ACFC/31DOC(2008)001 to freedom of association. Any limitation should be in line with the principles embedded in the norms of international law. Parties representing, or promoting the interests of persons belonging to national minorities should have adequate opportunities to campaign during elections. Following due consultation, constitutional guarantees should be coupled with effective implementation of legislation to ensure the effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities. Whatever the arrangements chosen, it is advisable to carry out a periodical review in order to ensure that they adequately reflect developments in society. As a rule, measures facilitating the representation of persons belonging to national minorities in elected bodies should be supported. Exemptions from threshold requirements, reserved seats or veto rights have often proved useful to enhance their participation in elected bodies. However, the mere introduction of such arrangements does not automatically provide persons belonging to national minorities with a genuine and substantial influence on decision-making. In certain specific circumstances, a system of ‘veto’ or ‘quasi veto’ rights can even lead to a paralysis of State institutions. In such cases, alternative ways of enabling persons belonging to national minorities to take part in the decision-making should be identified. The introduction of parliamentary committees overseeing minority issues can contribute to keeping the concerns of persons belonging to national minorities high on the parliamentary agenda. These concerns should also, however, be highlighted in other parliamentary committees. The way in which constituency or administrative boundaries are drawn may have an impact on minority participation. States should ensure that constituency changes do not reduce the opportunities for election of persons belonging to national minorities. Citizenship is an important element which can influence minority participation in public affairs. While it is legitimate to impose certain restrictions on non-citizens concerning their right to vote and to be elected, they should not be applied more widely than is necessary. States are encouraged to provide non-citizens with an opportunity to vote and to stand as candidates in local elections. Language proficiency requirements imposed on candidates for parliamentary and local elections are not compatible with Article 15 of the Framework Convention, in so far as they have a negative impact on the effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities in public affairs. Consultation mechanisms are an additional way to enable persons belonging to national minorities to take part in decision-making processes. However, just as representation in elected bodies alone may be insufficient to ensure substantial influence on the decisionmaking, mere consultation does not constitute a sufficient mechanism for ensuring effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities. Bearing in mind the need to take into account national circumstances, States should be encouraged to design a system that provides for both representation of and consultation with national minorities. 7