Okay, let’s break down the German Bundestag document “21/361: Beschlussempfehlung – Sammelübersicht 1 zu Petitionen – (PDF)” and what it likely signifies, even without having the document directly accessible to me. This analysis is based on the standard procedures of the German Bundestag and the typical content of such documents.
Understanding the Document Title
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“21/361”: This refers to the document number within the 21st legislative period (“Wahlperiode”) of the German Bundestag. Each legislative period lasts about four years. So, “21” indicates the current or most recent parliamentary term. The “361” means it’s likely the 361st document produced within that period.
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“Beschlussempfehlung”: This is a crucial term. It translates to “Recommendation for a Decision” or “Resolution Recommendation.” It means a committee or a group of members of parliament (MPs) has reviewed something (in this case, petitions) and is making a specific suggestion to the entire Bundestag on how to handle it.
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“Sammelübersicht 1 zu Petitionen”: This translates to “Collective Overview 1 on Petitions.” This tells us that the document is a summary and evaluation of multiple petitions submitted to the Bundestag. The “1” likely indicates this is the first such collection of recommendations in this legislative period. There will probably be further “Sammelübersicht” documents later.
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(PDF): Simply indicates that the document is in PDF format.
What are Petitions in the German Context?
In Germany (like many other democracies), citizens have the right to petition their parliament. This means individuals or groups can submit written requests, grievances, or suggestions to the Bundestag. These petitions can cover virtually any topic under federal jurisdiction.
The Bundestag’s Petitions Committee is responsible for reviewing these petitions. This committee is made up of MPs from various parties.
How the Process Works (Based on Typical Procedures)
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Petitions are Submitted: Citizens send their petitions to the Bundestag.
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Initial Review: The Petitions Committee’s staff sorts and categorizes the petitions.
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Detailed Examination: The committee examines the petitions, potentially gathering information from government ministries, experts, or the petitioners themselves.
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Committee Deliberations: The committee discusses the petitions and possible courses of action.
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“Beschlussempfehlung” Creation: This document, “21/361,” is the result of the committee’s work. It outlines their recommendations for each petition (or group of related petitions).
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Bundestag Debate and Decision: The full Bundestag then debates the committee’s recommendations. The MPs can accept, reject, or modify the recommendations. The outcome becomes a formal resolution (“Beschluss”).
Possible Content of the “Beschlussempfehlung” Document
The document likely contains the following for each petition (or group of similar petitions):
- A brief summary of the petition’s content: What the petitioner is asking for or complaining about.
- The committee’s assessment of the petition: This could include a legal analysis, a factual investigation, and consideration of the petition’s merits.
- The committee’s recommendation: This is the core of the document. Common recommendations include:
- “Zur Kenntnisnahme”: “For information only.” This means the committee acknowledges the petition but doesn’t recommend any further action. This is common for petitions that are already being addressed by the government or are outside the Bundestag’s jurisdiction.
- “Dem Petenten mitteilen”: “To inform the petitioner.” This suggests the committee believes the petitioner’s concerns have merit and should be communicated to the relevant government agency for action.
- “An die Bundesregierung überweisen”: “To forward to the Federal Government.” This recommends that the government take the petition into consideration and potentially implement changes.
- “Dem Ausschuss [Name des Ausschusses] überweisen”: “To forward to the [Name of Committee] Committee.” This is done when the petition falls under the jurisdiction of a different Bundestag committee.
- “Für erledigt erklären”: “To declare settled.” This might be used when the issue raised in the petition has already been resolved.
Significance of the Document
- Transparency and Accountability: The “Beschlussempfehlung” makes the petition process transparent. Citizens can see how the Bundestag is handling their concerns.
- Influence on Policy: While the Petitions Committee doesn’t have the power to directly change laws, its recommendations can influence the government and other Bundestag committees. Successful petitions can lead to policy changes, new legislation, or investigations.
- Citizen Engagement: The petition process is a vital way for citizens to engage with their government and hold it accountable.
In Summary
The document “21/361: Beschlussempfehlung – Sammelübersicht 1 zu Petitionen – (PDF)” is a formal recommendation from the Petitions Committee of the German Bundestag, summarizing their evaluation of a collection of citizen petitions and suggesting how the full Bundestag should respond to each. It’s a crucial part of the democratic process, ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard and considered by their elected representatives. Because I do not have access to the content of the PDF, this is an educated, general explanation.
21/361: Beschlussempfehlung – Sammelübersicht 1 zu Petitionen – (PDF)
The AI has delivered the news.
The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-06-04 10:00, ’21/361: Beschlussempfehlung – Sammelübersicht 1 zu Petitionen – (PDF)’ was published according to Drucksachen. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
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