| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Landtag / Diet |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| NATURE |
| Nature of the mandate |
· Free representation (Art. 57 (1) of the Constitution of 05.10.1921, as amended up to and including 11.12.1996)
|
| Start of the mandate |
· When the MPs take the oath (see Art. 54 and 104 (2) of the Constitution, Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure)
|
| Validation of mandates |
· Validation by the Diet (Art. 59 (2) of the Constitution)
· Procedure (Art. 59 of the Constitution, Rules 5 and 6 of the Rules of Procedure)
|
| End of the mandate |
· On the day of new elections (for early dissolution, see Art. 48 (3) of the Constitution)
|
| Can MPs resign? |
Yes |
· Yes, of their own free will
· Procedure: no specific legal requirements
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the President
|
| Can MPs lose their mandate ? |
No |
|
| STATUS OF MEMBERS |
| Rank in hierarchy |
· Within Parliament:
1. The President
2. The Vice-President
3. The oldest Member present
4. The spokespersons of political groups
5. The Secretaries
|
| Indemnities, facilities and services |
· Diplomatic or official passport on request
· Basic salary (Art. 3 of the Gesetz über die Bezüge der Mitglieder des Landtages): CHF 10,000 per year
+ Sitting allowance (plenary, committees, delegations; Art. 2 of the Gesetz über die Bezüge der Mitglieder des Landtages): CHF 200 per day (4 to 8 hours) or CHF 140 per day (up to 4 hours) plus same amount for preparation time
· Exemption from tax for the basic salary. The sitting allowance is not tax exempt.
· No pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat/assistants (see also Rules 15 and 16 of the Rules of Procedure): limited assistance by the Secretariat of the Diet on request
(b) Travel and transport (Art. 61 (1) of the Constitution, Art. 4 to 12 of the Gesetz über die Bezüge der Mitglieder des Landtages): expenses for food and lodging when travelling abroad/payment of travel costs if residence is outside of Vaduz
|
| Obligation to declare personal assets |
No |
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability |
· The concept does exist (Art. 57 (1) of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
· Derogations: responsibility to the Diet; offence or insult (Rule 22 (2) of the Rules of Procedure, see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the Diet first meets and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability |
· The concept does exist (Art. 56 (1) of the Constitution).
· It applies to criminal and civil proceedings, covers all offences but protects MPs only from arrest and from being held in preventive custody.
· Derogations: in cases of flagrante delicto, MPs may be arrested (Art. 56 (2) of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided only during sessions. Since it does not cover judicial proceedings in principle, it also does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 56 (1) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the Diet
- Procedure: approval regarding detention. In this case, MPs need not be heard. They do not have means of appeal.
· Parliament can subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions:
- Competent authority: the Diet
- Procedure: no specific legal provision
· Parliament can suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members when it is in session:
- Competent authority: the Diet
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament.
|
| EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE |
| Training |
· There is no training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs.
· Handbook of parliamentary procedure:
- Rules of Procedure
|
| Participation in the work of the Parliament |
· It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, committee meetings, and, except where otherwise stated, at other meetings (Art. 53 of the Constitution, Rule 20 of the Rules of Procedure).
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation: none
|
| Discipline |
· The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Art. 57 (2) of the Constitution, and Rule 22 of the Rules of Procedure.
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Warning for irrelevance (Rule 22 (1) of the Rules of Procedure)
- Call to order (Rule 22 (2) of the Rules of Procedure)
- Withdrawal of the floor for not more than the rest of the sitting (Rule 22 (3) of the Rules of Procedure)
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (Rule 22 (2) of the Rules of Procedure)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the President
· Procedure (Rule 22 of the Rules of Procedure)
|
| Code (rules) of conduct |
· This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system.
|
| Relations between MPs and pressure group |
· There are no legal provisions in this field.
|
