Landsgemeinde

The Landsgemeinde or "cantonal assembly" is one of the oldest forms of Direct Democracy. Formerly practised in eight Cantons of Switzerland, for practical reasons, the Landsgemeinde has been abolished in all but two Wikipedia .

Landsgemeinde is still practiced in Appenzell Innerrhoden and Canton of Glarus, where it is regarded as the highest political institution of the canton.

Eligible citizens of the Cantons of Switzerland meet on a certain day in the open air to decide on laws and expenditures by the council.

Everyone can debate a question. Voting is accomplished by those in favour of a motion raising their hands. Historically, or in Appenzell until the admission of women, the only proof of citizenship necessary for men to enter the voting area was to show their ceremonial sword or Swiss military sidearm (bayonet), this gave proof that you were a freeman allowed to bear arms and to vote.

The German term ''Landsgemeinde'' itself is attested from at least the 16th century, in the 1561 dictionary of Pictorius. It is a compound from "land, canton; rural canton" and "community, commune".

The ''Landsgemeinde'' has been the sovereign institution of the Swiss rural cantons since the later Middle Ages, while in the city-cantons such as Lucerne, Schaffhausen, or Bern, a general assembly of all citizens had never been established.

Similar assemblies in dependent territories were known under terms such as Talgemeinde, Hasli, Obersimmental), Teding, ''Parlamento'' (Leventina), ''Zendgemeinden'' (for the ''Zenden'' or districts of Valais), but also as ''Landsgemeinde'' in Toggenburg and in parts of Grisons.