The opportunities for citizen participation are based on Art. 20 Para. 2 and Art. 28 Para. 1 of the Basic Law (GG) as well as Art. 45 and 93 of the Constitution of the Free State of Thuringia. Accordingly, the principle of representative democracy applies to the Federal Republic of Germany. The decision-making process is primarily carried out by elected representatives and not directly by the people. Consequently, the election of the municipal council, city council and district council is the most important instrument with which the people directly exercise state power. Another important opportunity for participation at municipal level is the direct election of the mayor, district and local mayors and the district administrator. Citizens themselves can also become active as candidates for municipal representative bodies (as members of municipal councils, district councils) and run for the office of district administrator, full-time or honorary mayor, district mayor and local mayor.

In addition to the opportunities for participation based on the principle of representation, the Thuringian Municipal and District Code (Thüringer Kommunalordnung - ThürKO -):

some further participation instruments, some of which are also open to residents who are not entitled to vote (e.g. minors):

• Residents' assembly (§ 15 ThürKO):
  The residents' assembly serves to inform residents about important matters concerning the municipality and should be held at least once a year.

• Residents' petition (§ 16 ThürKO):
  Residents may request that the municipal council discuss and decide on a municipal matter for which it is responsible (residents' petition).

• Citizens' petition and referendum (§ 17 ThürKO):
  The citizens of a municipality can apply for a referendum on an important municipal matter by means of a citizens' petition. In a referendum, the population (who are entitled to vote) thus decide on issues themselves. The referendum is the strongest form of citizen participation and breaks through the principle of representation. However, a negative catalog listed in the ThürKO excludes certain areas from the referendum (§ 17 Para. 2 ThürKO).

In addition, there is the possibility of including expert citizens in the municipal committees in accordance with § 27 Para. 6 ThürKO as well as the possibility of forming an advisory council for foreigners in accordance with § 26 Para. 4 ThürKO. Within the scope of their right to self-organization, the municipalities are free to allow further opportunities for citizens to participate that are not expressly regulated by law (e.g. the formation of further municipal advisory boards, the holding of citizens' forums and citizen surveys, the organization of opportunities for voluntary work at municipal level). Citizens of all ages can actively participate in all of these areas.

Further information on this topic can be found on the websites of the Thuringian State Election Commissioner and the Thuringian Ministry of the Interior.