Structure of the State
According
to article 2 of
the Liechtenstein Constitution, “[t]he Principality is a constitutional hereditary monarchy on a democratic
and parliamentary basis; the power of the State is inherent in and issues from the Reigning Prince and
the people…” The structure of the State is characterized
by the dualism of the Reigning
Prince and the people. Neither the monarchic nor the democratic principle dominates. The Reigning Prince
and the people stand together at the same level. The
people and their political rights
According to the Constitution,
the people can exercise their rights directly through
elections and popular votes. Further direct-democratic rights include the right of initiative and referendum
on both the legislative and constitutional level. Voters are required to take part in elections and
popular votes. The Reigning Prince, the Parliament,
and citizens eligible to vote have
the right to initiate legislation. Parliament (Landtag)
In
the dualist
concept of the system of State of the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Parliament (Landtag) exercises
the important function of the lawful representation of the entirety of Liechtenstein citizens. The Liechtenstein
Parliament is elected directly by the people according to proportional representation. The Upper Country
election district elects 15 Members to Parliament, the Lower Country election district elects 10. Parliament
is opened and adjourned by the Reigning Prince. The Reigning Prince also has the right to dissolve Parliament
on grounds of considerable importance. Legislation is
the main function of Parliament.
In addition to the consent of Parliament, the validity of a law requires the sanction of the Reigning
Prince, the countersignature of the Prime Minister, and publication in the Liechtenstein Legal Gazette
(Landesgesetzblatt, LGBl.). Every law passed by Parliament not declared to be urgent, as well as every
international treaty adopted by Parliament, is subject to an optional referendum. The
authority of Parliament also includes the right to nominate the Government, the appointment of which
is undertaken by mutual agreement of the Reigning Prince and Parliament. In
addition
to its role in the legislative process, the exercise of fiscal authority and the supervision of the
National Administration including the administration of justice are of particular importance. Finally,
Parliament is entrusted with various elections. The
Government
The Government
of the Principality of Liechtenstein is collegial. It consists of the Prime Minister and four additional
Ministers. They are appointed by the Reigning Prince on recommendation of Parliament. All important
issues are subject to the consultation and decision of the collegial Government. Government portfolios
are distributed among the Ministers. The Prime Minister
chairs the meetings of the collegial
Government, signs the adopted enactments and orders, executes them, and supervises Government business.
Like the other Ministers, he has only one vote. His authority stands out from that of the other Ministers,
however, in that he is responsible for reviewing the legality of collective decisions, he has the right
of audience with the Reigning Prince, and he must countersign the laws sanctioned by the Reigning Prince. The
right of the Prime Minister to countersign laws in accordance with article 86 of
the Constitution is of particular importance with regard to cooperation with the Reigning Prince. The
administration of justice
Jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters
is exercised in the first instance by the
Court of Justice, in the second instance by the Court of Appeal, and in the third and final instance
by the Supreme Court. Jurisdiction is exercised on behalf of the Reigning Prince. Administrative
jurisdiction in exercised by the Administrative Court and in some cases also by the Constitutional Court. |
