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Das niedersächsische Kommunalrecht hat mit der grossen Reform des NKomVG ein neues Gesicht bekommen. Die Zusammenführung der ehedem einzelnen Kommunalgesetze, insbesondere NGO und NLO, in einem einheitlichen Regelwerk macht ein gewisses Umdenken mit Blick auf die Gesetzessystematik erforderlich

Several German "Länder" are currently testing participatory methods to obtain opinions and ideas of citizens on legal proposals . They aim at achieving outputs that are widely accepted by the public, and thus considered to be better . These methods, known as participatory legislation, raise high expectations in relation to possible vitalizing effects on parliamentary democracy . However, the term is misleading due to the fact that such consultation processes can neither replace nor complement representative democracy, which is based on the German constitution . At the most, its benefits can be found in strengthening legitimacy . But even political scientists assume limits concerning the input-, throughput-, and output-legitimacy of "participatory legislation" . Legitimacy can only be strengthened if transparent rules for its use and its binding effects are clearly stated and if they include control rights of parliament . Otherwise, there could be a risk of a shift in power from the legislative to the executive power .