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The Government System of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a tiny landlocked country located in Central Europe and bordered between the countries of Switzerland and Austria, its capital city Vaduz is located in the central west of the country closer to Switzerland.  

Human existence in the area (Alpine Region) goes all the way back to the Middle Paleolithic era, with farming settlements in the valley by around 5300 BC. During the late Iron Age the Hallstatt and La Tene cultures were the dominant peoples and tribes in the area, with the Helvetii being one such prominent tribe. Julius Caeser defeated the Alpine tribes in 58 BC and brought the region under general control of the Roman Republic, the area was entirely conquered by 15 BC and the area that is today Liechtenstein became part of the Roman province of Raetia.  

A confederation of Germanic tribes called the Alemanni would later breakthrough into the region and settle there in around 450 AD, modern-day Liechtenstein would be located on the eastern edge of Alemannia. From 504 AD the region came under the Frankish Empire after Clovis I defeated the Alemanni. Under Frankish hegemony the area would go through the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties until the Treaty of Verdun divided the empire in 843 AD, following Charlemagne’s death, and modern-day Liechtenstein came under East Francia. Then in 1,000 AD it would reunify with Middle Francia under the Holy Roman Empire, this is when German started becoming prevalent in the region, until then the prominent language was Romansch.  

From 1200 the dominions across the Alpine plateau were controlled by various Houses, including Savoy, Zahringer, Habsburg, and Kyburg, while other regions had Imperial immediacy which granted the Empire direct control over mountain passes. The fall of the Kyburg Dynasty in 1264 allowed the Habsburgs under Rudolph I, to extended their territory across the eastern Alpine plateau which included the territory of modern-day Lichtenstein. The region that is today Liechtenstein was first given to the Counts of Hohenems, while the area of Vaduz came subject to direct Holy Roman Empire rule under Imperial immediacy.  

The Liechtenstein family originate from Liechtenstein Castle in Lower Austria which the family held from 1140 until the 13th Century and again from 1807. The family had land, such as in Moravia, Lower Austria, Silesia, and Styria, but were only held by the family in feudal tenure from senior feudal lords, most particularly branches of the Habsburgs. This meant the Liechtenstein family were unable to meet primary requirements for seats in the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire. Without holding territory directly from the Imperial throne, they had relatively little power in the Empire.  

So, to remedy this the family sought to acquire such lands held without any intermediate feudal tenure. During the early 17th Century, the Holy Roman Emperor Matthias made Karl I of the Liechtenstein family a Prince, he would have a son called Karl Eusebius who would inherit the title, and then his son Hans-Adam I was allowed to purchase the Herrschaft of Schellenberg in 1699 from the Hohenems and then the county of Vaduz in 1712. This gave the Lichtenstein family the lands they needed for their desired political status within the Holy Roman Empire.  

In 1719 Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI announced the two purchased territories were united and elevated the territory to a principality which was given the name Liechtenstein, becoming a sovereign member state of the Holy Roman Empire. It is of note that the Princes of Liechtenstein did not even bother to actually visit their principality for almost a century after obtaining it.  

Moving further on, as a result of the Napoleonic Wars, the Holy Roman Empire effectively came under control of France in 1805, and it would later be dissolved by Emperor Francis II, the last Holy Roman Emperor, but also the Emperor of Austria (where he was Francis I). Napoleon reorganized the Empire into the Confederation of the Rhine, which had massive implications for Liechtenstein due to various institutions being dissolved and therefore the State ceased to owe obligation to any feudal lord beyond its borders, although it did of course become a vassal to the Confederation.  

After the Confederation of the Rhine was dissolved in 1813, Liechtenstein joined the German Confederation in 1815, which was basically a replacement for the former Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Francis I of Austria. Prince Johann I of Liechtenstein granted his territory a limited constitution in 1818 and the territory of Liechtenstein would gain its first Head of Government in 1861, appointed by the monarch.  

In 1866 the German Confederation was dissolved and until the end of World War I, Liechtenstein maintained close ties with the Austrian Empire, later Austro-Hungarian Empire, with the ruling Princes deriving much of their wealth from estates within the Habsburg territories. Economic devastation following the 1st World War forced Liechtenstein to form a customs and monetary union with Switzerland, which still exists to this day.  

During World War 2 Liechtenstein officially remained neutral, and stuck close with Switzerland for guidance and assistance, and the family moved their treasures from dynastic lands in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia to keep them safe. Although the territory was neutral, it was revealed in 2005 that Jewish labourers provided by Nazi Germany’s SS from the Strasshof concentration camp had worked on estates in Austria owned by the Liechtenstein family.  

