Cantonal Council of Zürich
The Zurich Cantonal Council is the parliament of the canton of Zurich. It meets the cantonal parliament hall in the town hall of Zurich and is the supreme legislative and supervising authority of the canton. Its 180 members are elected in 18 constituencies distributed according to the proportional method for four years, and since 2006 the biproportionale seat allocation process comes after Pukelsheim apply. The Cantonal Council to adopt all the basic and important rules in the form of laws. The meetings of the Cantonal usually find every Monday (except during school holidays). The last complete re-election was held on April 3, 2011.
- 3.1 General
- 3.2 Parliamentary instruments
- 5.1 Constituencies
- 5.2 eligibility
- 5.3 remuneration
- 5.4 List of Members
- 5.5 During the term 2011-2015 retired members
Tasks
Generally
Basic requirements for cantonal found in the Zurich Cantonal Constitution in Articles 50 et seq
The 180 members of the cantonal parliament are elected for a term of four years. The Council shall exercise, subject to the rights of the people of the supreme power. He decides laws and performs oversight of the state organs of the canton, ie Government, courts and other authorities.
Referendums
Budget proposals and qualifications on the part of Government Council shall be approved by the Cantonal or discarded. About new one-time charges up 3 million francs and new recurring annual expenditure of up to CHF 300,000 the Government can decide arbitrarily. Issues that go beyond it, shall be approved by the Cantonal Council. For one-time revisions of over 6 million Swiss francs, or new recurring annual expenditure of over CHF 600'000 can be carried out at the request of a referendum if within 60 days of publication of Decision 3000 voters ( optional financial referendum) or 45 Canton Councils ( cantonal referendum) such demand.
Resolutions shall be submitted to the people in each case to the vote if they relate to the constitution, or it is inter-cantonal and international treaties, whose content has constitutional status.
A popular initiative is submitted to the people in any case to a vote if
- It is in the form of a specific draft, which does not agree with the Cantonal
- It is in the form of a general proposal that does not want to implement the Cantonal
- If the Cantonal her facing a counter-proposal.
More
However, according to Article 37 of the Constitution Canton, the Cantonal put urgent laws into effect immediately, unless two-thirds of the Council members present agree.
Management
After a re-election of the Cantonal the choice of the Cantonal President takes place. Once this has taken over as Chairman, the other Executive Committee members are elected.
According to the cantonal law of the canton of Zurich is the Office of the Cantonal Council of the president, two vice presidents, the members of the Secretariat as well as from other members. You all are elected at the first meeting in May for the following year in office. You are no longer eligible for the same office in the following year.
Council-
General
The Cantonal Council shall be considered a quorum when more than half of the members are present. If this quorum doubts before a vote, the Bureau assigns a name call. It may suspend the voting for a short time. If the Bureau determines that the Council is not a quorum, it picks up the session.
If a member or close relative of a member directly affected by a thing is manifested temporarily out of the meeting.
Parliamentary instruments
The members of the Cantonal Various instruments are available to start a foray.
- Motion: A motion by the Government can be required to submit a proposal for a constitutional or legislative proposal, decision or report.
- Postulate: With a postulate one requests the Government to consider whether a constitutional or legislative proposal or a draft was submitted for a decision. If the Government contrary to the postulate or it will be paid by the council majority, the Government is required to report within two years, with a deadline of one year extension is possible. If there is the report of the Cantonal Council decides whether the postulate was written off. The Council may require the Executive Council a supplementary report or it can provide a different opinion from the Government.
- Urgent postulate: With an urgent postulate can ask the Government to report within four weeks. This requires the approval of 60 councilors.
- Interpellation: With an interpellation to calls on the Government to provide information on certain matters of state administration. It is the agreement of 20 council members needed. The Executive Council shall submit its reply within two months prior to writing. Then can be done in the Council discussion.
- Group Statement: A specific members of a political group may give to the Council a statement of current affairs. It is run no discussion in the Council.
- Personal Statement: A Council Member may put more than two minutes to make a personal statement. Usually it is about opinions or the defense of personal attacks.
- General debate: the case of extraordinary events that may affect the Canton of Zurich is at the Cantonal hold a general debate. In this case, no decisions will be taken
- Parliamentary initiative calling for a parliamentary initiative with members of the Council changes the cantonal constitution.
- Question: With a request to seeks clarification on matters of state administration. The government responds in writing within three months.
Parties
Members
Constituencies
The Cantonal Council is comprised of 180 members. These members are elected by proportional representation, with each district of the Canton of Zurich corresponds to completed constituency. The Constitution also allows that large areas can be divided into several constituency.
Is committed Specifically, the number and names of the constituencies in the law on political rights. Thus, the Canton of Zurich is currently divided for cantonal elections in 18 constituencies. The allocation of seats is based on the population of the constituencies.
For the last complete re-election in 2011 following constituency subdivision was:
Eligibility
Members of the Executive Council shall not be members of the Cantonal simultaneously. Even members of the cantonal administration that are directly subordinated to the Government or any of its members, can not take a seat in the cantonal parliament.
Remuneration
Compensation and attendance allowance claims are set out in the Rules of Procedure of the Cantonal Council. The amount of an attendance allowance but is determined by decision. At present, the attendance fee is 200, - CHF per session. Each member also receives a base salary of 4,000 -. Franks, a Zugabonnement first class for the Zurich Transport Network, as well as an expense allowance of 2,800 -. Francs per year in office.
President of the Cantonal and commissions received double the attendance fee for each session in which they preside. In addition, the Bureau of the cantonal parliament receives a single annual lump-sum compensation for representation obligations. The fractions also receive a fraction of compensation in the amount of 40,000 -. Francs plus a surcharge of 2,300 -. Francs per member.
List of Members
As of January 25, 2014