Cantonal Council of Obwalden

The Obwaldner Cantonal is the parliament of the canton of Obwalden. It meets in the town hall of Sarnen and is the supreme legislative and supervising authority of the canton. Its 55 members are elected by proportional representation for four years. Each of the seven churches is entitled to at least four seats. The Cantonal Council to adopt all the basic and important rules in the form of laws. It meets usually ten to twelve full-day or half-day meetings a year. The current term of office runs from late June 2010 to the end of June 2014, the elections this took place on 7 March 2010. On March 9, 2014, the complete re-election was held for the next term of office from 2014 to 2018.

Tasks

The cantonal parliament elects the president, his deputy and the three tellers. These offices provide the Council line ( also called " Cantonal Office» ) that are always limited to one year and are awarded each new start of the new year in office in July. The choice of the third vote counter has a special significance, as it is traditionally in the following years respectively for the second tellers, first tellers, vice president and then elected to the cantonal council president. The choice of the third vote counter is therefore usually the only choice a secret.

Similarly, selects the Cantonal every year from the middle of the Governing Council of the Magistrate and the country governors, so the chairman of the governing council and his deputy. After a year of office of the previous Ammann for re-election next year is locked. An Executive Council member shall be a maximum of four terms of office served as Chief Magistrate.

In addition selects the Cantonal for a period of four years, the Vice- President of the Supreme Court, the Administrative Court and the Cantonal Court; Furthermore, the prosecutors and from the middle of the Attorney General and his deputy as well as the Youth Advocate and his deputy. The choice of members of the Executive and Audit Commission and other advisory committees for various areas is the responsibility of the cantonal parliament.

The cantonal parliament approves law or its modification or repeal, prepares constitutional changes ( mandatory referendum ) and decides on transactions between cantonal agreements. He leads the overall supervision of the government, administration and judicial authorities. Also, it is responsible for the decision on investment of considerable scope, so one-time charges up to 1 million Swiss francs or recurring annual expenditure of up to CHF 200'000.

More tangible powers of the Cantonal Council are listed in Article 70 of the cantonal constitution. So the Cantonal subject to the interpretation of texts in regulations, laws and the Constitution, but because of the separation of powers never in a case that is handled by a judge.

Parties

Members

Eligibility

The Constitution of the canton of Obwalden prescribes as part of the separation of powers among other things, that members of the Governing Council may not also be members of the Cantonal Council. (Art. 45). Even the staff of the canton in no parent cantonal authority may be selected as candidates will thus leave the cantonal (Art. 50). In addition, prohibited by Article 51, that the Cantonal belong to the same people who are related up to and including the third degree or by marriage or are married or living in a registered partnership. Unless otherwise provided by law, the term of office of elected representatives is four years. ( Art. 48) In addition, Article 49 a term limit to a maximum of 16 years ago.

Number and distribution of the constituencies

The number of members is 55 (Art. 66). These members are elected according to a proportional method, all four years in seven constituencies, each municipality creates a closed constituency. The number of representatives per constituency is given by the inhabitants of December 31, two years before the next election, but every community is entitled to at least four representatives of the cantonal parliament.

Currently, the following representation claims of the communities arise:

Through the development of the population, there was a shift seat in the elections of 2014. Alpnach got a seat at the expense of Giswil. This is the first such change since the determination of the number of seats at 55

Remuneration

The " Law on the remuneration and compensation of government agencies and commissions" or shortly " Authorities Act " regulates the remuneration of parliamentarians.

For participation in the cantonal parliament sessions and study of documents and expenses MPs receive daily allowances, the amount of which is dependent on the location. Members from Engelberg get Fr 230 - for half the day and Fr 320 - for the whole day, for members of lounging apply analogously Fr 210 - or CHF 300 -; all other members are with CHF 200 - or CHF 290 - compensated. 15 % of the sum are considered as expense allowance.

The President of the Cantonal Council also receives an annual lump-sum compensation of CHF 4000 -. , Vice president Fr 800 - Moreover, additional provisions can be found on compensation for Commissioners in Article 11 of the said Act.

Members of the Cantonal

As of December 4, 2013

Mutations in the term of office 2010-2014

Guido Steudler 2011 is resigned to the Cantonal Council meeting of 29 September 2011 Helen Keiser Fürrer was sworn in as the new cantonal councilor. After the Obwaldner municipal elections of the March 11, 2012, six members of the cantonal parliament declared their resignation, they are mid-2012 withdrawn prematurely: Susanne Burch Windlin, Walter Hug, Theres Huser Zemp, Lukas Küng, Paul Vogler and Beat von Wyl. He had already become Martin Odermatt, Peter and Guido Renggli Steudler resigned and Paula Holder had announced her resignation at the end of the Official 2011 /12.

On January 7, 2013 Tony Gasser announced by February 1, 2013 to withdraw for health reasons by the Office. For him, moved in April 2013 Niklaus Vogler in the Council after.

On September 6, 2013 Werner died Birrer. Josef Ignaz Walliman (SVP ) should move up for him, but then abandoned due to its professional activity. The SVP withdrew its a replacement, so the seat remains up to the complete re-election in 2014 vacant.

For the Cantonal 2014-2018 elected representatives

Status: after the elections of March 9, 2014 The new Cantonal will constitute the end of June 2014..