State Parliament of Schleswig-Holstein

Legislation

In principle, the Plenary will consider draft bills and budgetary proposals, but also agreements going beyond the competence of Schleswig-Holstein (e.g. the amount of the radio license fee) in two readings. The purpose of the first reading is to discuss the general principles of a piece of legislation, whereas the second reading is primarily devoted to the consideration of specific details. In between the two readings, there is the deliberative process in the committees.

Draft bills can be introduced by individual Members of Parliament, a group of legislators, the Government of Schleswig-Holstein or by public initiative. A final decision will then be taken either by the Plenary or in a referendum.

The individual federal states have the right to enact legislation in all cases in which the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany does not vest legislative power in the federal level.

• schooling
• policing
• regional development and planning
• municipal codes
• the press, radio, television
• organization of the State’s administration

Within the scope of its legislative powers, the decision on the State’s budget is an important task of Parliament. The government draws up and submits a budget showing revenues and expenditures for the coming year (or in the case of a biennial budget for two years) to the State Parliament. Just like any piece of legislation, this draft budget is deliberated in first reading, in the committees, and in second reading before the Members of Parliament actually vote on the budget involving billions of Euros. Opposition