PARLIAMENT Hessischer Landtag (Hessian State Parliament) GENERAL DATA General data of the region Country (area and population): Germany; area: 357.121,41 km²; 81.859 Mio. inhabitants (30 November 2011) Region (area and population): Hessen; area: 21.114,94 km², 6,093 Mio. inhabitants (30 November 2011) Regional government: yes Competences of the region: yes General data of the Parliament Headquarters: Hessischer Landtag, Schlossplatz 1-3, 65183 Wiesbaden / Germany Language: German Date of foundation: constitution of the State of Hessen: 1
December 1, 1946 Web site: www.landtag.hessen.de Logo Coat of Arms 2
FUNCTIONS OF THE PARLIAMENT Brief description of the functions of the Parliament 1. Elect The Landtag elects the Landtag President, the Minister President, the members of the Constitutional Court, etc. 2. Pass laws Only the Parliament may pass laws, e.g. the Budget Act or the Schools Act. 3. Supervise The Landtag can demand information, statements or reports from the state government as part of its parliamentary supervisory competencies. 4. Generate public awareness In public plenary debates, the different points of view of the parliamentary groups represented in Parliament are presented for citizens and the media. COMPOSITION Total composition 110 MPs (due to additional mandates in current term 118 MPs) 3
Gender distribution and average age 31 women (appr. 26 %); average age: / Electoral system The electoral system combines the principles of proportional representation with a first-past-the-post system of votes for individual candidates. Term of office 5 years Voting conditions (active suffrage) The right to vote is held by all German citizens who, on the day of the election, are at least 18 years old and had their main residence, or otherwise been permanent resident in Hessen, for the previous three months as a minimum. Conditions for eligibility (passive suffrage) The right to stand for election is held by every person with the right o vote who has a minimum age of 21 and who has lived in Hessen for a minimum period of one year. 4
Composition of the Parliament as a result of the last parliamentary elections Political parties and number of seats CDU (Christian Democratic Party): 46 SPD (Social Democratic Party): 29 FDP (Free Democratic Party): 20 BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (Alliance 90/The Greens): 17 DIE LINKE (The Left): 6 Parliamentary political groups Requirements to form a parliamentary political group The MPs of a party elected to Parliament form parliamentary groups (at least five MPs). Information on political groups: +49 (0)611 350-534 cdu-fraktion@ltg.hessen.de +49 (0)611 350 519 spd-fraktion@ltg.hessen.de 5
+49 (0)611 350 563 fdp@ltg.hessen.de +49 (0)611 350 582 gruene@ltg.hessen.de +49 (0)611 350 6090 die-linke@ltg.hessen.de 6
THE GOVERNING BODIES OF THE PARLIAMENT The Speaker/President Norbert Kartmann (CDU) Method of election, term of office and functions The President of the State Parliament is elected by the plenary of the State Parliament. Traditionally the President is a member of the strongest parliamentary group. Details of current President: http://www.hessischer- landtag.de/icc/internet/nav/889/broker.jsp?umen=dd550d30-c067- de11-b9b7-7912184e3734&utem=aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-bbbb- 000000000016&class=net.icteam.cms.utils.externalContents.Externa lcontentmanager;lookup=hai&view=abgdetail&abgid=54 Details contact See contact data of the State Parliament Other bodies (Bureau/Spokesmen's Conference/.) Bureau and council of elders. The bureau consists of the speaker, the vice-precidents and further 4 MPs. The council of elders is structured equally and consists further 10 secretarys (also MPs). 7
PARLIAMENTARY OPERATING ORGANS Plenary session Composition 118 MPs Functions The Landtag's main organ is the plenum, the plenary meeting of all MPs in the Landtag. Committees Composition and functions There are also 14 committees, including the Budgetary and Finance Committee, the Internal Affairs Committee, and the Committee for Work, Family and Health. Types (list) Standing Committee European Affairs Committee Budgetary Committee Internal Affairs Committee Cultural Policy Committee Petitions Committee 8
Law and Integration Committee Sociopolitical Committee Environment, Energy, Agriculture, Consumer Protection Committee Economy and Transport Committee Science and Art Committee 9
PARLIAMENTARY ADMINISTRATION General data Personnel: Number of full-time employees App. 160 positions in the administration plus parliamentary advisory positions Functions The State Parliament Administration is headed by the State Parliament Secretary General Peter von Unruh and is directly accountable to the President of the State Parliament Norbert Kartmann. There are three service divisions dealing with Parliamentary Services (division I), other services (division II) and Protocol, Public relations, IT, Documentation, Legal division III). Brief description of functions The State Parliament Administration is responsible for the smooth performance of parliamentary business and supports the work of MPs and the parliamentary groups. General Secretariat 10
General Secretariat - does not exist - Organic Structure of the Parliament Description - see previous answers concerning the State Parliament Administration - Bodies/Departments/Services - see previous answers concerning the State Parliament Administration - Contact details for CALRE Contact person/department Ines Claus Head of Unit European and International Affairs Working languages DE-EN Contact details (address, e-mail and telephone number) 11
Hessischer Landtag See address above phone: 0049-611-350 217 fax: 0049-611-350 1477 BUILDING OF THE PARLIAMENT History and description Old castle of the dukes of Nassau, new plenary building dated March 2008 12