1. The Parliament – the Heart of Democracy and engine for Nation building
by Dr.h.c. Andreas Gross (Switzerland)
(Political Scientist/Dir. Atelier for Direct Democracy St-Ursanne, 24 years Swiss MP/ : Leader of the Social Democrats in the PA of the Council of Europe, Strasburg)
Presentation for Diplomats from Guinée at the GCSP in Geneva,
December 15th 2016

2. Defined in the Constitution Conflict resolution without violence
Democracy:
Mosaic of Hundreds of constitutive Institutions, Rights, Proceedings, values, attitudes, relations, results
Defined in the Constitution
A never ending Process
Conflict resolution without violence

3. Engine in Nation building (I):
Optimal representation (open proportional system in decentralized territories, where citizens identify themselves with their representatives)
Territorial representation in second chamber with mathematically over-representation of “minorities”
Open Deliberation as contribution to integration
Stable Government – Strong Parliament
Direct Democracy is a integrative force
At least: Constitutional Referendum

4. Engine in Nation building (II):
Power sharing
Fair distribution of life chances
Equal development of infrastructure in all regions
Taking care of non privileged parts of society
Priority for education and life long learning
Equal chances for men and women

5. The 5 main duties and tasks of a Parliament
Creation/Election
Legislation
Representation
Control
Communication / Dialogue

6. The Parliament (P) elects the Government (G)
I. Creation / Election
The Parliament (P) elects the Government (G)
2 Thirds of the P may revise the Constitution (and submit it to the people)
The P can deprive the G from it’s confidence (“Constructive nonconfid.vote)
The P may elect other important bodies (Judges, Ombudsperson, adv. bodies etc.)

7. Each Member of the Parliament has the right to propose new legislation
II. Legislation
In order to be valid each law has after a public debate to find a majority in the Parliament
The Parliament’s committees discuss draft laws and may propose changes to the plenary of the Parliament
Each Member of the Parliament has the right to propose new legislation
The MP’s might question the implementation and the respect of any law by the Government

8. III. Representation I. The MP’s should represent the society
It’s diversity (sociolog. composition)
It’s main different interests
It’s preoccupations, needs, sorrows
II. Between the elections the Parliament represents the people’s sovereignty;
It’s the only source of legitimate power
It shares the power fairly between each-other

9. IV. Control The P. is the Master of the State’s Budget
It controls the use of public money
It has to accept the Gov’s Bill
It monitors the work of the government and it’s ministers and held them accountable
It might create special investigative committees with special powers

10. V. Communication / Dialogue
The Parliament should set the example for the dialogue, deliberation and respect citizens show to each-other
It organizes Public Hearings on any problems
Actual debates take up public concerns and help him to understand them
By such communicative efforts the P contributes to the integration of the society