Act on the Cantonal Council (Cantonal Council Act, KRG) (Kantonsratsgesetz, KRG) - Assumption of Office (KRG)

1. The Cantonal Council generally convenes for the inaugural session of its term of office in the last week of June following the general renewal.

2. Before the session, a church service is usually held in the village chapel of Sarnen, attended by the members of the Cantonal Council and the Government Council.

3. The official year of the Cantonal Council begins with its reconstitution. The outgoing Cantonal Council and its bodies remain in office until reconstitution has taken place.

1. The inaugural meeting at the beginning of the term is convened by the Governing Council.

2. The oldest member of the council present opens and chairs the meeting until the swearing-in of the new President of the Council.

3. This member appoints two provisional vote counters. Together with the Secretary of the Council, they form the electoral office until the complete establishment of the council leadership.

1. If election complaints are submitted, they shall be handled by the government council based on the election legislation, and the validity of the election shall be brought to the attention of the cantonal council.

2. The council, based on the report of the government council, confirms the result of the general renewal elections. If there are election complaints, the report of the government council regarding their resolution shall be preliminarily reviewed by the outgoing judicial committee.

3. Anyone affected by an election complaint shall recuse themselves until confirmation.

1. Each member of the Cantonal Council and the Government Council shall take the oath of office or the official pledge before the Cantonal Council prior to assuming office.

2. The oath or pledge formula reads: "I swear or I pledge to faithfully adhere to the constitution and laws of the canton, to promote the honor and welfare of the country to the best of my ability, to prevent harm, and to conscientiously fulfill the official duties entrusted to me."

3. Members who take the oath shall stand and raise their oath fingers, saying: "I swear it." Members who make the pledge shall stand, saying: "I pledge it."

4. Anyone who refuses to take the oath or make the pledge shall forfeit the office.

1. Each council member may

a. speak on any agenda item;

b. make motions on any agenda item and concerning the procedure;

c. submit parliamentary initiatives;

d. exercise the rights to information granted under this law;

e. make a brief personal statement to defend against attacks on themselves.

1. Members of the Cantonal Council, the Executive Council, and the courts cannot be held legally responsible for statements made in the Cantonal Council and its committees. They are accountable solely to the Cantonal Council for these statements.

2. The Cantonal Council can revoke immunity with the consent of two-thirds of the members present if it is evidently being abused.

1. Council members are obligated to attend meetings and participate in the council bodies.

1. Members of the Cantonal Council and the Executive Council must recuse themselves from elections and matters that directly concern them, particularly

a. * when they themselves or one of the following individuals is up for election

1. * the spouse, partner in a registered partnership or de facto life partnership, relatives in the direct line and up to and including the third degree of the collateral line, adoptive or stepparents or adoptive or stepchildren or in-laws up to and including the third degree; the reason for recusal due to marriage, registered partnership, or de facto life partnership remains even after their dissolution;

2. * individuals for whom they act or have acted as a guardian or custodian;

b. when a business involving a natural or legal person is under discussion, in which they have been involved in an advisory capacity or in its management or services;

c. when they can derive a direct and personal benefit or suffer a disadvantage from a matter.

2. There is no obligation to recuse oneself during the handling of generally binding decrees and resolutions that affect a majority of people.

1. The Compensation of Council Members is governed by the Public Authorities Act.

1. At least five Council members can form a faction. A Council member cannot belong to more than one faction.

2. The faction shall notify the Council Presidency and the State Chancellery of its formation.

3. The factions promote efficient conduct of business. They prepare elections and have the right to submit parliamentary initiatives, motions, and election proposals.

1. The factions must be adequately considered in elections.

2. Each faction receives an annual basic contribution of CHF 3,000, as well as an additional contribution of CHF 200 per member. Council members who do not belong to any faction receive a personal contribution of CHF 300.

3. The faction secretariats receive the negotiation materials of the Cantonal Council and can utilize the services of the Council Secretariat for written correspondence.

1. The sessions of the Cantonal Council are public. The general negotiation documents are published on the internet and can be obtained in writing by third parties for a fee.

2. The Cantonal Council may exclude the public from the consideration of a council matter to protect important state interests or for reasons of personal privacy by a two-thirds majority of those voting.

