Citizen legislature

A Feierabend Parliament or half-day or part-time Parliament Parliament is a parliament whose members work either volunteer or pursue another main occupation for earning a livelihood. Plenary meetings are usually held in the afternoon or in the evening hours. The remuneration of the members is usually lower than in full-time parliaments.

Germany

In the Federal Republic of Germany there with the Bremen Parliament, the Hamburg Parliament and the Berlin House of Representatives three part-time parliaments at the country level. The Hamburg state had only honorary deputy until 1996. Since a change in the constitution volunteering and the allowance has been abolished and replaced by a pay and reconciliation of the mandate with an occupation. Instead of the expense allowance of monthly 1920 DM deputies received a fee of 4,000 DM plus an allowance of DM 600 Until 1990, the Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein a Feierabend Parliament, as well as the parliament of Baden -Württemberg to the change in the 15th legislative period from, 2011.

After the founding of the Federal Republic this kind of Parliament met at country level more frequently. Today, coming back at claims for a return to volunteer deputies. The Taxpayers Association called for such a 2005 Lower Saxony and justified his claim with the declining significance of the national parliaments, cost savings and distortions in the political competition. At the local level ( county council, district council, town council ) Feierabend parliaments are common.

Greece

Until the introduction of incompatibility with another employment in 2001, the national Greek Parliament Vouli ton Ellinon was a celebration evening Parliament. In return, the diets of the deputies were increased and made free offices.

United States

In the United States, most parliaments of the states - as opposed to the federal level - designed as a celebration evening parliaments. The meetings will be concentrated in a few weeks a year.

Switzerland

Most members go in both chambers of the Swiss Parliament (Council of States and the National Council) as well as in the parliaments at the cantonal and municipal levels, in addition to their Council activities still looking for a job. In Switzerland, these legislatures are called militia Parliament or half- time parliament.