Liechtenstein

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Liechtenstein Transparent and smaller Liechtenstein coat of arms This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ...

Prince Hans Adam II Head of Government Otmar Hasler Landtag Political parties Elections Municipalities Foreign relations

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Politics of Liechtenstein takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, whereby the Chief of Government is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system, though strong powers are still concentrated with the Prince. The Executive power is exercised by the government. Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and the Diet. The party system is dominated by the conservative Progressive Citizens' Party and the conservative Fatherland Union. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. On 15 August 2002, in his National Day Address, Prince Hans-Adam II announced that after months of intensive negotiations a compromise in the debate on constitutional reform had been reached. On 13 September, Prime Minister Otmar Hasler confirmed to Parliament that his government was drafting a bill for Parliament based on the compromise reached between the Prince and the Citizens' Forum. The draft bill, which would increase the executive powers of the monarch, went before Parliament for a first reading in November. Once approved by Parliament, the bill was then presented to voters in a referendum, and approved by 64% of those voting in March 16th 2003. On 15 August 2004, Hans Adam II formally delegated the power to make decisions in Liechtenstein to his son, Alois of Liechtenstein. ... Hans-Adam II (Johannes Hans Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marko dAviano Pius; on official documents Hans Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein), styled HSH The Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein, full title Fürst von und zu Liechtenstein, Herzog von Troppau und Jägerndorf, Graf zu Rietberg (born February... List of Liechtenstein Heads of Government See also: Politics of Liechtenstein, list of Princes of Liechtenstein, lists of incumbents Categories: Liechtenstein | Lists of office-holders ... The Diet (Landtag) is the parliament or legislature of Liechtenstein. ... Political parties in Liechtenstein lists political parties in Liechtenstein. ... Politics of Liechtenstein Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Liechtenstein ... The principality of Liechtenstein is divided into eleven municipalities (Gemeinden - singular Gemeinde), most consisting of only a single town. ... The Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein) is a small, doubly landlocked country in Central Europe bordered by Switzerland to its west and by Austria to its east. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in U.S. English), is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... Representative democracy is a form of democracy founded on the exercise of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ... List of Liechtenstein Heads of Government See also: Politics of Liechtenstein, list of Princes of Liechtenstein, lists of incumbents Categories: Liechtenstein | Lists of office-holders ... The Head of Government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ... On 15 August 2004, Hans Adam II formally delegated the power to make decisions in Liechtenstein to his son, Alois of Liechtenstein. ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... The Diet (Landtag) is the parliament or legislature of Liechtenstein. ... The Progressive Citizens Party (German: Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei in Liechtenstein) is a political party in Liechtenstein. ... The Patriotic Union (German: Vaterländische Union) is a political party in Liechtenstein. ... In law, the judiciary or judicature is the system of courts which administer justice in the name of the sovereign or state, and provide a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Executive branch

The monarch is hereditary. Following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch. According to the constitution of Liechtenstein, the government is a collegiate body and consists of the head of government and four governmental councilors. The head of government as well as the ministers are appointed by the Prince following the proposals of the Parliament. On 15 August 2004, Hans Adam II formally delegated the power to make decisions in Liechtenstein to his son, Alois of Liechtenstein. ... His Serene Highness Hans-Adam II (Johannes Hans Adam Ferdinand Aloys Josef Maria Marko dAviano Pius), styled HSH The Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein (born February 14, 1945), is the son of Franz Josef II of Liechtenstein (1906-1989) and his wife Gina von Wilczek (1921-1989). ... November 13 is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 48 days remaining. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Alois Philipp Maria von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968) has been Regent of Liechtenstein (Stellvertreter des Fürsten) since 15 August 2004. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... List of Liechtenstein Heads of Government See also: Politics of Liechtenstein, list of Princes of Liechtenstein, lists of incumbents Categories: Liechtenstein | Lists of office-holders ... The Progressive Citizens Party (German: Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei in Liechtenstein) is a political party in Liechtenstein. ... April 5 is the 95th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (96th in leap years). ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Rita Kieber-Beck (born December 27, 1958) is Foreign Affairs Minister of the Principality of Liechtenstein. ...