3. The consideration of applications for clemency is always conducted excluding the public.

4. The deliberation on the motion to exclude the public is conducted excluding the public.

1. The council bodies support the media in their reporting on the Cantonal Council.

2. The media receive the negotiation documents, provided that their content does not preclude disclosure.

1. The executive board and the committees conduct negotiations in private.

2. The committee determines the manner and by whom the media will be informed about the consultation results of general interest.

1. The President of the Council convenes the meetings in the cases provided for in Art. 68 of the Cantonal Constitution or upon the decision of the Council leadership.

2. The ordinary meeting dates are determined in advance by the Council leadership for the administrative year, while extraordinary meeting dates are usually set at least four weeks in advance, and published in the official gazette.

1. The Cantonal Council is able to deliberate and make decisions when more than half of its members are present.

1. For a valid resolution, a majority of the votes cast is required unless the legislation or, in procedural matters, the rules of procedure specify a different majority.

1. The Cantonal Council may decide at any time to adjourn the negotiations or to terminate the session.

1. The bodies of the Cantonal Council are

a. the President of the Council,

b. the Council Leadership,

c. the Committees.

2. Insofar as the competence and duties of the council bodies do not arise from the cantonal constitution or legislation, they are regulated by the Cantonal Council in the rules of procedure.

1. The President of the Council

a. conducts the council deliberations;

b. administers the oath of office to the members of the Cantonal Council, the Executive Council, and the courts;

c. represents the Cantonal Council externally;

d. oversees compliance with the rules of procedure;

e. maintains order and discipline in the council chamber;

f. presides over the council leadership and signs, together with the council secretary, on behalf of the Cantonal Council;

g. manages the general business relations with the Executive Council and the Supreme Court.

2. The Vice-President assumes the presidential duties when the President of the Council is unable to perform them.

3. If the Vice-President is also unable to perform these duties, the next available member of the council leadership acts as chairperson.

1. The President of the Council, the Vice President, and the first to third vote counters form the Council Presidium.

2. The Council Presidium is elected for a term of one year. Its members are not eligible for re-election in the same function for the next term.

1. The Council Management performs the executive functions. It

a. determines the proportional representation of the parliamentary groups in the commissions and allocates the presidencies of the commissions to the groups;

b. elects, upon the proposal of the groups, the members and presidencies of the commissions, insofar as they are not elected by the Cantonal Council;

c. coordinates the work of the commissions, assigns them the matters to be dealt with, and determines the deployment and mandate of ad-hoc commissions;

d. may issue supplemental mandates to the standing commissions;

e. conducts long-term session planning;

f. sets the agenda in consultation with the Government Council;

g. rejects parliamentary motions that have been submitted in an incorrect form;

h. estimates and disposes of the general credit of the Cantonal Council;

i. approves the minutes of the Cantonal Council;

k. may conduct training events for the members of the Cantonal Council;

l. prepares and reviews the Cantonal Council Act as well as the rules of procedure of the Cantonal Council;

m. handles other matters assigned to it by the Council or for which no other council body is expressly responsible.

1. The following participate in the meetings of the Council leadership with an advisory vote

a. the Landammann;

b. the presidents of the parliamentary groups;

c. the clerk or secretary of the council;

d. the secretary of the council or the deputy secretary of the council.

2. They foster cooperation and mutual information exchange between the Council leadership, committees, parliamentary groups, and the government council.

3. A deputization of the presidents of the parliamentary groups is only possible in exceptional cases when there is an extraordinary reason for prevention, if the group would otherwise not be represented in the Council leadership.

4. The Council leadership can make its decisions in the absence of the parliamentary group presidencies.

1. The first and second vote counter or the first and second vote teller conduct the attendance check and determine the voting and election results.

2. In the event that one of the two vote counters is unable to act, the third vote counter shall perform the duties. If necessary, the President of the Council shall designate substitute vote counters.

3. The two vote counters, together with the Secretary of the Council, form the election office.

1. The Cantonal Council elects the following permanent commissions and their presidencies at the beginning of the term

a. the Business and Audit Commission with eleven members;

b. the Judiciary Commission with nine members;

c. the Commission for Strategic Planning and External Relations with nine members;

d. the Editorial Commission with three members.

2. The Council Leadership appoints the ad hoc commissions either as temporary specialist commissions or with a one-time mandate.

3. The Council Leadership determines the representation in inter-cantonal parliamentary bodies, provided this task is not assigned to a special commission in specific areas.

