Ordinance of the Governing Council on the Consultation Procedure (TG VlV) - Purpose

1. The consultation process allows interested parties to participate in the formation of opinions and decision-making of the canton.

2. It is intended to provide information about the factual accuracy, acceptability, and practical feasibility of a proposal.

1. A consultation procedure takes place as part of the preparation of cantonal enactments, particularly concerning constitutional and legislative amendments.

2. Furthermore, a consultation procedure may be conducted for draft ordinances, parliamentary motions, initiatives, concepts, and information projects if they are of significant political, financial, economic, ecological, social, or cultural importance.

1. A consultation procedure may be waived if

1. the proposal primarily concerns the organization and procedure of cantonal authorities or the regulation of responsibilities between cantonal bodies;

2. no new insights are to be expected.

1. Every person and organization can participate in a consultation procedure and submit a statement.

2. Typically invited to submit a statement are

1. the municipalities or their associations;

2. the political parties represented in the Grand Council;

3. associations;

4. other interested parties.

1. The Government Council decides, upon the request of the department responsible for the matter, on the initiation of the consultation process, the circle of addressees, and the form of publication.

2. The invitation to the consultation, including the submission of documents and the setting of the deadline, is issued by the responsible department.

1. The consultation period usually lasts three months. It should be reasonably extended, taking into account holidays and public holidays, as well as the content and scope of the proposal.

2. In cases of urgency, the period may be exceptionally shortened. The urgency must be justified to the consultation recipients.

1. The consultation procedure is conducted in paper form or electronic form.

2. Exceptionally, a conference hearing may be conducted. A record must be kept of this.

1. The consultation documents include

1. the consultation draft;

2. the explanatory report;

3. a cover letter;

4. the list of recipients.

1. The information service shall draft a press release for consultations. This press release shall be sent to the media electronically, along with the complete consultation documents.

2. The consultation documents shall be published on the internet.

1. The results of the consultation procedure are summarily presented in the message to the Grand Council or, in the case of ordinances and reports, in the decision of the Government Council.

1. Publicly accessible are

1. the consultation documents;

2. messages to the Grand Council;

3. decisions of the Council of Government regarding regulations.

1. The decision on the conduct of internal administrative consultation procedures is made by the department or the state chancellery.

2. These procedures serve to clarify substantive issues and are conducted by the competent authority.

1. The Executive Council responds to consultation procedures for which it is invited by the following bodies

1. by the Federal Council or by a federal department;

2. by parliamentary commissions;

3. by the Conference of Cantonal Governments;

4. by a specialized directors' conference;

5. by cantons.

2. The Executive Council responds to consultation procedures concerning inter-cantonal treaties, which are subject to decision-making by the Grand Council, taking into account the position of the special commission formed by the Grand Council.

3. Other consultation procedures are assigned by the Executive Council to the department responsible for the matter for direct response, unless the Executive Council expressly requests the preparation of a response by the Executive Council itself.

4. The Executive Council may assign consultation procedures to the department responsible for the matter for direct response, particularly if the consultation period is very short or if the content is highly specialized.

1. The government council assigns the documents to the competent department and makes a summary decision about the involvement of other bodies.

2. If necessary, it coordinates with other cantons regarding the practicality of a joint consultation during the allocation.

1. The competent department initiates the co-reporting procedure and prepares the consultation procedure.

2. It examines the feasibility of any potential coordinated implementation at the federal and cantonal levels, as well as collaboration with other involved agencies and cantons.

1. Consultation proposals are generally to be reviewed with regard to the following points

1. Content of the proposal;

2. Compliance with the federalist distribution of competencies;

3. Issues of enforcement;

4. Financial and personnel implications of the proposal for cantons and municipalities;

5. Need for adjustments by cantons and municipalities;

6. Issuance of any joint enforcement instruments.

2. Requests for amendments must be substantiated. Statements of approval should be limited to controversial provisions.

1. Statements from the Government Council to the Federal Council or the federal authorities are sent to the departments involved in the consultation process.

2. The Thurgau members of the Federal Assembly are provided with statements on federal legislative proposals.

1. The information service prepares a press release for the consultations approved by the Executive Council addressed to the federal government. This is sent to the media together with the consultation response to the federal government.

2. The press release and the response to the federal government are published on the internet.

1. Consultations of the federal government or from specialized conferences on projects of minor significance, to which the department or office responsible for the matter or the specialist unit is directly invited, shall be responded to by said entity.

2. If the proposal has significant political, financial, economic, ecological, social, or cultural implications for the canton, the proposal must be forwarded to the Executive Council.

3. The responsible department shall decide on the publication.