Parties with at least eight percent of the vote receive representation in the Landtag, which is directly elected every four years. The sovereign possesses the power to veto legislation and to dissolve the Landtag. The independent judiciary is headed by a Supreme Court and includes civil and criminal courts, as well as an administrative Court of Appeal and a state court to address questions of constitutionality. Due to the small size of the state, regional disparities are minimal, and modern social problems are few. The native population decides by local vote whether to grant citizenship to those who have five years' residence.
Residents receive radio and television broadcasts from neighboring countries.
Both major parties publish newspapers five times per week. Although Roman Catholicism is the state religion, other faiths practice freely. Roman Catholic or Protestant religious education is compulsory in all schools, but exemptions are routinely granted. Liechtensteiners enjoy freedom of association. The principality has one small trade union.