1. The parliamentary groups and the council leadership ensure, during the preparation and execution of the election of committees, that the committee's activities are not impaired by any conflict of interest from its members.

1. The commissions prepare the council matters assigned to them, fulfill the tasks specifically entrusted to them, make the necessary clarifications, and report to the Cantonal Council with recommendations.

2. The commissions may submit motions and postulates.

3. The commissions may establish subcommittees to conduct clarifications or prepare council matters on their behalf. The commissions define the tasks and responsibilities of the subcommittees on a case-by-case basis or in a regulation.

1. The Committee deliberations serve the purpose of free opinion formation.

2. Until a decision is made by the Cantonal Council or until the conclusion of the Committee's work, the following must not be disclosed

a. Items subject to official secrecy that are part of the Committee deliberations;

b. The authors of individual expressions of opinion.

3. Committee members may express themselves regarding the Committee negotiations within parliamentary groups and in the Cantonal Council, while respecting official secrecy. The briefing of the Government Council by its members remains reserved.

1. The Business and Financial Audit Commission, subject to special statutory provisions

a. exercises supreme oversight over the management of the government council and state administration as well as other entities charged with cantonal public duties according to the criteria of legality, and goal- and impact-orientation;

b. exercises supreme oversight over the financial budget according to the criteria of efficiency and economy as well as performance-, cost-, and revenue-orientation;

c. elects the members of inter-parliamentary audit commissions, to which the canton is entitled seats based on inter-cantonal agreements, and regulates their periodic reporting;

d. reviews the accountability reports of the government council and state administration as well as other entities charged with cantonal public duties in advance, unless special commissions are deployed;

e. * reviews the rolling Integrated Task and Financial Plan, the budget, and the supplementary credits in advance;

f. monitors the propriety of accounting and financial reporting of the state administration;

g. reviews legislation concerning financial budget, personnel, salaries, and organization in advance;

h. may assign tasks to the financial audit office.

2. The Business and Financial Audit Commission may comment on all council matters that have significant impacts on the management of finances and performance, for consideration by preparatory commissions or the cantonal council.

1. The Commission of Justice, subject to special legal provisions

a. * exercises supreme supervision over the administration of justice (judicial authorities, criminal investigation authorities, tax appeals commission, debt enforcement and bankruptcy office, conciliation authority), the cantonal naturalization commission, and data protection, including budget and financial accounts;

b. * reviews the proposals for the election of the cantonal naturalization commission, the public prosecutor's office, and the tax appeals commission, and prepares the election of court presidencies;

c. reviews the decrees on the judicial organization and the administration of justice;

d. reviews or decides on applications for pardon;

e. reviews or responds to petitions;

f. * ...

g. reviews explanations (authentic interpretations) of the cantonal constitution and legislation;

h. makes applications for the validation of elections in the event of election complaints;

i. handles complaints, insofar as the cantonal council is designated as the appellate body in the legislation, as well as supervisory complaints against the government council, the supreme court, and the administrative court or their members;

k. proposes claims for damages and recourse against members of the cantonal council, the government council, and the courts in accordance with the Liability Act.

1. If a supervisory commission identifies significant deficiencies in the course of fulfilling its duties or addresses recommendations to the responsible authority, it shall provide the government council or the higher court with an opportunity to comment before concluding its deliberations.

2. The responsible authority shall inform the supervisory commission about the rectification of the deficiencies and the implementation of the recommendations.

**1. The Commission for Strategic Planning and External Relations:**

a. Advises on matters related to strategy and long-term planning, provided these are not assigned to a special commission, namely

1. The strategic and term planning of the Executive Council (government program),

2. Other long-term planning and evaluation reports from the Executive Council;

b. Advises on matters in the area of external relations, provided these are not assigned to a special commission, specifically

1. Intercantonal and international agreements,

2. Reports on matters of external relations,

3. Matters regarding the cantons' participatory rights in the federal decision-making process (cantonal initiative, cantonal referendum),

4. Budgetary decisions based on intercantonal and international agreements.

**2.** The Executive Council shall, as far as possible, consult the Commission during the preliminary proceedings on important projects in the area of intercantonal or international agreements.

**3.** The Commission represents the Cantonal Council in interparliamentary committees tasked with giving opinions on negotiations concerning intercantonal or international agreements.

