure, provided that
a. the decision-making is urgent,
b. a matter is suitable for such a decision-making process,
c. confidentiality and data protection are maintained.
4. The office of the Grand Council may provide clarifications of these provisions.
1. At the beginning of the new term of office, the following are elected
a) the council bodies, insofar as an election by the Grand Council is necessary,
b) the President of the Government,
c) the Vice President of the Government,
d) the Secretary General of the Grand Council,
e) the State Secretary.
2. The remaining elections take place before the beginning of the new term of office.
3. In the event of vacancies occurring before the expiration of the term of office, the election for the remainder of the term takes place.
**The Ballot Counters**
The ballot counters distribute the ballots for each voting round conducted in writing and verify the number of distributed ballots.
After collecting the ballots, the ballot counters record the number of received ballots and determine the result.
If individuals are elected who, by law, are not allowed to simultaneously belong to the same authority, the decision is made based on the greater number of votes.
1. The Judicial Commission confirms the receipt of petitions and submissions to the Grand Council or forwards them to the competent authority if the Grand Council is not responsible for them.
2. If petitions relate to a matter that is on the agenda of the Grand Council, they are brought to the attention of the Grand Council before the agenda item is discussed. The examination of these petitions may take place at a later date.
3. Petitions whose aims cannot be achieved by the Grand Council through a parliamentary motion or initiative, or which are clearly absurd or impracticable, may be directly answered by the competent commission.
4. Petitions are answered no later than within one year.
5. The Judicial Commission informs the Grand Council about the manner of resolution within the framework of its reporting.
If an initiative in the form of a drafted proposal or a popular suggestion has been initiated, the Grand Council decides on its validity and, in the case of validity, possibly issues a recommendation for acceptance or rejection.
1. A counter-proposal by the Grand Council may be submitted from within the Council, by a commission, or by the Government Council.
2. The Grand Council first deliberates on the counter-proposal.
3. It then decides on the initiative
a) for constitutional initiatives, whether it wants to recommend acceptance or rejection to the eligible voters,
b) for other initiatives, whether it wants to accept the initiative or recommend its rejection to the eligible voters.
4. If the Grand Council decides to reject the initiative, it subsequently decides whether it wants to recommend acceptance of the counter-proposal to the eligible voters.
1. Contingency Motions Pursuant to Article 63 Paragraph 2 of the Cantonal Constitution must be submitted no later than the end of the detailed deliberation.
2. If a contingency motion is submitted, the detailed deliberation on it takes place following the detailed deliberation of the main motion.
1. The motion to subject a proposal that is liable to an optional referendum to a mandatory referendum, or to subject a substantive decision to an optional referendum, may be made orally or in writing.
2. The Grand Council first deliberates on the proposal or the substantive decision. It then votes on the motion to subject it to a referendum and, if applicable, on a recommendation for the referendum.
1. The decision on submitting a cantonal initiative or a cantonal referendum to the Confederation is made by the Grand Council.
2. The submission of a cantonal initiative or a cantonal referendum can be requested through a motion, a parliamentary initiative, or a proposal by the Council of State for a Grand Council resolution.
3. A cantonal initiative can propose that a commission of the federal chambers drafts a bill for enactment by the Federal Assembly. It must be submitted in the form of a preliminary draft of a legislative act and be justified.
1. The Grand Council may provide responses to the consultation requests of the Council of State addressed to federal authorities.
2. The response may be issued through a motion or a parliamentary initiative.
3. The motion must be treated urgently and discussed in the same session if otherwise the consultation deadline would be missed.
4. In urgent cases, the Grand Council may decide on the response without prior examination by a committee. If there is not enough time for this procedure, the Executive Board of the Grand Council may assign a committee to draft a response. The committee shall inform the Grand Council about the response.
5. Members of the council are regularly informed about the federal consultation procedures.
1. The Grand Council approves expenditures within the framework of the Grand Council's Special Account as follows
a new one-time expenditures from 500,000 francs,
b new recurring expenditures from 100,000 francs,
c committed one-time expenditures from 1,000,000 francs,
d committed recurring expenditures from 200,000 francs.
1. The President of the Grand Council approves expenditures within the framework of the Special Account of the Grand Council as follows
a) new one-time expenditures from 100,000 to 500,000 francs,
b) new recurring expenditures from 50,000 to 100,000 francs,
c) committed one-time expenditures from 200,000 to 1,000,000 francs,
d) committed recurring expenditures from 100,000 to 200,000 francs.
1. The Secretary-General is authorized to approve expenditures within the framework of the Special Account of the Grand Council as follows
a. new one-time expenditures under 100,000 Swiss francs,
b. new recurring expenditures under 50,000 Swiss francs,
c. committed one-time expenditures under 200,000 Swiss francs,
d. committed recurring expenditures under 100,000 Swiss francs.
1. The Special Account of the Grand Council consists of financial accounting and asset accounting.
2. The management of the Special Account is established through a performance agreement between the Grand Council and the State Chancellery.
3. Unless divergent provisions are applied hereinafter, the legislation on financial and performance management applies mutatis mutandis.
The Grand Council approves the balance of the budget estimate and authorizes the balance of the annual account of the Special Account of the Grand Council.
1. If the balance of the budget for the Special Account of the Grand Council is expected to exceed the approved amount, the Bureau's executive committee shall request an additional credit from the Grand Council.
2. The executive committee of the Grand Council's Bureau may approve excesses of the budget balance up to an amount of less than 100,000 Swiss francs. The Grand Council approves authorized excess credits within the framework of the approval of the business report.
