Structural Components of a Democratic Society pa rt II (7) To ensure that the will of the people serves as the basis of the authority of government, the participating States will (…) (7.2) - permit all seats in at least one chamber of the national legislature to be freely contested in a popular vote; (…) (7.9) - ensure that candidates who obtain the necessary number of votes required by law are duly installed in office and are permitted to remain in office until their term expires or is otherwise brought to an end in a manner that is regulated by law in conformity with democratic parliamentary and constitutional procedures. (…) (26) The participating States recognize that vigorous democracy depends on the existence as an integral part of national life of democratic values and practices as well as an extensive range of democratic institutions. They will therefore encourage, facilitate and, where appropriate, support practical co-operative endeavours and the sharing of information, ideas and expertise among themselves and by direct contacts and co-operation between individuals, groups and organizations in areas including the following: • constitutional law, reform and development; • electoral legislation, administration and observation; • establishment and management of courts and legal systems; • the development of an impartial and effective public service where recruitment and advancement are based on a merit system; • law enforcement; • local government and decentralization; • access to information and protection of privacy; • developing political parties and their role in pluralistic societies; • free and independent trade unions; • co-operative movements; • developing other forms of free associations and public interest groups; • journalism, independent media, and intellectual and cultural life; 82 OSCE Human Dimension Commitments