1. The Editorial Commission reviews the language, legislative technique, and formal consistency with other legislation

a. Drafts of constitutions and laws;

b. Ordinances of the Cantonal Council;

c. Other drafts assigned to it by the Cantonal Council.

1. The specialist commissions provide advice on matters that are content-related and/or temporally connected, as well as subsequent transactions within a specific specialized area during the term of office or project duration.

2. The council management defines, upon appointment, the specific mandate and the extended rights to information of the specialist commissions, insofar as these do not result from the general provisions of this law or the rules of procedure.

1. Should occurrences of significant importance within the Cantonal Council or within the oversight jurisdiction of the Cantonal Council require special clarification, an investigatory committee may be established to ascertain the facts, to gather further bases for judgment, and to politically evaluate the events.

2. The establishment occurs after consultation with the Government Council or the Higher Court through a Cantonal Council resolution, which sets the mandate for the investigatory committee, appoints the members as well as the committee chair, and determines the secretariat.

3. The establishment of an investigatory committee does not prevent the conduct of other legally regulated procedures.

**1. The investigative commission determines the procedural and personnel measures necessary for its inquiry.**

**2. The provisions of the Ordinance on Administrative Court Procedure apply mutatis mutandis to the investigation of facts and the collection of evidence. Article 292 of the Swiss Criminal Code also applies. The investigative commission may, in particular:**

a. Interview witnesses and request documents from them;

b. Question informants;

c. Obtain oral or written information from official bodies, members of authorities, individuals from state administration, and private persons;

d. Consult experts;

e. Demand the submission of all documents from the government council, the cantonal administration, financial control, and the court administration;

f. Conduct on-site inspections.

**3. If an investigation is directed entirely or primarily against a specific individual, that person may only be questioned as an informant.**

1. Members of the Cantonal Council, the Government Council, and the courts, as well as individuals from the state or judicial administration or other holders of cantonal public functions, are obligated to provide truthful information to the investigation commission regarding observations they have made by virtue of their office or in the exercise of their service or public mandate, and which pertain to their official duties. They are also required to identify any documents that relate to the subject of the investigation.

1. Members of the Cantonal Council, the Government Council, the courts, persons from the state and court administration, as well as third parties directly affected in their interests by the investigation, have the right to attend the questioning of witnesses, informants, and experts, to pose additional questions, and to access the documents, expert opinions, reports, and interrogation transcripts issued by the investigative commission.

2. The investigative commission may deny them attendance at the questioning and access to the documents insofar as it is essential in the interest of the ongoing investigation. However, reliance can only be placed on the evidence in question if its essential content has been disclosed to the affected persons and they have been given the opportunity to express their views and designate counter-evidence.

3. Upon the conclusion of the investigations and before reporting to the Cantonal Council, persons against whom allegations have been made must be given the opportunity to address these before the investigative commission.

1. The investigation commission may, by resolution, grant the same rights to the executive council or the higher court as those accorded to the affected party pursuant to Article 38 paragraph 1 of this law. The executive council or the higher court may be represented.

2. They have the right to express themselves before the investigation commission and in a report addressed to the cantonal council regarding the final results of the investigation.

1. The termination of the investigation and the dissolution of the investigative committee occur by a resolution of the cantonal council.

1. The Cantonal Council, the Council bodies, and the Council members are entitled, within the framework of this law, to all information that is suitable and necessary for the fulfillment of their duties.

1. Council members have the right, subject to official secrecy under Art. 45 of this law, to request factual and legal information and to access

a. Files that are referenced in the deliberation documents of the Executive Council;

b. Files that have been prepared within the state administration for the drafting of decrees and financial decisions;

c. Expert opinions, statistical surveys, general execution instructions, and investigations related to the implementation of decrees and decisions.

2. If access to information or documents is refused, the affected council member may appeal to the council leadership. The council leadership will decide after hearing from the council member and the Executive Council.

**1. The Commissions and the Committees commissioned by them may, within the scope of their mandate:**

a. request reports and documents from the Government Council or the responsible member of the Government Council;

b. review the files referred to by the negotiation documents submitted by the Government Council;

c. with the consent of the responsible member of the Government Council, question the case handlers of the state administration regarding the matter;

d. conduct inspections;

e. with the consent of the Council management, involve external experts for inquiries or commission them to prepare expert reports;

f. hear representatives of interested parties.