3. Unused budget credits may be transferred once to the next fiscal year by the Bureau’s executive committee in accordance with the criteria of Article 56 FLG, through credit transfer.
Council members shall receive an attendance fee for participating in sessions of the Grand Council, its bodies or their delegations, and the factions.
The attendance fee amounts to 230 Swiss Francs for the first session of the day and 100 Swiss Francs for each subsequent session.
A maximum of four sessions per day can be compensated.
1. Council Members Who Do Not Belong to a Parliamentary Group Shall Receive an Additional Annual Allowance of 3,500 Francs.
**1. For the performance of a special function, the following council members receive the following compensation per year:**
a. The President of the Grand Council 10,000 Swiss Francs,
b. The First Vice President 5,000 Swiss Francs,
c. The Second Vice President 3,500 Swiss Francs,
d. The other members of the Bureau 2,500 Swiss Francs,
e. The Presidents of the standing committees 5,000 Swiss Francs,
f. The other members of the Finance, Business Audit, and Justice Committees 4,000 Swiss Francs,
g. The other members of standing committees 3,000 Swiss Francs,
h. The Presidents of the factions 2,500 Swiss Francs,
**2. Double attendance fee is granted to those who chair a session of the Grand Council, a council body, or a faction.**
For the fulfillment of a special task, specifically the investigation of individual issues or the review of extensive files, the management of the Office of the Grand Council may grant members a special compensation. It also determines the amount of the compensation, taking into consideration the workload involved.
1. Council members shall receive compensation to cover the relevant costs associated with their parliamentary mandate, including travel, meals, and accommodation, as well as a contribution to their infrastructure expenses, particularly for IT or secretarial costs.
2. The travel allowance amounts to 70 cents per road kilometer of distance between the residence and the meeting venue and back, with a minimum of 750 Swiss Francs per year for each council member.
3. A meal allowance is provided if a session takes place both before and after noon on the same day. The meal allowance is 24 Swiss Francs.
4. The office management may, upon request, grant a member of the council an accommodation allowance, which shall be governed by the provisions applicable to cantonal personnel.
5. The contribution towards infrastructure expenses amounts to 5,000 Swiss Francs per year.
1. The compensations are reviewed once per legislative period.
1. For the attendance of council members at events to which they are invited due to their function, the management of the office of the Grand Council may grant up to two session fees and a travel, meal, and accommodation allowance.
2. For the members of the Presidium of the Grand Council, a corresponding notification to the State Chancellery suffices.
3. The management of the office may grant additional compensation for special cases.
1. The contribution to the Secretariat of the Deputation amounts to 7,500 francs per year.
2. The factions receive the following contributions
a) Base contribution per year: 24,000 francs,
b) Contribution per member per year: 3,500 francs.
1. The term of office for the Secretary General of the Grand Council is four years. It coincides with the legislative period.
2. The hiring of the staff for the Parliamentary Services is conducted by the Secretary General.
3. When hiring the committee secretaries, the presidencies of the standing committees must be consulted.
4. The determination of salary levels is governed by the personnel legislation. The Secretary General is responsible for setting the starting salary and granting salary levels for the staff of the Parliamentary Services. Deviations in the starting salary from the values established in Annex II of the Personnel Ordinance of May 18, 2005 (PO) require the approval of the Personnel Office.
1. The State Chancellery fulfills the following tasks in particular for the Grand Council, its bodies, and the parliamentary services
a Participation in the preparation and execution of the sessions,
a1 **\*** Maintenance of the technical infrastructure in the council chamber and meeting rooms,
b **\*** ...
c Translation services,
d Organization of simultaneous interpretation in the Grand Council,
e Assistance in communication,
f Publication of information in electronic form, especially on the internet,
g Financial and accounting services,
h-i **\*** ...
k **\*** Space management, security, and usher services.
2. Details are regulated in a service agreement.
3. After the results of the Grand Council elections are available, the State Chancellery conducts a preliminary examination regarding possible incompatibilities and, if necessary, submits a proposal to the government council to request an elected individual to decide which position they wish to accept or which office they wish to assume.
1. The State Secretary chairs the Editorial Commission (RedKo). It comprises eight additional members from
a) the Grand Council,
b) the State Chancellery and the Office for Accompanying Legislation,
c*) the judicial authorities or the public prosecutor's office,
d) the university.
2. The chair may involve
a) the president of the pre-consultative commission,
b) individuals from the proposing directorate or the State Chancellery,
c) external experts.
3. The chair independently organizes the commission's work.
1. The Drafting Commission reviews
a) the draft constitutions or laws from the Executive Council or a committee of the council before they are presented to the Grand Council,
b) the outcome of the first reading and the joint proposals of the preparatory commission and the Executive Council for the second reading,
c) at the request of the Grand Council or a commission, draft decrees.
2. The Grand Council may decide to refer the draft back to the Drafting Commission, either before or after the final vote.
Article [number]: Members of the Grand Council on the Editorial Commission receive session fees according to Article 124.
1. The Decree of February 1, 2011, on the Special Account of the Cantonal Supervisory Authority for Data Protection (BRDD)[8] is amended as follows
1. The Rules of Procedure for the Grand Council of May 9, 1989 (GO) are repealed (BSG 151.211.1).
1. This Rules of Procedure shall enter into force together with the Act of 4 June 2013 on the Grand Council (Grand Council Act, GCA).