Electing, convening and doing parliamentary work.
The term begins when the Landtag first convenes and ends when its successor convenes. Election day and the beginning of the term are therefore not automatically the same date. The constitution also sets deadlines for the next election and the first sitting.
During its term, the Landtag passes state laws and the budget and scrutinises the state government. It also elects the Minister President and confirms the government. Forming the government is a function of the elected parliament.
The other three answers
The decisive rule is this state’s constitution.
3
Three years is shorter than the regular term under Article 83. A shorter actual term would be an exceptional case, not the basic rule requested.
4
Four years is not the regular term of the Rhineland-Palatinate Landtag. Do not transfer a familiar number from another electoral context to this question.
6
Six years is longer than the prescribed regular term. The correct number is five.
Five years is the rule, not a guarantee against an early election.
Article 84 allows the Landtag to dissolve itself by a majority of its members. The constitution provides for a prompt new election in that case. This does not change the catalogue answer about the regular duration.
A sitting day, a sitting week and a parliamentary term are different periods. A governing coalition also need not last for the entire parliamentary term.
Articles 83 and 84 · Constitution of Rhineland-Palatinate ↗Rhineland-Palatinate: Landtag → normally 5 years.
The number concerns parliament; the person heading the government can change.
Three words for this question
- die Wahlperiodeelectoral term
- The period between a parliament convening and its successor convening.
- der Zusammentrittfirst sitting / convening
- The beginning of the parliament’s collective work.
- die Auflösungdissolution
- An early ending followed by a new election.