**2. Unless a differing resolution is adopted by the Commission, the responsible member of the Government Council is entitled to participate in Commission meetings and inspections, to ask questions, and to provide additional information.**

1. The oversight commissions or their committees may, within the scope of their mandate, additionally

a. inspect all files and, in exceptional cases, request the release of files;

b. conduct interviews, site visits, and inspections, after prior briefing of the competent member of the government council;

c. after prior consultation with the competent member of the government council, hear individuals from the administration, upon request, without the presence of a superior or a member of the government council;

d. involve the financial control in audits, review their audit reports and settlement reports of the offices, as well as assign them additional investigations;

e. during the examination of the judiciary, involve the court presidencies in the discussions and request the release of and inspect the court administration's files.

2. When individuals from the administration are heard without the presence of a superior or the competent member of the government council, they must be informed of the results of the hearing in an appropriate manner.

1. Facts that must be kept secret or treated confidentially in order to protect overriding public or private interests, safeguard personal rights, or due to respect for a pending procedure are subject to official secrecy.

2. To the extent that council and commission members, as well as other participants in commission meetings, become aware of statements or documents subject to official secrecy, they are themselves bound by it.

1. Members of the Government Council and persons from the state administration can be released from the duty of confidentiality applicable to them and authorized to release files that are subject to official secrecy, only by the Government Council; members of judicial authorities and persons from the judicial administration can be released only by the Higher Court.

2. The Government Council or the Higher Court may provide a special report instead of releasing official files if it is indispensable for safeguarding official secrecy. If a supervisory commission insists on the request for access to files after reviewing the report, the files are to be handed over to it.

3. The release from the duty of confidentiality according to paragraph 1 does not apply to requests for information and file release or to hearings conducted by a parliamentary investigation commission.

1. The Government Council submits reports, proposals, and drafts to the Cantonal Council either on its own initiative or upon the Cantonal Council's request.

2. It has the right to express its opinion on proposals and motions from the Cantonal Council.

3. The Supreme Court can propose to the Cantonal Council to draft legislative acts or resolutions or to take measures concerning judicial organization; the Supreme Court may also independently submit a fully developed draft with a proposal to the Cantonal Council.

1. The government council is represented in council and committee meetings by the responsible members for its proposals and motions, and by the president of the supreme court in judicial matters.

2. A member of the government council may be accompanied in committee negotiations by individuals from the state administration or by external experts. The same right is afforded to the president of the supreme court.

1. The competent department or the court administration provides the secretary for the preparatory commissions, unless the secretariat is handled by the council secretariat.

2. He or she procures the requested documents for the commission and assists in the drafting of commission proposals.

3. He or she provides information to the members of the Cantonal Council.

1. The Secretary to the Council is elected by the Cantonal Council upon the proposal of the Council's leadership and after consultation with the Government Council, for the constitutionally defined term of office.

2. The Secretariat to the Council is managed by the Secretary to the Council with the following tasks. He or she

a. supports the planning and organization of the Cantonal Council's meetings and the Council's leadership;

b. attends the Cantonal Council meetings and is responsible for the minutes and secretarial work of the Cantonal Council and the Council's leadership;

c. plans, organizes, and coordinates the committee meetings in connection with the State Chancellery and the respective departments;

d. advises the Council Presidency, the committees, and the Council members on legal and procedural issues;

e. provides documents for documentation and information from the state administration, insofar as this task does not fall within the competence of the committee secretariat;

f. assumes additional tasks assigned by the Council's leadership.

3. For the exercise of this function, the Secretariat to the Council is independent of the government and state administration and is directly accountable to the Cantonal Council and the Council bodies.

4. Documents issued by the Cantonal Council or the Council's leadership are signed by the Secretary to the Council in addition to or on behalf of the Council Presidency.

1. The State Secretary coordinates the business transactions between the authorities.

2. They may participate in the Cantonal Council meetings and directly represent matters concerning the State Chancellery before the Cantonal Council.

1. Staff from the State Chancellery shall be assigned to the Council Secretariat for the administrative preparation and execution of the meetings of the Cantonal Council and the council management.

2. The State Chancellery shall provide usher services at the council meetings.

1. The Financial Control serves as the secretariat for the Business and Accounting Audit Commission.

2. The Council Secretariat serves as the secretariat for the Judicial Commission, the Strategic Planning and External Relations Commission, as well as the Editorial Commission.