Nearing the end of the conflict, Czechoslovakia and Poland acted to seize what they considered German possessions, leading to the expropriation of all the Liechtenstein dynasty’s properties within Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia, including forest and agricultural lands, palaces, and castles (which even up until today are still eligible for legal dispute in the ICJ), the event soured relations heavily with Czechoslovakia and then the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with relations not being restored until 2009.  

Following WW2 the territory once again hit economic troubles, with the dynasty often resorting to selling family artistic treasures, and by the late 1970s the country used low corporate tax rates to become a tax haven, which helped it bounce up to become one of the world’s wealthiest countries, and its population enjoys one of the world’s highest standards of living today. The country maintains a strong financial sector in modern times, keeping its economy healthy.  

Up until 1984, only men were allowed to vote in elections, but a national referendum made it so all citizens (of age) can now vote in elections, which also allowed them to run for office. In 2012 a referendum allowed the Prince to keep the power of veto over nationwide ballots.  

It is a member of the United Nations, Council of Europe, the European Free Trade Association, and participates in the Schengen Area and European Economic Area. The country’s official language is German, and the largest religion is Roman Catholic. The country does not have its own currency and instead uses Switzerland’s Swiss franc. The country’s population is naturally small, at around 38,240.  

Government Type 

Liechtenstein’s Coat of Arms.

Liechtenstein is a Principality meaning it is headed by a Prince (called the Prince Regnant) as its Monarch, who is the Head of State, and who holds a degree of power, more so than typical modern-day Monarchies of the West. Liechtenstein is also a Constitutional Monarchy, with power shared between the Monarch and a democratically elected parliament, called the Landtag, and Government, the Prime Minister is Head of Government. Multiple parties are allowed.  

The country has a degree of direct democracy with referendums on various legislative acts not being uncommon, only 1,000 signatures of registered voters are required to trigger one in most cases. The last to take place was a three-part referendum in 2020, including an amendment to the constitution to promote equal representation of woman in political bodies, allowing dual citizenship for naturalized citizens, and funding a railway line expansion, all three were rejected by the populace.  

Changes in the boundaries of the territory of the State can only be made by law and boundary changes between communes and the union of existing ones must also have a majority decision of the citizens residing there who are entitled to vote.  

Individual communes do have the right to secede from the State. Such a decision to secede from the State requires a majority decision of the residents living there who are entitled to vote. Secession is regulated by law or a treaty. If it is regulated by a treaty a second ballot must be held in the commune following completion of the negotiations. 

The Monarchy and Executive Government  

Vaduz Castle, official residence of the Prince Regnant. Photo by Michael Gredenberg from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source.

The Monarchy, which is Constitutional and a Principality, meaning the Monarch is a Prince, (known as the Prince Regnant, and is the Head of State), is a hereditary one under the Princely House of Liechtenstein. The coming-of-age of the Prince Regnant and of the Heir Apparent, as well as any guardianship which may be required, are determined by the Princely House in the form of a dynasty law.  

The Prince Regnant exercises their sovereign authority in conformity with the provisions of the State’s Constitution and of other laws. The Prince Regnant, or any member of the Princely House exercising the position of Head of State, is not subject to the jurisdiction of the court and does not have legal responsibility.  

Powers and Duties of the Prince Regnant  

The Prince Regnant represents the State in all of its foreign relations, without prejudice to the necessary participation of the responsible Government. Treaties that include ceding of national territory, alienation of national property, right of sovereignty or disposition of State Prerogatives, or includes any new burden for the Principality or its citizens or any obligation to the detriment of the rights of the people of the Principality, shall not be valid without the assent of Parliament.  

All legislation passed by Parliament and/or a referendum requires the sanction of the Prince Regnant in order for it to become a valid law.  

The Prince Regnant, through the Government, and independent of Parliament, pursues steps required to implement and enforce the laws, and any action required in pursuance of the powers of administration and supervision, and issues the required ordinances.  

In urgent cases the Prince Regnant shall take the measures necessary for the security and welfare of the State, such as through the implementation of emergency decrees. Such emergency decrees cannot set aside the Constitution as a whole or individual provisions of it but can be used to limit the applicability of individual provisions. Emergency decrees cannot limit every person’s right to life, the prohibition of torture and inhumane treatment, or the prohibition of slavery or forced labour, nor place any restrictions on the ‘no punishment without law’ rule.

