1 Foundations and Organization, Public Levies » 14 Authorities and Administration » 143 Executive Council, Verwaltung (GORR)

Oath of Office

1 The members of the Government Council shall be sworn in by the President of

the Cantonal Council before taking office.

2 After a general election, the members of the Government Council shall take

the oath of office or make the affirmation of office together with the members of the

Cantonal Council.

3 After a by-election, the newly elected member shall take the oath of office or

make the affirmation of office before the Cantonal Council.

Distribution of Departments

1 After a general or by-election, the Government Council assigns the departments to its

members.

2 The allocation of tasks to the departments can be redefined at any time.

II. Organisation

Delegations

1 The Government Council may appoint standing delegations, comprising of a

maximum of three of its members, for specific matters. It shall define their duties.

2 The delegations shall prepare deliberations and decisions of the Government Council.

The minutes of the delegations shall be delivered to all members of the Government Council and

the State Chancellery.

Special Task Force

1 The Government Council may appoint a special task force in extraordinary situations.

Affected administrative units shall be represented therein. It shall be led by a

member of the Government Council and supported in its staff work by the head of the cantonal leadership

staff or his deputy.

2 The Government Council shall determine the composition and competences of the special

task force and decide on its dissolution.

Representations

1 The Government Council designates the representatives in the corporations, foundations, institutions, and other bodies in which the Canton has a right to a seat. The State Chancellery communicates the representations and changes to the institutions.

2 All representations are published in the State Calendar.

**III. Meetings**

Meeting Day and Meeting Place

1 The ordinary meetings of the Government Council are generally held on Tuesdays. The Government Council sets the annual meeting dates. If circumstances require, it may convene for additional meetings.

2 The meetings generally take place in the Government Building in Schwyz. Meetings may exceptionally be conducted as video conferences.

Attendance

The members of the Cantonal Government are obliged to attend the meetings of the Cantonal Government. If a member is prevented from attending for important reasons, they must notify the Landammann and the State Scribe of this as early as possible.

Quorum and Recusal

1 The quorum according to § 11 para. 2 of the Law on the Organization of the

Government Council and the Cantonal Administration (RVOG) remains valid,

even if a member is recused or not entitled to vote for other compelling

reasons.

2 If members of the Government Council or the State Secretary must recuse

themselves according to the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act, they

shall not participate in the preparation, deliberation, and decision-making on

the matter concerned.

3 The Government Council shall decide on a contested request for recusal in the

absence of the affected person.

Advisors

The Government Council may engage employees of the cantonal administration and external experts for its consultations if it deems it appropriate for its information. Any votes shall take place without the presence of the advisors.

Decision-Making

The provisions of §§ 84 et seq. of the Rules of Procedure of the Cantonal Council shall apply mutatis mutandis to the procedure for decisions and elections. § 13 RVOG remains reserved.

Principle of Collegiality and Official Secrecy

1 Decisions of the Government Council emanate from the collegium. Each member is bound by these and must represent them to the administration, the Cantonal Council, and externally.

2 Minority opinions are not recorded in the minutes. However, any member may put their protest against a decision on record. The protest is not communicated externally. In investigative or court proceedings, it may be disclosed.

3 The members of the Government Council and the State Chancellor maintain secrecy regarding the deliberations and decision-making within the Government Council.

**IV. Business**

Allocation of Business

1. Submissions to the Government Council are forwarded by the State Chancellery to the competent department.

2. Submissions that are not allocated to any department are submitted by the State Chancellery directly to the Government Council.

Meeting Preparation

1. Applications and the required documents for the business of the Government Council must be submitted electronically to the State Chancellery no later than 4 p.m. on the third-to-last working day before the meeting.

2. The State Chancellery shall provide all necessary documents electronically. The Government Council shall issue guidelines for electronic meeting preparation.

3. Matters that have not been submitted in due time can only be deliberated by the Government Council if it has previously affirmed their urgency.

Art. 1 Kind and Order of Business

1 At meetings of the Government Council, business of general importance is generally dealt with first, then motions from departments for decisions, and finally, the remaining business of the departments.

2 As a rule, only those motions for which a statement has been announced are specifically discussed. The order of business to be dealt with by the departments shall be alternated.

General Business

1 Business of general importance includes, in particular

a) discussions on significant developments;

b) planning at government level;

c) the allocation of submissions and business to the departments;

d) the coordination of appointments;

e) the designation of representatives for events.

2 Discussions on significant developments and the consultation on planning at government level shall be predetermined by the Government Council, and the competent departments shall be instructed to provide the necessary documents for this purpose.

Motions by the Departments

1 The motions by the departments shall be submitted in writing and in the form

in which they are to be adopted by the Government Council.

2 They shall be orally justified by the head of the competent department if

he deems it necessary or if it is requested.

Other Departmental Business

1 Other departmental business includes, in particular, information, opinion-

forming, and coordination regarding important processes within the departments.

2 The necessary documents are provided for other departmental business. No decisions are made; at most, mandates are issued.

Mandate Controlling

1 The State Chancellery conducts a control over all mandates issued by the Government Council. It regularly informs the Government Council about the status of their completion.

2 The departments ensure the timely and compliant completion of the mandates.

Topic Management

1 The State Chancellery maintains an overview of current and relevant matters with public relevance.

2 It provides the Government Council with a set of speaking points (or communication guidelines), which it regularly updates.

**V. Resolutions of the Government Council**

Issuance, Signature, and Delivery

1 The State Chancellery issues the resolutions of the Government Council in accordance with its specifications.

2 For more than five recipients, a facsimile signature is generally permissible.

3 The State Chancellery delivers the resolutions to the designated recipients. Delivery to internal administrative recipients, as well as to districts and municipalities, generally takes place electronically.

Inspection

1 The Cantonal Government decides on requests for inspection of Cantonal Government decisions, subject to applicable law. Such requests are to be submitted to the State Chancellery. The State Chancellery obtains an opinion from the originally applicant department and submits a proposal to the Cantonal Government.

2 Excluded therefrom are requests for inspection of files pertaining to Cantonal Government decisions regarding procedural and appeal decisions. Such requests are to be addressed to the Department of Security. This department decides on the release.

Storage

1 The resolutions of the Government Council are provided with a consecutive number

by year and registered.

2 The resolutions and other files are stored by the State Chancellery electronically

where possible, unless they are returned to the parties involved in the proceedings

or to the departments.

3 When the resolutions and other files are no longer required, they are transferred

to the State Archives.

Protocol

1 The protocol of the meetings of the Government Council contains the names of the

present and absent members of the Government Council and the minute-taker,

as well as the decisions taken.

2 For matters of general importance, the results, orders, and assignments shall be

summarily recorded.

3 The protocol shall be presented and approved at a subsequent meeting of the

Government Council.

VI. Final Provisions

Repeal of Previous Law

The Rules of Procedure for the Government Council dated January 7, 1987, are hereby repealed.

Publication, Entry into Force

1 This Ordinance shall be published in the Official Gazette and incorporated into the

Collection of Laws.

2 It shall enter into force on 1 July 2024.

GS 27-35.

SRSZ 143.110.

SRSZ 143.110.

SRSZ 142.110.

GS 17-647.