Legislaturperiode

Legislaturperiode is a term used in political science to describe the duration of a legislature—the interval between general elections that determine the composition of parliament and, in many systems, the period during which the elected representatives and the government operate. The word is most commonly used in German-speaking contexts and is equivalent to “legislative term” or “parliamentary term” in English.

The length of a Legislaturperiode varies by country and constitutional design. Some systems fix the term by constitution or statute (commonly four or five years), while others allow early elections that cut the term short. In many jurisdictions, the term can end prematurely through dissolution of parliament or a vote that triggers an earlier election, depending on national provisions and political circumstances.

During a Legislaturperiode, the parliament typically passes laws, approves budgets, and provides oversight of the government. The government is usually formed to command the confidence of the legislature, though the exact relationship between executive and legislature varies by country. In some systems, the government is elected separately and relies on parliamentary support for its legislative agenda.

Examples of term lengths: Germany’s Bundestag operates on a four-year Legislaturperiode; France’s National Assembly serves five years; Austria’s Nationalrat serves five years; Switzerland’s Federal Assembly generally works within a four-year cycle.

See also: election, parliament, fixed-term parliament.