Other specified articles (Articles 3 on succession of the throne, 13ter on a citizen’s motion of no confidence in the Prince Regnant, and 113 on allowing citizens to introduce an initiative to abolish the monarchy) also cannot be limited. Emergency decrees cease to apply after six months if not ended sooner.  

The Prince Regnant appoints judges to the courts, including the Administrative and Constitutional Courts, in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution (Article 96). This is done via a joint-commission between the Prince-Regnant and Parliament. The Prince Regnant as Chairman has a casting vote. The Prince Regnant may appoint as many members to the body as Parliament delegates representatives. Parliament appoints a member for each electoral group. The Government appoints the member of Government responsible for supervising the administration of Justice. The commission may only recommend candidates for judges to Parliament with the assent of the Prince Regnant. If the Parliament confirms a recommended candidate they are appointed as a Judge.  

If Parliament rejects a candidate of Judge and no agreement on a new candidate can be reached within four weeks, then Parliament can propose its own candidate and set a date for a referendum to confirm it, citizens entitled to vote also have the right to nominate candidates under conditions of the popular initiative under Article 64. There must be a second ballot if there are more than two candidates, winner is via absolute majority and is then appointed by the Prince Regnant as a Judge.  

The Prince Regnant possess the prerogative to remit, mitigate, or commute sentences, and quash prosecutions. If remission or mitigation is in favour of a Government member sentenced on account of their official acts, then the remission or mitigation must have first been instigated by Parliament.  

The Prince Regnant can entrust the next Heir Apparent of his House who has attained majority, with the exercise of the sovereign powers held by him as his representative, should he be temporarily prevented or in preparation for the Succession.  

No-Confidence in the Prince Regnant  

At least 1,500 citizens have the right to table a reasoned motion of no confidence in the Prince Regnant. If this happens the Parliament must issue a recommendation on this at its next session and order the holding of a referendum. If the motion is accepted in the referendum, then this must be communicated to the Prince Regnant for consideration under the dynasty law. The Prince Regnant must within six months inform the Parliament of the decision reached under the dynasty law.  

The decision may result in the abdication of the Prince Regnant in favour of the Heir Apparent for example.  

Right to Abolish the Monarchy  

Through a popular citizens initiative with at least the support of 1,500 citizens able to vote have the right to bring forth an initiative to abolish the Monarchy. If such a proposal is accepted via the subsequent referendum, the Parliament will draw up a new republican Constitution and submit it to a referendum within one-two years, the Prince Regnant also has the right to submit a new Constitution. If there are multiple drafts of a new Constitution a second ballot must be held, the top two Constitutions go through to the second round, the Constitution then is chosen via an absolute majority.  

Prime Minister and Government  

There is a Prime Minister who is Head of Government, the Prime Minister is determined by the outcome of Parliamentary elections and is appointed by the Prince Regnant based on the results and proposal of the Parliament, the Prince Regnant also appoints four Government Councilors at the proposal of Parliament, one of whom is also appointed as Deputy Head of the Government. The Prime Minister and Councilors also have substitutes appointed to represent them, such as if those members of Government cannot attend a meeting.  

The members of Government are also chosen as equally as possible between the countries two Regions, including the substitutes. At least two members must be chosen from each of the two Regions along with their substitutes coming from the same Region.  

The Prime Minister and Councilors make up the Cabinet, the highest executive decision-making body of the Government, for Government decisions to be valid all members must be present and a majority vote in favour. A vote tie allows the Chairman a casting vote. All members must vote on decisions and cannot abstain. The Government decides its rules of procedure via a Government regulation.  

Government business, like most Governments, is mixed between a collective basis and departmental basis. All important matters assigned to Government, especially settlement of administrative disputes, are discussed and decided by Government in council. Less important matters may be assigned by law to the appropriate members of Government in accordance with distribution of Government business to be dealt with independently.  

The Government is responsible to the Prince Regnant and the Parliament. The Prime Minister and Government must maintain the confidence of the Parliament and Prince Regnant to remain in power. If confidence is lost the Prime Minister and Government members are removed and the Prince Regnant appoints an interim Government on proposal from the Parliament, the interim Government may go on to have a Parliament confidence vote to become the official Government, or a new official Government will be appointed instead through the same procedures.  

If a singular member of Government has lost confidence, then the Prince Regnant and Parliament decide together whether they should continue in office. While a decision is made the deputy of the Government member in question performs their duties.  