3-4 ...

1. The motion instructs the governing council to draft a legislative decree for the cantonal council or to take a measure.

2. To the extent the cantonal council can decide, the motion has the character of a binding instruction.

3. To the extent the governing council has the final decision, the motion takes on the character of a guideline.

4. The motion for the drafting of a legislative decree within the competence of the cantonal council can be submitted as a fully developed proposal.

1. A postulate mandates the governing council to investigate, report, and propose whether a regulatory enactment or resolution should be drafted, a measure should be taken, or a report should be submitted.

1. The government council shall usually request the acceptance or rejection of the motion or postulate with a written report by the session after the next.

2. The cantonal council may decide, by a two-thirds majority of the members present, to urgently debate and resolve the acceptance or rejection of the proposal.

3. The wording of a proposal cannot be changed after its submission.

4. The initiator and the cantonal council may convert a motion into a postulate.

1. If the proposal is accepted, the Executive Council shall fulfill the mandate usually within two years.

2. If a motion is accepted as a drafted proposal, the Executive Council may prepare a counterproposal.

3. The Executive Council shall report in the business report on the status of processing the proposal or, if applicable, directly on the completion of a postulate.

4. A commission or the Executive Council may request dismissal if

a. the proposal has been fulfilled or should not be maintained;

b. the originator has left the council and the proposal is not maintained by another council member.

1. An interpellation or inquiry requires the government council or the supreme court to provide information about a matter of state administration or court administration or to respond to current issues affecting the canton.

2. The government council or the supreme court generally responds in writing by the next session.

3. The interpellation is scheduled for the agenda of the next council session. It is addressed only if requested by the interpellator or any other council member. A discussion takes place only upon the decision of the cantonal council.

4. An interpellation is deemed resolved if a requested discussion has taken place in the cantonal council or if the council has rejected the discussion.

5. An inquiry is not addressed in the cantonal council; it is resolved with the response from the government council or the supreme court.

1. Petitions to the Cantonal Council are referred to the Judicial Commission for examination and proposal.

2. The Judicial Commission

a. forwards submissions, for which the Cantonal Council is not competent, to the competent authority;

b. dismisses submissions that are evidently unfounded with a two-thirds majority of the present commission members by a decision not to pursue;

c. may obtain opinions from the Government Council, the courts, or other commissions;

d. may submit a parliamentary motion if it supports the request;

e. proposes to the Cantonal Council, if the commission rejects the request, to take note of the petition without further consequences.

3. The originator of a petition is informed about the manner of resolution after the conclusion of the proceedings.

1. A popular motion shall be referred to the Government Council for a co-report and to the Judiciary Commission for preliminary advice and submission of a proposal.

1. The Government Council submits to the Cantonal Council

a. in the first year of a four-year term, the strategic guiding principles and goals of government policy;

b. annually a rolling Integrated Task and Financial Plan;

c. special planning reports or reports on individual subject areas.

2. The Government Council and the Supreme Court submit annual business and administrative reports, as well as the budget and state accounts, to the Cantonal Council.

3. The Government Council submits, along with its commentary, business reports and accounts of public-law institutions and other entities responsible for cantonal public tasks that, based on special regulations, require approval or acknowledgment by the Cantonal Council.

1. The Cantonal Council acknowledges the reports either approvingly, disapprovingly, with remarks, or without comment. Remarks on the jurisprudence of the courts are not permitted.

2. The Cantonal Council decides on the individual remarks on the reports by a simple majority before the final vote.

3. The competent authority usually informs in the next business report about the handling of the remarks.

4. If a report is referred back to the Government Council, it must be specified in what manner a revision should take place.

1. The Executive Council usually submits an explanatory message to the Cantonal Council for each draft enactment.

1. Constitutional and legislative proposals are debated twice, while other decrees are debated once, unless the Cantonal Council decides on a second debate.

1. The Cantonal Council shall issue rules of procedure to implement this law. It shall specifically regulate the general operations of the council, the procedure rules, and the protocol management.

2. It may restrict access to official documents.

1. ...[7]

1. The Rules of Procedure for the Cantonal Council of March 12, 1971, are repealed.

1. The law shall come into force at the beginning of the cantonal council's term of office in 2006. It is subject to an optional referendum.