1. General outline of statistics of proceedings 1.1. Petition-based statistics In 2014, the Chancellor of Justice received 1945 petitions. In comparison to 2013, the number of petitions has increased by 2.3%. 3000 2500 2000 2352 1966 1500 2043 2266 1858 2729 2430 2122 2040 1901 1945 1516 1543 1000 500 2566 1026 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Figure 1. Number of petitions 2000–2014 1.2. Statistics based on cases opened Statistics of the Office of the Chancellor of Justice are based on cases opened. A ‘case opened’ means taking procedural steps and drafting documents to resolve an issue falling within the jurisdiction of the Chancellor. Petitions that raise the same issue are joined and regarded as a single case. The Chancellor initiates proceedings based either on a petition or on his own initiative. In dealing with a case, the Chancellor decides whether to carry out substantive proceedings or reject a petition for proceedings. Substantive proceedings are divided as follows based on the Chancellor’s competencies:  review of the legality or constitutionality of legislation (i.e. constitutional review proceedings);  verification of the legality of activities of the Government, local authorities, other public-law legal persons or of a private person, body or institution performing a public function (i.e. ombudsman proceedings);  proceedings arising from the Chancellor of Justice Act and other Acts (i.e. special proceedings). The distribution of cases by substance only includes all the proceedings initiated during the reporting year. During the reporting year, the Chancellor opened 1465 cases, which is 6% less than in 2013. As at 19 January 2015, 1308 of the cases had been completed and 157 cases were still being investigated. In 452 cases substantive proceedings were conducted, and in 1013 cases no substantive proceedings were initiated for various reasons. 84 cases were opened on the Chancellor’s own initiative, and 61 inspection visits were conducted. 77