Bürgerbeteiligung

Citizen participation is the active involvement of citizens in political decisions and/or planning processes.

The opportunities for citizens to participate arise from Art. 20 Para. 2 and Art. 28 Para. 1 of the Basic Law. Accordingly, the principle of representative democracy applies to the Federal Republic of Germany. The decision-making process is primarily carried out by elected representatives and not directly by the people.

Every citizen has extensive opportunities to actively participate in their municipality or district. This includes the election of municipal or city representatives and, in districts, the district council. Full-time mayors are also elected directly.

In addition, the municipal and district regulations also offer other ways to participate in shaping the local government:

• Citizens' petitions and referendums,
• residents' meetings, question times and motions,
• advisory boards.

Children and young people also have the opportunity to participate.

There are also other elements of citizen participation in the form of various rights of consultation, objection and complaint. At state level, citizens can also exercise their right to petition (a petition is, for example, a suggestion or complaint) to the Petitions Committee of the state parliament.

Further information on civil rights can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior and Federal Affairs of Schleswig-Holstein (MIB).

To the municipal, local, city or district administration.

Please address your petitions to the Petitions Committee of the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament.