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Term Limits: Part II - Members of Parliament; Part III - Representatives and executive officials elected at sub national and local level - CDL-AD(2019)007
Exclusion of offenders from parliament – CDL-AD(2015)036
Scope and lifting of parliamentary immunities CDL-AD(2014)011
Democracy, limitation of mandates and incompatibility of political functions - CDL-AD(2012)027rev
Role of the opposition in a democratic Parliament CDL-AD(2010)025
Women’s representation in political systems CDL-AD(2009)029
Imperative mandate CDL-AD(2009)027
Right of legislative initiative CDL-AD(2008)035

* * *

Role of Extra-Institutional Actors in the Democratic System (Lobbying) - CDL-AD(2013)011

Executive

Term Limits - Part I - Presidents - CDL-AD(2018)010
Relationship between political and criminal ministerial responsibility - CDL-AD(2013)001

Judiciary

Restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of association of judges – CDL-AD(2015)018
Implementation of international human rights treaties in domestic law and the role of courts - CDL-AD(2014)036
Independence of the judicial system – Part I (judges) CDL-AD(2010)004
Independence of the judicial system – Part II (the prosecution service) CDL-AD(2010)040
Judicial appointments CDL-AD(2007)028
Remedies to excessive length of proceedings CDL-AD(2006)036rev
Execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights CDL-AD(2002)034

Constitutional justice

Individual access to constitutional justice CDL-AD(2021)001
Separate opinions of constitutional courts - CDL-AD(2018)030rev
Execution of constitutional court decisions CDL-INF(2001)009
Composition of constitutional courts CDL-STD(1997)020

Ombudsman

Principles on the protection and promotion of the ombudsman institution - "The Venice Principles" - CDL-AD(2019)005

II. Protection of fundamental rights

Security, terrorism and human rights

Democratic oversight of signals intelligence agencies - CDL-AD(2015)011
Democratic oversight of the security services - CDL-AD(2015)010
Counter-terrorism measures and human rights CDL-AD(2010)022
Private military and security firms and erosion of the state monopoly on the use of force CDL-AD(2009)038
Civilian command authority over armed forces CDL-AD(2008)004
Democratic oversight of the security sector in member states CDL-AD(2007)016
Video-surveillance in public places CDL-AD(2007)014
Human rights in emergency situations CDL-AD(2006)015
International legal obligations in respect of secret detention facilities and interstate transport of prisoners CDL-AD(2006)009
Possible revision of the Geneva Conventions CDL-AD(2003)018

Fundamental freedoms

Freedom of peaceful assembly - Guidelines - CDL-AD(2019)017
Funding of associations - CDL-AD(2019)002
Freedom of association - Guidelines - CDL-AD(2014)046
Legal personality of religious or belief communities – Guidelines - CDL-AD(2014)023
Blasphemy, religious insults and incitement to religious hatred - CDL-AD(2008)026

Minority rights

Participation of minorities in public life (“Science and technique of democracy” series, No. 45) - CDL-STD(2011)045
Dual voting for persons belonging to national minorities - CDL-AD(2008)013
Electoral rules and affirmative action for national minorities' participation in decision-making process in European countries - CDL-AD(2005)009
Preferential treatment of kin-minorities by their kin-state - CDL-INF(2001)019

Emergency states

Respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law during states of emergency: reflections - taken note of by the Venice Commission on 19 June 2020 by a written procedure replacing the 123rd plenary session - CDL-AD (2020)014

III. Elections, referendums and political parties

Code of good practice in electoral matters and its interpretative declarations

Code of good practice in electoral matters CDL-AD(2002)023rev2-cor
Stability of the electoral law – revised interpretative declaration CDL-AD(2024)027
Women's participation in elections – interpretative declaration CDL-AD(2006)020
Participation of persons with disabilities in elections – interpretative declaration CDL-AD(2011)045
Publication of lists of voters having participated in elections - interpretative declaration CDL-AD(2016)028

Electoral process

Synthesis documents

Electoral law and electoral administration in Europe – synthesis study on recurrent challenges and problematic issues - CDL-AD(2020)023, CDL-AD(2006)018
Measures to improve the democratic nature of elections in Council of Europe member states - CDL-AD(2012)005
Timeline and inventory of political criteria for assessing an election - CDL-AD(2010)037
Europe's electoral heritage - CDL(2002)007rev

Specific issues

Election dispute resolution - CDL-AD(2020)025
Recall of mayors and local elected representatives - CDL-AD(2019)011rev
Term Limits: Part I - Presidents - CDL-AD(2018)010
Term Limits: Part II - Members of Parliament; Part III - Representatives and executive officials elected at sub national and local level - CDL-AD(2019)007
Preventing and responding to the misuse of administrative resources during electoral processes: Report - CDL-AD(2013)033; Guidelines: CDL-AD(2016)004
Democracy, limitation of mandates and incompatibility of political functions - CDL-AD(2012)027rev
Imperative mandate and similar practices - CDL-AD(2009)027
Choosing the date of an election - CDL-AD(2007)037

Electoral systems

Constituency delineation and seat allocation - CDL-AD(2017)034
Proportional electoral systems: the allocation of seats inside the lists (open/closed lists) - CDL-AD(2015)001
Thresholds and other features of electoral systems which bar parties from access to Parliament – comparative report (I) CDL-AD(2008)037 and report (II) CDL-AD(2010)007
Electoral systems – overview of available solutions and selection criteria - CDL-AD(2004)003

Digital technologies

Principles for a fundamental rights-compliant use of digital technologies in electoral processes - CDL-AD(2020)037
Digital technologies and elections - CDL-AD(2019)016

Right to vote

Voters residing de facto abroad - CDL-AD(2015)040
Out-of-country voting - CDL-AD(2011)022
Abolition of restrictions on the right to vote in general elections - CDL-AD(2005)011 and CDL-AD(2005)012
Remote voting and electronic voting – compatibility with the standards of the Council of Europe - CDL-AD(2004)012

Affirmative action and similar measures

Women

Impact of electoral systems on women’s representation in politics - CDL-AD(2009)029
Declaration on women’s participation in elections - CDL-AD(2006)020

National minorities

Dual voting for persons belonging to national minorities - CDL-AD(2008)013
Electoral rules and affirmative action for national minorities’ participation in decision-making process in European countries - CDL-AD(2005)009
Electoral law and national minorities - CDL-INF(2000)004

Referendums

Revised Code of good practice on referendums CDL-AD(2022)015
Referendums in Europe – an analysis of the legal rules in European States - CDL-AD(2005)034
Tables summarising the replies to the questionnaire on referendums - CDL-AD(2005)034add
Tables summarising the replies to the questionnaire on local and regional referendums - CDL-AD(2005)034add2

Political parties

Guidelines on political party regulation - Second edition - CDL-AD(2020)032
Method of nomination of candidates in political parties – CDL-AD(2015)020
Political party regulation - Guidelines - CDL-AD(2010)024
Code of Good Practice in the Field of Political Parties - CDL-AD(2009)021
Prohibition of financial contributions to political parties from foreign sources - CDL-AD(2006)014
Participation of political parties in elections - CDL-AD(2006)025
Legislation on political parties: some specific issues - Guidelines and explanatory report - CDL-AD(2004)007rev
Financing of political parties - Guidelines and report - CDL-INF(2001)008
Prohibition and dissolution of political parties and analogous measures - Guidelines - CDL-INF(2000)001

Election observation and assessment

Identification of electoral irregularities by statistical methods - CDL-AD(2018)009
Declaration of Global Principles for non-partisan election observation and monitoring by citizen organizations and Code of Conduct for non-partisan citizen election observers and monitors - Initiated by the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM) - CDL-AD(2012)018
Timeline and inventory of political criteria for assessing an election - CDL-AD(2010)037
Figure based management of possible election fraud - CDL-AD(2010)043
Cancellation of election results - CDL-STD(2010)048
Guidelines on an internationally recognised status of election observers - CDL-AD(2009)059
Guidelines on Media Analysis during Election Observation Missions - CDL-AD(2009)031
Internationally recognised status of election observers - Summary of Recommendations - CDL-AD(2009)026
Internationally recognised status of election observers - report - CDL-AD(2009)020rev
Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers and Pledge to accompany the Code of Conduct for International Election Observers prepared by the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD), the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), and the Carter Center (TCC) - CDL-AD(2005)036
Election Evaluation Guide - CDL-AD(2006)021
Election Observation Form - CDL-AD(2005)013

Glossary

Electoral Glossary: English – French - CDL-PI(2020)021-bil

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