Supreme People's Assembly

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Supreme People's Assembly
Chosŏn'gŭl:	최고인민회의
Hanja:	最高人民會議
McCune-Reischauer:	Ch'oego Inmin Hoeŭi
Revised Romanization:	Choego Inmin Hoe-ui

The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) is the parliament of North Korea (DPRK). It consists of one deputy from each of 687 constituencies, elected to five-year terms. Although the SPA is North Korea's primary legislative body, it ordinarily delegates authority to the smaller Presidium chosen from among its members. The Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly is the most powerful body in the SPA. Kim Yong Nam is the current President of the Presidium.

The 687 SPA deputies are elected by secret ballot of citizens 17 years of age and older to serve five year terms. All citizens 17 and older, regardless of party affiliation, political views or religion, are constitutionally eligible to be elected to the SPA and vote in elections [1]. These elections are not democratic by international standards, as voters are presented with only a single candidate for each office. All candidates are selected by the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, an unelected party organization under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea. Elections were last held in August 3, 2003, and will be held again in 2008.

Kim Yong Nam currently serves as President of the Assembly. According to the Constitution of North Korea, it is the highest organ of state power. The Assembly is convened once or twice a year in regular sessions of several days each. At other times, the Presidium, elected by the members of the assembly, serves as the country's legislature. Extraordinary sessions of the Assembly can also meet when called by the Presidium or by one third of the Assembly deputies.

As of 1990, the composition of the SPA was 601 seats held by the Workers' Party of Korea, 51 seats held by the Korean Social Democratic Party, 22 seats held by the Chondoist Chongu Party and 13 seats held by independents [2].

[edit] Composition

[discuss] – [edit]
**Summary of the 3 August 2003 North Korea **Supreme People's Assembly** election results**
List	Seats
Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland Workers Party of Korea (Chŏson Rodong-dang) Korean Social Democratic Party (Chŏson Sahoeminju-dang) Chondoist Chongu Party (Ch'ŏndogyo Ch'ŏng'u-dang)	687
Total	687
Source:

North Korea
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of North Korea

President: Kim Il-sung, deceased Chairman: Kim Jong-il Premier: Pak Pong-ju Supreme People's Assembly President: Kim Yong-nam Political parties Workers' Party of Korea Elections Korean reunification Sub-divisions Human rights Foreign relations Juche Songun
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