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Participation of citizens

  • Everyone in Bad Homburg should take part in projects in the city. That is important. Since the beginning of 2020, people in the city, the administration and politicians have been working together. They are making a rule for citizen participation.

    Transparency and sharing knowledge are important. This is also stated in the ISEK Bad Homburg 2030 director's book, which is a goal.

    In 2020, many people were able to express their ideas and wishes. This was possible despite the covid pandemic. They spoke directly, in workshops and online.

    One team is doing the main work. The team has 12 people from the city, 5 from the administration and 7 from politics. The team collects all the ideas. It evaluates the suggestions. Then it writes the rule.

    In November 2020, everyone was able to read and comment on the rule online. The team incorporated the comments into the new version of the rule. The team then adopted the rule.

Citizens can participate. That is written in the Basic Law. Germany is a representative democracy. Elected representatives decide. The people do not decide directly. The election of local parliaments is important. This is how the people exercise state power. Citizens also elect the mayor and the district administrator directly.

There are other options. The Hessian municipal code has other instruments. Even people who are not allowed to vote can take part. Minors, for example.

  • Citizens' assembly
    The citizens' assembly informs citizens. It deals with important issues in the municipality. It takes place at least once a year. The citizens' assembly is a weak form of participation.
  • Citizens' petition and referendum
    Citizens can launch a petition for a referendum. Then there is a referendum. The citizens themselves decide on important matters. The referendum is powerful. It breaks through the principle of representation. But not everything can be decided by a referendum.
  • Participation as an expert resident in a commission
    Commissions help the municipal council. They manage or supervise. They also carry out commissions. The mayor, members of the municipal council and knowledgeable residents work on a committee.
  • Citizens' initiatives
    A citizens' initiative is a group of people. They want to enforce or prevent something. They put pressure on the public.

There are even more possibilities. Citizens can use hearings, objections and complaints. At state level, there is the right to petition. Citizens can contact the Petitions Committee of the Hessian State Parliament. More information is available on the Internet. On the websites of the Hessian State Election Commissioner and the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sport.