Drawn by lot
Thirteen residents are chosen at random from the whole population. They are trained before they take part and may decline without giving a reason.
Article 210(1): the thirteen resident members are drawn by lot from the residents of the Republic, by a public and verifiable procedure, composed so as to reflect the population in age, gender, territory, occupation and condition.
Article 210(2): participation is voluntary. A person declining is replaced by a fresh draw, and no reason need be given.
Terms and replacement
| Matter | Provision |
|---|---|
| Three years, never renewed, replaced by thirds each year | Article 210(3) |
| Training in the functions of the Council before taking part, provided by institutions independent of the courts and of the Council, with public materials | Article 210(4) |
| Service counts as contribution, carries release from other tasks, and carries provision for transport, care and accommodation | Article 210(5) |
| Removable only by the Constitutional Court, for incapacity or for an interest concealed | Article 210(6) |
| Majority in every formation, including disciplinary panels and appointment boards | Article 209(2) |
The draw
The Electoral Commission conducts the draw under Article 244(3). Article 235(1) requires the method and the code of the drawing procedure to be published under Article 109(5), and the result is published upon the draw together with the composition of the pool it came from.
An independent body designated by organic law verifies annually that the draws of Article 201, Article 210 and Article 217 were conducted as published, and its report is public.
Declining
Participation is voluntary, and a refusal requires no reason. A person declining is replaced by a fresh draw. Provision for transport, care and accommodation under Article 210(5) exists so that no cost of serving falls on the member.
Composition reflecting the population
The procedure composes the thirteen so as to reflect the population in age, gender, territory, occupation and condition. The method by which that is done is published with the code of the draw, and the composition attained is published with the result.
The Office of Democratic Integrity reports annually on the observance of the participation this Constitution requires, in the terms of Article 143(9)(b).
Training
The training lies with institutions independent of the courts and of the Council, and makes the materials public. A resident member takes part in no formation before completing it.