Preliminary
first Democracy begins in the community. The indispensable role of municipalities as a partner of the citizens (ff generally referred to as citizens) and is as guarantor of general interest highlighted in speeches and in normative views for local politics. This corresponds, however, not the financial resources of local communities by federal and state governments. It is true that the Basic Law: "The communities must be guaranteed the right to regulate all local affairs within the law into his own responsibility (Art. 28 II GG), but the guarantee of local self-government is not de facto (more. ) guarantees. you is only a blunt sword, although "the modern idea of self-government to a large extent on the principle of democracy" (Heilshorn 2007: 165) root. Even weaker, however, the self-management commitments at European level.
second The fact is that the German communities more than just "part of the political system" (Wet / Wet 2007: 19). To date, they have a key position in the system because they ensure the general interest of the residents in a broad sense. With a wide range of services, cities and municipalities all that makes life worth living for the people. The key duties include security, energy supply and water and disposal, raising children and schools, housing, transportation and local economic development, social security, elderly care, youth welfare, environmental, nature and the climate, culture and sports care. The communities are important (and in larger cities and large) employer. They invest and thus support the local economy, they open opportunities for young people - and they are the bedrock of the civil commitment of organizations and initiatives. A vibrant civil society is impossible without viable communities.
third (Glaessner 2006: 507) By local constitutions of the states citizens have full political participation possibilities. Select the mayors and district administrators directly. They also choose their representatives for the local, municipal and district councils, they have initiative, decision-making and information rights can help to shape planning processes and are cooperation partners and government. Here, citizens can be involved with their own design options and rights. It is generally held that the municipal level is particularly good for civic participation. The citizens here know "the local conditions, they are in a position to assess the implications of decisions, at least, rather than distant policy decisions on state and federal level." (Glaessner 2006: 507)
4th Citizens have different roles in the political system of the communities: they are rights holders, participation certificates, voters, customers, consumers, clients, stakeholders, stakeholders, sociological group. gives citizens in generalized form, it does not work. Instead, there are different facets of the civil status.
5th In the representative system, the interests of citizens by municipal council (Ortsrats-/Kreistags-) members are represented. The citizenship status differs significantly from the population. "Citizen of the community, any or every German within the meaning of Article 116 of the Basic Law and each and every citizen the other Member States of the European Union (EU citizens) who, or has reached the age of eighteen years and at least three months living in the community. "(§ 118 para 2 KSVG) Citizenship of the Union, the Treaty on European Union (Article 9 TEU , Article 20, Paragraph 2 TFEU normalized). Citizenship of the Union shall be additional to national citizenship, but not replace them (Art 20 para 1st Treaty). With several residences is the primary residence. Inhabitants, who lives in the community. (§ 18 para 1 KSVG) "The citizen is also residents of the inhabitants in the legal sense but not a citizen." (Welfare 2003. Rn 100)
6th The citizenship is Prerequisite for the active and passive right to vote. "In the provinces, regions and communities must have a representation of the people, which is elected by universal, direct, free, equal and secret elections. During elections in counties and municipalities are also persons who are nationals of a Member State of the European Community, in accordance with European Community law and eligible to vote. "(Art. 28 I GG p. 2-3) The partial order of the Lisbon Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Treaty) which is non-discriminatory basis to be granted active and passive right to vote in European and local elections normalized for Union citizens, "said apply to the same conditions as nationals of the Member State "(Article 20, paragraph 2 b Treaty).
7th The participation of citizens in local and mayoral elections (as voters or as candidates) is one of the key rights of participation at local level in representative democracy (see Gisevius 1999: 14). Since the mayor and council are the institutions of the community and shape the policy in the local area, the active and passive right to vote is a say at the local level a chance for citizens to politics. Whoever is elected as mayor or honorary member of the Council shall make a the strongest partner and design rights. In view of existing at least on paper, local autonomy, according to which all local matters within the law are to regulate their own responsibility (Article 28 paragraph 2 GG), this is a broad field. It offers a widely underrated discretion. Probably the local level is currently the only sphere in shape and some even committed citizens can move. This applies mainly to those who use the opportunities of the passive right to vote and be actively involved in community politics.
8th The situation is difficult for citizens who are not in political functions. Who was not even elected or not even a candidate was, must be confident that its representatives represent its interests in the City Council effective. In the wake of the growing disenchantment with politics and politicians is also increasingly a sentiment locally determined, according to which the citizens of their representatives no longer feel adequately represented. "Listen to us at all", is one of the questions being asked with increasing frequency. "Our interests are represented effectively by our representatives?" another critical issue.
9th The fierce debate about the local project Stuttgart21 "showed for the first time that the operation of the representative system to the local levels is placed a major question mark. This project was democratically at all levels, the courts have confirmed this. However, the transparency of decisions has made a major question mark. Arbitrator Heiner Geissler spoke of the end of the Basta policy. It was not the so-called usual suspects who took to the streets. It is too early to make a sociological profile analysis of the protesters. However, it is because of the large media reporting strong evidence that, especially middle-agers and seniors best demonstrated in the political system does not feel sufficiently represented.
10th "Stuttgart21" with its "Wutbürgern" is only a symptom of the general uneasiness of the public from the established players on the local political scene: Governance and policy are observed with Argus eyes, their decisions are considered more critical and commented.
11th Who wants to discuss the topic of "The municipality and its citizens" in public, give serious consideration to the issues of population (s) to deal with. In particular, answers to questions like "What do politicians and administration because of the little people?" or "certainty here, only the money, what is happening in our city?" or "Is not politics a dirty business anyway? old we are not there better get out?" . Give
12th The Simple answer is over time in a time of complex political ramifications.
Gisevius, Wolfgang (1999): A guide by local politics. 6. rev. Ed Bonn: Dietz.
Glaessner, Gert-Joachim (2006): Politics in Germany. 2. Act. Ed Wiesbaden: VS.
Heilshorn, Torsten (2007): The revision of the municipal economic subsidiarity clause and cover the area of municipal utilities in Baden-Wuerttemberg. In: VBlBW 5 / 2007, S: 161-166.
welfare, Jürgen (2003): municipal law for the Saarland. 3. rev. Aufl.Baden-Baden: Nomos.
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