Non-partisanship
The concept of non-partisanship means in the broadest sense neutrality and independence . In the field of sport and jurisdiction, the role of the referee is called impartial . The term non-partisan is primarily used in political discussions.
In the narrower sense of political understanding, non-partisan means above all to stand above the parties or not to be dependent on them . This term is mainly used to characterize the mass media , diplomats or legal persons .
The opposite of bipartisan is bias . In real socialism, the principle of partisanship was the illegal call to politics, administration and the judiciary to act partisanly (in the interests of the “working class”).
Individual applications of the term
Germany: Bipartisanship of the Federal President
It is part of the political traditions of the Federal Republic of Germany and also of the Republic of Austria that the Federal President (although elected by a majority of the parties supporting him) exercises his office in a non-partisan manner. This includes that he lets his party membership rest and (with a few exceptions) does not act out of party loyalty.
The required non-partisan status of the German Federal President is reflected above all in the exclusion from government responsibility and the exercise of "incompatibilities" standardized in Art. 55 GG as party offices and mandates as well as commercial activities, which are incompatible with the office of Federal President. This is intended to ensure, on the one hand, the “personal separation of powers ” and, on the other hand, the “adequate separation of interests ”.
Switzerland: Federal Council
In accordance with the tradition of Swiss consensus democracy , the members of the state government behave in a non-partisan way, even when they try to bring their party's interests into the government. In contrast to Germany, the member of the government renounces any partisan offices and largely distances himself from his party. To the outside world, every member of the government, regardless of his party, represents the position of the entire Federal Council.
Bipartisanism of monarchs
In monarchies , the monarchs are often constitutionally obliged to be non-partisan or strive for a non-partisan role for reasons of power. Is known z. B. The quote from Kaiser Wilhelm II at the beginning of the First World War , with which he wanted to stop the discussion about the war within the parties by referring to his non-partisan nature:
"I don't know any party anymore, I only know Germans!"
In the United Kingdom , too , the royal family practices strict restraint towards both parties and political operations.
Newspapers
Party newspapers that used to be common in the past have largely disappeared from the market today. By far the largest number of newspapers today consider and describe themselves as non-partisan. This self-image is in conflict with the sometimes clear political orientation of some newspapers. The Frankfurter Rundschau attracted attention when it was delivered on August 3, 2004 with a wrong title header. The title head was not, as usual, “independent”, but “dependent” daily newspaper. The management emphasized that it was a technical error. In the press, however, there was speculation about a connection with the takeover of 90% of the newspaper's shares by the SPD media holding DDVG .
Local voter communities
Local voter communities have the function of a local party , but they are usually non-partisan according to their self-image. From the point of view of the electoral community, membership in a voter community and in a party is therefore possible at the same time. Correspondingly, many groups of voters bear the name components “Independent Voting Community” “UWG” or “Non-partisan Voting Community” ÜWG .
additional
In the USA, whose political system is shaped by the two strong parties, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party , the term both sides of the aisle is a fixed term for the term non-partisan . He alludes to the fact that there is a wide corridor in the middle of the Senate that separates the Democratic Senators from the Republican Senators. In the British Westminster system there is talk of crossing the floor ( crossing the aisle). This expression alludes to the House of Commons, where Tories and members of the Labor Party sit across from each other.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Oscar W. Gabriel, Everhard Holtmann : Handbook Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany , 3rd edition, 2005, ISBN 3-486-27343-4 , p. 298 ( online ).
- ↑ See also Heinrich Lang, legislation in its own right (= Jus Publicum 159), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen 2007, chap. 5.I.4., P. 246 .
- ↑ Quoted from Heinrich Lang, legislation in its own right (= Jus Publicum 159), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen 2007, chap. 5.I.4., P. 246 .
- ^ Donald A. Ritchie (2006), "Seating in the Chambers," The Congress of the United States, Oxford University Press, p. 195, ISBN 978-0-19-530924-9