Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen

Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen

The Landtag is the parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia. It has four main functions:

• legislation and budget law
• choice function
• public discussion
• parliamentary control

Legislation means: The state parliament passes the laws for the federal state. Schools, culture, municipalities, the police and the prison system are subject to state legislation. One of the most important rights is the budget right – i.e. the right to decide on the state budget.

Elective function means: The state parliament elects the state parliament president, his or her deputies, the prime minister and representatives of other constitutional bodies.

Public discussion means: In the state parliament, political questions are discussed before the public. Plenary sessions are broadcast live on the internet.

Parliamentary control means: The state parliament controls the work of the state government and state administration. The parliamentary committees of inquiry are regarded as the sharpest sword of control.