Amendment to the constitution or new law have to be adopted by Parliament, signed by both the Prince and the head of government, and published in the Principality's Law Gazette.

Prince Hans Adam II is the head of state. He may only exercise his right to state leadership in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and of other laws. His Serene Highness Hans-Adam II (Johannes Hans Adam Ferdinand Aloys Josef Maria Marko dAviano Pius), styled HSH The Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein (born February 14, 1945), is the son of Franz Josef II of Liechtenstein (1906-1989) and his wife Gina von Wilczek (1921-1989). ...

He represents the state vis-à-vis foreign states. He signs international treaties either in person or delegates this function to a plenipotentiary. Some treaties under international law only become valid when they have been ratified by Parliament.

On the basis of the names put forward by Parliament, the Prince nominates the government, district and high court judges, the judges of the Supreme Court, and the presidents and their deputies of the Constitutional Court and of the Administrative Court of Appeal.

The Prince's other authorities include exercising the right to mitigate and commute punishments that have been imposed with legal force and the abolition---i.e., the dismissal--of investigations that have been initiated. All judgments are issued in the name of the Prince.

The Government of Liechtenstein is based on the principle of collegiality; namely, of colleagues collaborating with each other. The government consists of the head of government and four Councilors. The members of the government are proposed by the Parliament and are appointed by the Prince. Only men or women born in Liechtenstein, and who are eligible to be elected to Parliament, may be elected to the government committee. The two electoral areas of the country, the highlands and the lowlands, are entitled to at least two members of the government, and their respective deputies must come from the same area. Collegiality is the relationship between colleagues. ...

Legislative branch

The Prince's involvement in legislation consists in a right to take initiatives in the form of government bills and in the right to veto parliamentary proposals. The Prince has the power to enact princely decrees. Emergency princely decrees are possible when the security and welfare of the country is at stake. A countersignature by the head of government is, nevertheless, required. The Prince has the right to convene and adjourn parliament and, for serious reasons, to adjourn it for 3 months or to dissolve it.

The Diet (Landtag) has 25 members, elected for a four year term by proportional representation in two multi-seat constituencies. Until 1989, 15 members represented the population of the two constituencies (six for the lowland area and nine for the highland area). Since 1989 the lowland constituency has been entitled to have 10 members and the highland area 15. The Parliament's main task is to discuss and adopt resolutions on constitutional proposals and draft government bills. It has the additional duties of giving its assent to important international treaties; of electing members of the government, judges, and board members of the Principality's institutions; setting the annual budget and approving taxes and other public charges; and supervising the administration of the state. The Parliament observes its rights and duties in the course of sessions of the whole Parliament and through the parliamentary commissions that it elects. All members of Parliament exercise their mandates in addition to their normal professions or occupations. The president of Parliament and his deputy are both elected at the opening meeting for the current year. The president convenes the individual meetings during the session, leads them, and represents Parliament externally. During the parliamentary recess--normally from January to February/March--a "state committee" assumes Parliament's duties, and such a committee must also be elected in the case of any adjournment or dissolution of Parliament. A "state committee" consists of the president of Parliament and four other members. The duties and working procedures of Parliament are laid down in the constitution and in Parliament's standing orders. The Diet (Landtag) is the parliament or legislature of Liechtenstein. ... Proportional representation (sometimes referred to as full representation, or PR), is an electoral system delivering a close match between the percentage of votes that groups of candidates (grouped by a certain measure) obtain in elections and the percentage of seats they receive (usually in legislative assemblies). ... A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures, goals or loyalty. ...

Moreover the people of Liechtenstein have very strong direct democratic rights. At least 1000 citizens can initiate a referendum on any law. At least 1500 can suspend the parliament or change the constitution.

Political parties and elections

The following election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in Liechtenstein. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Liechtenstein.

The political parties are in practice politically decisive and are the moving forces with regard to the composition of the government. For the 2001-05 legislature period of office one Councilor and three deputies are women. An election is a decision making process where people choose people to hold official offices. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues. ... Political parties in Liechtenstein lists political parties in Liechtenstein. ... An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... Politics of Liechtenstein Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Liechtenstein ...