Specific functions can be transferred by law or by legally binding authorizations to certain officials or government offices. The Government can set up Special Commissions to deal with complaints on the behalf of the Government. For economic, social, and cultural obligations, special corporations, institutions, and foundations of public law may be established by legislation and placed under supervision of the Government.  

The Head of Government presides over the meetings of Government, deals with business directly entrusted to them by the Prince Regnant or a Regent. The Head of Government submits reports to the Prince Regnant in regards to such matters placed under the authority of the Sovereign. Texts of decisions adopted by the Sovereign on his proposal are signed by the Prince Regnant and countersigned by the Prime Minister.  

The Prime Minister also signs the decrees and orders issued by the Government from its decisions in council. The Prime Minister exercises direct supervision over conduct of business in Government. The Prime Minister is responsible for executing decisions of Government, and can only delay if he/she believes a decision is contrary to existing laws or regulations, where then he/she must immediately notify the Administrative Court on the matter, which without prejudice to right of appeal, determines whether the decision should be implemented or not.  

If the Head of Government is prevented from performing their duties, the Deputy Head of Government performs them, and if they cannot it then goes by order of seniority of the Councillors.  

Government is responsible for executing all laws and all such tasks lawfully entrusted by the Prince Regnant or Parliament, and treaties. To give effect to laws and treaties, the Government must issue the necessary implementation regulations, remaining within the limits of the said laws and treaties.  

Government has a number of matters falling within their sphere of action including: supervision of all authorities and employees subordinate to Government and exercise disciplinary powers in respect of employees; allotment of staff required by Government and authorities; supervision of prisons and treatment of persons detained in custody and of convicts; administration of buildings belonging to the State; monitoring lawful and uninterrupted conduct of business of the ordinary courts; preparation of a report on Government official activities submitted to Parliament annually; preparation of Government bills for submission to Parliament and expression of its opinion on proposals submitted to it for that purpose by Parliament; deciding of urgent expenditure not provided for in estimates; securities, credits, and loans issues.  

The Legislative Government  

Meeting place of the Landtag. Photo by böhringer friedrich from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.5. Source.

The legislative government is made up of a unicameral chamber called the Landtag. It’s main job, like all Parliaments, is to represent and safeguard the people, and have legislation introduced, debated, possibly amended, and either passed or rejected. It also has the job of giving oversight to the Government and Prime Minister, holding them to account, and either keeping or withdrawing confidence from them.  

Legislation is introduced to the Parliament by Government via the Prince Regnant. Parliamentary members may also introduce legislative bills, and at least 1,000 citizens entitled to vote, or at least three communes assemblies adopt a resolution, to request enactment, revocation, or amendment of a law. Petitions under right of initiative and concerning the Constitution require 1,500 citizens entitled to vote or a resolution from at least four commune assemblies.  

Referendums may be triggered for various reasons. Every law passed by Parliament that is not declared urgent, and every financial resolution that is not declared urgent and which results in a new nonrecurrent expenditure of at least 500k francs or new annually recurrent expenditure of 250k francs shall be subject to a referendum if Parliament decides or at least 1,000 citizens able to vote request, or at least three municipalities submit a request to the effect.  

If the issue effects the Constitution in whole or part, a demand for a referendum on such requires 1,500 of those able to vote to request it, or at least four communes adopting a resolution through their assemblies asking for a referendum.  

If Parliament rejects a bill drawn up in due form and accompanied, if needed, by proposals of providing the necessary funds and which has been submitted through the procedure of the popular initiative, then the said bill will go to a referendum.  

As well as legislation and oversight, the Parliament also gives consent to specific treaties (Article 8); adopts an annual Budget introduced by the Government; authorizes taxes and other public dues; resolution on credits, loans, and securities chargeable to the State; resolution on the Government’s annual report; submits suggestions and complaints and exercises control with regard to State administration as a whole; and ability to impeach members of Government before the Constitutional Court for breaches of the Constitution or other laws.  

Any resolution of Parliament concerning assent to a treaty under Article 8, must be submitted to a referendum if decided by Parliament or if at least 1,500 registered voters request, or at least four commune assemblies submit a petition to that effect.  

The Parliaments right of administering justice over the whole of the State administration is done via an elected audit committee, such right of control does not extend to the judgements of Courts or to the functions assigned to the Prince Regnant. Parliament may bring defects or abuses observed in State administration to the notice of the Prince Regnant or Government via memorials or complaints and request redress. Such an enquiry that may come from this and measures ordered are communicated to the Parliament. Those under enquiry must be given a hearing and is bound to answer interpellations addressed to them by members of Parliament.  

