Municipal honors

Personalities who have rendered outstanding services to a municipality can be honored with this award. The achievements to be honored can be very different; for example, they can be economic, local political or artistic merits.

Within the framework of the Rhineland-Palatinate municipal code, the awarding of honorary citizenship is one way in which the municipality can honor a person. As honorary citizenship is a personal right, it can only be awarded to natural persons. It is not possible to confer honorary citizenship on a deceased person.

The awarding of an honorary title to municipal representatives, honorary civil servants, full-time elected officials, members of a local advisory council or foreigners' advisory council is another example of an award at municipal level. The mandate or office must have been held for a total of at least twenty years. The law does not specify what is meant by honorary designations. For example, 'honorary mayor' or 'municipal elder' are possible designations.

The conferral of honorary citizenship or an honorary title has no closer legal significance; no special rights and obligations or even privileges are associated with it.

The awarding of honorary citizenship or an honorary title is decided exclusively by the municipal council with a simple majority.

The municipality can define further options for event-related honors in its bylaws and, for example, award specially made medals, pins, coat of arms plates or rings of honor. The statutes can also regulate the procedure for honoring (e.g. proposals for honorees must be submitted in writing to the municipal council / municipal assembly).

In addition, procedures for the awarding of state honors and decorations can be initiated by the municipality. These include, among others: Certificate of Honor of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, Rhineland-Palatinate Order of Merit, Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.