From 1938 to 1997 Liechtenstein had a coalition government. Until a few years ago there were only two parties in Parliament, the Fatherland Union and the Progressive Citizens' Party. Liechtenstein's distinctive form of coalition government came to an end in April 1997. The Fatherland Union took sole responsibility for the government during the 1997 to 2001 Parliament, with its members filling all the positions on the government committee. Since 2001 it has been the Progressive Citizen's Party that has provided all the members of the government. The minority parties, as opposition parties, act as a check on the government in Parliament and on parliamentary commissions. 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. ... The Patriotic Union (German: Vaterländische Union) is a political party in Liechtenstein. ... The Progressive Citizens Party (German: Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei in Liechtenstein) is a political party in Liechtenstein. ...

The Diet (Landtag) is the parliament or legislature of Liechtenstein. ... The Progressive Citizens Party (German: Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei in Liechtenstein) is a political party in Liechtenstein. ... The Patriotic Union (German: Vaterländische Union) is a political party in Liechtenstein. ... The Free List (German: Freie Liste) is a political party in Liechtenstein. ...

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Princely Superior Court or Fürstliches Obergericht, Princely Court or Fürstliches Landgericht

Administrative divisions

Liechtenstein is divided in eleven communes (German: Gemeinden, singular: Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, and Vaduz. Balzers is a village and community located in southern Liechtenstein. ... Eschen is a municipality in the north of Liechtenstein. ... Gamprin contains Bendern which is among the most historic of Liechtensteins communities. ... Mauren was first called Muron in documents from 1178. ... Planken is the smallest of Liechtensteins communities. ... Ruggell - This is the most northern and low lying of the Liechtenstein communities/municipalities. ... Schaan is the biggest municipality of Liechtenstein. ... Schellenberg is a municipality in the lowland area of Liechtenstein, on the banks of the Rhine. ... Triesen - Third largest of Liechtensteins municipalities. ... Triesenberg Commune is a village in Liechtenstein with a population of 2564, an area of 30 square kilometers, and an elevation of 884-2000 metres. ... The city centre of Vaduz Vaduz Castle, one of the towns primary landmarks Vaduz (vädOOts) is the capital of the principality of Liechtenstein. ...

International organization participation

CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICC, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO The Palace of Europe in Strasbourg European Flag: used by the Council of Europe and by the European Union The Council of Europe (French: Conseil de lEurope , German: Europarat /ˌɔɪ.ˈro. ... Founded in 1991, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) uses the tools of investment to help build market economies and democracies in 27 countries from central Europe to central Asia. ... The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE or ECE) was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. ... The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was established on May 3, 1960 as an alternative for European states that were not allowed or did not wish to join the European Community (now the European Union). ... The IAEA flag The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, internally often referred to as The Agency) was established as an autonomous organization on July 29, 1957. ... Official logo of the ICC. The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, crime of aggression, and war crimes, as defined by several international agreements, most prominently the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. ... The Red Cross and the Red Crescent emblems, the symbols from which the Movement derives its name The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement whose stated mission is to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for the human being and all other... The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) is an international humanitarian organisation, often better known as the Red Cross or the Red Crescent. ... Intelsat, Ltd. ... Interpol (or International Criminal Police Organization) was created in 1923 to assist international criminal police co-operation. ... Bold textralf is gay IOC redirects here. ... Monument in Bern, Switzerland. ... The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is not an agency of the United Nations. ... The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ... The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), also known as the Hague Tribunal is an international organization based in The Hague in the Netherlands. ... The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body, UNCTAD is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues. ... The Universal Postal Union (UPU, French: Union postale universelle) is an international organization that coordinates postal policies between member nations, and hence the world-wide postal system. ... The World Confederation of Labour (WCL) was founded in 1920 under the name of the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions as a confederation of unions associated with the Christian Democratic parties of Europe. ... Headquarters in Geneva The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. ... The World Trade Organization (WTO, French: Organisation mondiale du commerce) is an international, multilateral organization, which sets the rules for the global trading system and resolves disputes between its member states; all of whom are signatories to its approximately 30 agreements. ...