Parliament can also appoint investigational committees, it is obliged to do so if at least one-quarter of the number of representatives requests one.  

The Parliament must appoint a finance committee for the handling of finance-related legislation and issues.  

The Landtag is currently constitutionally fixed to having 25 elected members. Government members and members of Courts cannot also be members of the Parliament. The Prince Regnant has the right to convene Parliament, close Parliament, and on warrantable grounds communicated to the assembly, to prorogue the Parliament for up to three months (where then it must be reconvened within a month via a Princely edict) or to dissolve it for fresh elections. The Parliament must be regularly convened at the beginning of each year via a Princely edict.  

The Prince Regnant must convene Parliament if requested to do so by at least 1,000 citizens who are entitled to vote, or if requested to do so by a resolution adopted by the communal assemblies of at least three communes.  

At least 1,500 citizens who are entitled to vote, or at least four communes that have adopted resolutions at their communal assemblies, can demand a referendum on the question of dissolving Parliament for fresh elections.  

In any case where Parliament is dissolved the fresh elections must take place within six weeks, and those elected summoned to convene the new Parliament within 14-days.  

At its first regularly convened session following elections the members are presided over by the oldest member and will elect a President and Vice-President of the Landtag from among its members, for the purposes of administration, keeping order, enforcing Parliamentary rules, and that they act as an impartial representative of the Parliament. Disciplinary powers are regulated by the adopted rules of procedure for the Parliament. The President has a casting vote if there is a tie.  

National Committee 

A National Committee is constituted to act in the place of Parliament for any business that would have required Parliament or its Committees during the period between adjournment, closing or dissolution, and without prejudice that concern time limits of reconvocation of Parliament and holding of elections.  

The National Committee is presided over by the President of the Landtag or his/her deputy if they are unable to attend, and four other members elected by Parliament with equal representation of both the country’s constituencies in mind. Its term of office expires when Parliament reconvenes.  

The National Committee has special powers and oversight that include ensuring the Constitution is observed, takes steps for the execution of decisions of Parliament, and if Parliament should have been dissolved or adjourned, and that it is reconvened within the prescribed time.  

It also audits the accounts of the State Treasury and transmit the same to Parliament. Also carries out special tasks entrusted to it by Parliament for preparation of Parliament’s future proceedings. In urgent cases, the National Committee brings forth matters to the notice of the Prince Regnant or the Government, and lodge representations, protests, or remonstrances in the case of any menace or violation of constitutional rights. And if circumstances require, to propose the convocation of Parliament.  

The Electoral System  

Image by Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa) from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.5. Source.

Parliamentary elections to elect the members of the Landtag take place every 4-years and uses the system of open-list proportional representation from two multi-seat constituencies, which are the Upper Country or Oberland which is fixed to 15 members, and the Lower Country or Unterland, fixed to 10 members. Parties or electoral groups must meet at least 8% of the vote within a constituency to be guaranteed a proportional share of the seats from said constituency.  

The outcome of the Parliamentary elections determines the governing party, group, or coalition and therefore determines the Prime Minister who is appointed by the Prince Regnant based on who appears to have majority confidence, the Prime Minister then forms the Government.  

Substitutes are also elected in each constituency for the purpose of filling in for a member if they become absent. If for whatever reason a member becomes permanently absent or the seat becomes vacant for whatever reason and the substitution system fails to fill the seat, then the seat is filled via holding a by-election.  

Complaints relating to elections are dealt with by the Constitutional Court.  

To vote one must be a citizen and be at least 18-years-old.

Sources 

The source for this post comes from Liechtenstein’s constitution of 1921 with amendments through to 2011 (constituteproject.org), there have been further amendments, such as in 2018 and 2020 but I have found little information of these and so assume they will be relatively unimportant to this post, nonetheless due to this slight discrepancy, anyone using this post seriously for research should also conduct further cross-research just in case. As well as that there is always the chance I have misinterpreted things, missed other things, and the constitution can again be amended in the future so this may become outdated eventually.  

Amendments to the constitution can be either proposed by the Parliament, proposed by the Prince Regnant via a Government proposal, or proposed by at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes. Passage can either be through unanimous approval of Parliament in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings.

A referendum may be required for further approval if requested by at least 1,500 qualified voters or at least four communes, passage by referendum requires an absolute majority.


Next up will be the government system of Lithuania.

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