National Council (Slovakia)

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National Council of the Slovak Republic
Národná rada Slovenskej republiky
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type Unicameral
Leadership
Speaker Pavol Paška, Smer
Since 4 April 2012
Structure
Seats 150
Slovakian National Council.svg
Political groups
  Most–Híd (13)
  SDKÚ–DS (11)
Elections
Voting system Open list proportional representation with a 5% election threshold
Last election 11 March 2012
Meeting place
NR SR.JPG
Parliament Building, Bratislava
Website
http://www.nrsr.sk/
Coat of Arms of Slovakia.svg
This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Slovakia

The National Council (Slovak: Národná rada), abbreviated to NR SR, is the national parliament of Slovakia. It is unicameral, and consists of 150 MPs, who are elected by universal suffrage under proportional representation every four years.

Slovakia's parliament has been called the 'National Council' since 1 October 1992. From 1969 to 1992, its predecessor, the parliament of the Slovak part of Czechoslovakia, was called the Slovak National Council (Slovenská národná rada).

The National Council approves domestic legislation, constitutional laws, and the annual budget. Its consent is required to ratify international treaties, and is responsible for approving military operations. It also elects individuals to some positions in the executive and judiciary as specified by law.

The parliament building is situated on the castle hill, next to Bratislava Castle in Alexander Dubček Square.

Contents

Functions [edit]

The 150-seat unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic is Slovakia's sole constitutional and legislative body. It considers and approves the Constitution, constitutional statutes and other legal acts. It also approves the state budget. It elects some officials specified by law as well as the candidates for the position of a Justice of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic and the Prosecutor General. Prior to their ratification, the parliament should approve all important international treaties. Moreover, it gives consent for dispatching of military forces outside of Slovakia's territory and for the presence of foreign military forces on the territory of the Slovak Republic.

Decision making [edit]

The parliament may vote only if a majority of all its members (76) are present. To pass a decision the approval of a simple majority of all MPs present is required (i.e. at least 39 votes). Almost all legal acts can be adopted by this relative majority. An absolute majority (76 votes) is required to pass a vote of no-confidence in the Cabinet or its members, or to elect and recall the Speaker or the Deputy Speakers. A qualified majority of 3/5 of all deputies (at least 90 votes) is required for the adoption of a constitution or a constitutional statute.

Speakers [edit]

For the speakers see: List of speakers of Slovak parliaments

Structure of former legislatures [edit]

The length of the bars underneath represents each party's electoral performance. The difference in the total width of the bars is due to the election threshold of 5%; this threshold prevents a varying number of small parties from entering the National Council (most notably, after the 1994 election).

Slovak Parliament 1990–1992 [edit]

22
7
48
6
31
14
22
KSČ
DS
VPN
SZ
KDH
ESWMK
SNS

Slovak Parliament 1992–1994 [edit]

29
18
74
14
15
SDĽ
KDH
HZDS
MKM-EGYU
SNS

Slovak Parliament 1994–1998 [edit]

18
13
15
17
61
17
9
SV
ZRS
KDH
HZDS-RSS
SMK-MKP
SNS

Slovak Parliament 1998–2002 [edit]

23
13
42
43
15
14
SDĽ
SOP
SDK
HZDS
SMK-MKP
SNS

Slovak Parliament 2002–2006 [edit]

11
25
15
28
15
36
20
KSS
Smer
ANO
SDKÚ-DS
KDH
ĽS-HZDS
SMK-MKP

Slovak Parliament 2006–2010 [edit]

50
31
14
15
20
20
Smer-SD
SDKÚ-DS
KDH
ĽS-HZDS
SMK-MKP
SNS

Slovak Parliament 2010–2012 [edit]

62
14
22
28
15
9
Smer-SD
Most-Híd
SaS
SDKÚ-DS
KDH
SNS

Slovak Parliament 2012–Present [edit]

83
13
11
11
16
16
Smer-SD
Most-Híd
SaS
SDKÚ-DS
KDH
OĽaNO

Еlections [edit]

Members of the parliament are elected directly for a 4-year term, under the proportional system. Although the suffrage is universal, only a citizen who has the right to vote, has attained 21 years of age and has permanent residency in the Slovak Republic is eligible to be elected. Similarly to the Netherlands and Israel, the whole country forms one multi-member constituency. The election threshold is 5%. Voters may indicate their preferences within the semi-open list. Parliamentary elections were last held on 10 March 2012.

Latest election [edit]

e • d Summary of the 10 March 2012 Slovak National Council election results
Parties Ideology Votes % Seats ±
Direction – Social Democracy Social democracy 1,134,280 44.41 83 +21
Christian Democratic Movement Christian democracy 225,361 8.82 16 +1
Ordinary People and Independent Personalities Conservatism 218,537 8.55 16 *
Most–Híd Hungarian minority interest 176,088 6.89 13 −1
Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party Liberal conservatism 155,744 6.09 11 −17
Freedom and Solidarity Classical liberalism 150,266 5.88 11 −11
Slovak National Party Nationalism 116,420 4.55 0 −9
Party of the Hungarian Coalition Hungarian minority interest 109,483 4.28 0 0
99 Percent – Civic Voice 40,488 1.58 0 *
People's Party – Our Slovakia Nationalism[citation needed] 40,460 1.58 0 0
Change from the Bottom, Democratic Union of Slovakia 33,155 1.29 0 *
Free Word Party of Nora Mojsejová 31,159 1.22 0 *
Others 122,285 4.77
Total (turnout 59.11%) 2,553,726 150
* Did not stand in previous election
Source: Statistics Bureau of Slovakia

Members (1990–present) [edit]

Buildings [edit]

Building of the National Council of the Slovak Republic next to Bratislava Castle.

The main parliament building is situated next to the Bratislava Castle on the castle hill. The building is insufficiently large to accommodate all officials and representatives. This is because it was built during the Czechoslovak period, when the legislature usually met in Prague.[1] The secondary parliament building, which was the main building until 1994, is situated next to the Trinitarian Church below the castle hill in Bratislava.

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Coordinates: 48°08′31″N 17°05′50″E / 48.14194°N 17.09722°E / 48.14194; 17.09722