The State Parliament talks to the public

One of the core tasks of the State Parliament is to implement the citizens’ political opinions in the form of state decisions, balancing up legitimate individual concerns with important general interests. This formulation of demands and objectives is a constant mutual communication process, in other words an ongoing dialogue. The more time and effort members of the State Parliament devote to the people in their constituency and to liaising with them, the better they are able to look after and represent people’s interests and concerns.

Constituency work is often the main source of feedback for the political decisions which members of parliament have to take. The parliamentary committees give them a forum of their choice to focus the discussion on the special features and characteristics of their constituencies and get them recognised. The constituency role of a member of parliament is thus very varied. It involves holding surgeries, taking part in local party and association life, visiting officials, assisting with administrative matters, visits to and meetings at old people’s homes, nurseries, factories and public institutions and, lastly, attending public events.

Press, radio and television have a great influence on the dialogue between the representatives and the people. They play a dual go-between role in the opinionforming process: on the one hand, they reflect public opinion and on the other, they "make" opinion. The importance of the work of the State Parliament of Lower Saxony can at any rate be gauged from the constant media interest.

The "State Press Conference" offers politicians an important forum in which to present political plans generally and of course their own aims in particular to the public. In Lower Saxony, the "State Press Conference" - now a registered and thus totally independent association in law - exist since 1947.

This autonomous institution meets regularly on Wednesdays and Fridays in a room in the Leineschloss specially provided for the purpose by the State Parliament administration and has a secretariat at the State Parliament. About 100 journalists are represented at the State Press Conference, reporting on state policy in Lower Saxony for regional and national newspapers, magazines, agencies and correspondents and radio and television stations.