Landsgemeinde (Glarus)

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Glarner Landsgemeinde 2009
Voting with colored ballot papers

The Landsgemeinde is the legislative assembly of the Canton of Glarus . It is an assembly of all citizens of the Canton of Glarus entitled to vote, which advises and votes on changes to the law and the constitution, as well as on the level of the tax rate, or «advises, reduces and increases». In addition, the cantonal judges and the mayor of the Landsgemeinde are elected (until 1971 the cantonal government as well). The Landsgemeinde is a symbol of the canton's direct democracy , as all voters can participate directly in the legislation. In addition to the right to vote, every person entitled to vote also has the right to speak on a proposal and to make amendments. The oldest evidence of a meeting on the state statutes dates from March 11, 1387. A folk festival in the city of Glarus is also associated with the state community.

The Landsgemeinde gathers on the first Sunday in May on the Zaunplatz in Glarus . The “Mitlandlüüt” (literally: local people = people entitled to vote) stand “in the ring”, while spectators can be present on separate stands.

procedure

The Landsgemann (the chairman of the cantonal government) is responsible for managing the rural community. He opens and swears in the Landsgemeinde.

The basis for the implementation of the Landsgemeinde is the memorial discussed in advance by the cantonal parliament , which is sent to every household with the voting card; In 2018, it was a 124-page brochure with explanations of 11 business transactions. Votes are cast in the Landsgemeinde by holding up the voting card. The greater "more" is determined by the Landammann by estimating; in case of doubt, he calls in the four other members of the government council. If these cannot make a clear difference either, the Landammann decides, according to an unwritten rule, against the government's request. His decision is ultimately final and incontestable.

After the voting is over, the government and its guests are led back to the town hall by Harmoniemusik Glarus and an honorary formation from the army, from where they moved in together with the district administrator at the beginning of the rural community.

The system of the Landsgemeinde has shortcomings such as the completely open voting, which is offset by strengths such as special credibility, genuine and lively debate and the promotion of civil courage . The celebration of unity also serves to express the common will to shape the future.

Special votes

In the past, several decisions were made in the Glarner Landsgemeinde about business transactions that were also perceived well beyond the canton's borders:

  • Three factory workers had requested advice on the protection of workers; In 1864, working days were limited to 12 hours, and child labor and Sunday work had already been banned in 1856 and 1858. The signaling effect of the rural community of 1864 led to the Federal Factory Act of 1877.
  • In 1916, cantonal old-age and disability insurance was approved.
  • The Landsgemeinde of May 2, 1971 granted women political rights, although it was feared that this would mean the end of the Landsgemeinde.
  • On May 6, 2007, the Landsgemeinde narrowly decided - and as the first and so far only Swiss canton - to lower the cantonal voting age to 16 years. Since this regional municipality resolution, young citizens of Glarus can vote and vote in cantonal and communal matters after they have reached the age of 16. The passive right to vote remains 18 years.
  • The Landsgemeinde on May 7th, 2006 decided to merge the 25 municipalities in Glarus into just three municipalities . This resolution was confirmed on November 25, 2007 at an extraordinary regional parish.
  • The Landsgemeinde on May 2, 2010 rejected the applications for free use of public transport in the canton of Glarus and for the introduction of the right to vote for foreigners.

See also

literature

  • Lukas Leuzinger: Ds Wort isch frii - The Glarner Landsgemeinde: history, present, future . Verlag NZZ Libro, 2018, ISBN 978-3-03810-326-4
  • Felix Helg: The Swiss rural communities. Its constitutional structure in the cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Glarus, Nidwalden and Obwalden. Legal dissertation. Schulthess Juristische Medien AG, 2007, ISBN 978-3-7255-5419-5

Web links

Commons : Landsgemeinde  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b http://www.lebendige-tradUNGEN.ch/tradUNGEN/00200/index.html Glarner Landsgemeinde  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Federal Department of Home Affairs, Federal Office of Culture; Living Traditions as of July 15, 2012@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.lebendige-tradUNGEN.ch  
  2. ↑ Memorial for the Landsgemeinde Glarus 2018 ( Memento of the original from May 6, 2018 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.landsgemeinde.gl.ch
  3. ↑ Wolf Linder: Better than social media. In: Weltwoche, 5/2017, p. 40.
  4. ^ Brigitte Studer: Factory Law. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland . September 20, 2007 , accessed May 6, 2018 .