Senior Council

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A senior citizens' council is an advisory, non-decision-making body at community , district or state level in order to bring the interests of the older generation or special groups of older people into the political process at the respective level. Accordingly, the committees are called: Seniors' Council / Seniors' Council of the Municipality ..., City Seniors' Council, District Seniors' Council, State Seniors' Council . As a rule, on intergenerational and health issues, the council is given prior to a decision by the respective regional parliament, e.g. As a council , district council , parliament , belongs . Often the councils / advisory councils are granted the right to participate in the committees of the respective council assembly with the right to propose and vote through the respective municipal statutes. The term is also used in some church and party organizations (albeit formally differently). Only in Austria does the Austrian Seniors Council exist at the federal level .

aims

His self-image very often corresponds to the active influence, as they are repeatedly expressed in these two typical formulations in many publications by councils:

"The ... senior citizens' council stands up for the interests of older people in ... the area. Above all, this means participating in the formation of opinions and the exchange of experiences in the social and economic area at an early stage."

So the goal can be, through the participation z. B. to have a positive influence on the framework conditions for the lifestyle of older people in the district planning, which the respective committee would not otherwise have encountered.

The Senior Citizens' Council is generally voluntary, non-party, non-denominational and pursues charitable purposes. Commercial goals are not pursued. This means that an organizational form as a non-profit association is often appropriate. This also often means that its members actively participate in local charity events.

Organization and membership

The members are either elected by primary election by the age group or sent as delegates by relevant organizations. This can be administrative communities, associations, clubs and other groups active in this range of topics that are important for the generally elected parliamentarians as interlocutors.

Members are citizens who have reached the age of 60, sometimes even 55.

In some federal states, the government systematically promotes this activity as a contribution to civic engagement; z. B. in Baden-Württemberg (since 1974), Hesse , Lower Saxony , Schleswig-Holstein and Saxony-Anhalt . At this state level, the work is supported or even coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs . The member associations, members and delegates meet in a fixed rotation for the general assembly. Depending on its size, the council also has a permanent board. The offices of the regional seniors' council are only partially occupied by full-time employees. The Baden-Württemberg State Seniors' Council regularly publishes its own magazine.

In some regions, the corresponding or similar associations are called senior citizens 'representatives or senior citizens' offices.

See also

For parties:

  • "Seniors Union" of the CDU, "Arbeitsgemeinschaft SPD 60 Plus" of the SPD, "Federal Association of Liberal Seniors" of the FDP, "Greens Old" of the Greens , "Austrian Seniors' Association" of the ÖVP

Federal level:

  • Not to be confused with the gerusia . She was a council of elders in ancient Sparta (form of rule).

Web links