Main documents adopted by the Venice Commission

I. Functioning of democratic institutions

Constitution

Protection of children's rights: international standards and domestic institutions - CDL-AD(2014)005
Stocktaking on the notion of “good governance” and “good administration” CDL-AD(2011)009
Constitutional provisions on amendments of the constitution CDL-AD(2010)001
Constitutional implications of the ratification of the statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) CDL-INF(2001)001

Rule of law

Rule of Law Checklist - CDL-AD(2016)007
Rule of law - Report - CDL-AD(2011)003rev

State formation

Settlement of ethno-political conflicts CDL-INF(2000)016
Self-determination and secession in constitutional law CDL-INF(2000)002
Consequences of state succession on citizenship CDL-NAT(1996)008rev

Federalism

Bicameralism - Report - CDL-AD(2024)007
Federated and regional entities and international treaties CDL-INF(2000)003
Federal and regional state CDL-INF(1997)005

Parliament

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)0 27
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