Interpellation
The interpellation is a formal parliamentary question to the government .
It provides a parliamentary control agents are giving to each MPs (interpellator) the right (Interpellations- or inquiry od. Quote is) is given to one or more ministers call on the Government, a political action, a particular situation and with respect to general or to justify specific aspects of government policy.
Interpellations are characterized by the fact that they can be concluded by a formal request that questions the responsibility of the government or a member of the government or that contains a recommendation to the government. Ministers may only be asked about their policies and not about their intentions.
Situation in Germany
In the German Bundestag , a distinction is made between major inquiries , small inquiries and inquiries from individual members of the Bundestag .
Situation in Austria
- In the National Council (183 members) the interpellation can be submitted by 5 members. The request can be made to the members of the Federal Government , the President of the Court of Auditors and the chairmen of the National Council committees .
- In the Federal Council (61 members), requests can be submitted by 3 members to the President of the Federal Council and the Chairman of the Committee of the Federal Council .
The members of the Federal Government, the President of the Court of Auditors and the President of the Federal Council must reply within two months.
At each meeting of the National or Federal Council there is the possibility of introducing an urgent request . The answer and the debate must take place on the same day (if brought in by 3 p.m.).
Situation in Switzerland
In the political system of Switzerland , interpellations are possible at federal and cantonal level, as well as at community level in "extraordinarily organized" communities with a community parliament .
At the federal level, interpellations are a tool for monitoring the Federal Council . They can be submitted by any member of one of the two councils (National Council and Council of States). The interpellant requests written information from the Federal Council on any political or federal administration issue. The Federal Council also replies in writing. If the interpellator is not satisfied with the answer, he can request a discussion before the relevant council. If the Council agrees to this request, the question will be discussed in the presence of the responsible member of the Federal Council.
Usually the answer comes in the following session . If the interpellation is urgent, the Federal Council must give the answer in the same session. The council office decides on the urgency of an interpellation . If at least 75 members of the National Council request an “Current Debate” on certain urgent interpellations, this debate must take place.
The interpellation is a parliamentary instrument of action. In addition, there are also motion , postulate , parliamentary initiative , inquiry and question time . These instruments are also known as parliamentary initiatives.
literature
- Siegbert Morscher : The parliamentary interpellation . Habilitation thesis, Innsbruck 1973. Duncker & Humblot Berlin, 1973.
- Siegbert Morscher: The parliamentary interpellation in the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Great Britain, Austria and Switzerland . In: Yearbook of Public Law. New series, Vol. 25. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck 1976, p. 53ff.
- Jakob Fuchs: The state. Basic political knowledge and connections , Rothenburg 2000.
- Parliamentary law and parliamentary practice of the Swiss Federal Assembly: Commentary on the Parliamentary Act (ParlG) of December 13, 2002 / ed. by Martin Graf, Cornelia Theler, Moritz von Wyss; Scientific staff: Nicole Schwager; Scientific Advisory Board: Wolf Linder, Georg Müller, René Rhinow. Basel: Helbing & Lichtenhahn, cop. 2014. XXXI, 1184 pp.; ISBN 978-3719029753
Web links
- Interpellation in Germany
- Inquiries from the EU Parliament
- Glossary of the Austrian Parliament
- Interpellation in the parliamentary dictionary (Switzerland)
- Parliamentary advances in Switzerland
