National Assembly of Armenia

National Assembly of Armenia
Հայաստանի Ազգային ժողով
Hayastani Azgayin Zhoghov
Type
Type Unicameral
Leadership
Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, Republican
since 28 September 2008
Structure
Members 131
Political groups      Republican Party (64)
     Prosperous Armenia (18)
     Armenian Revolutionary Federation (16)
     Rule of Law (9)
     Heritage (7)
     Independent members (17)
Elections
Voting system 90 by Party list PR
41 by constituencies
Last election 12 May 2007
Meeting place
National Assembly Building
19 Baghramyan
Yerevan, 0095
Republic of Armenia
Website
National Assembly of Armenia
Armenia

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Armenia


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The Azgayin Zhoghov of Armenia (Armenian: Ազգային Ժողով; English: National Assembly) is the official name of the legislative branch of the government of Armenia.

Contents

History

Until the promulgation of the Hatt-i Sharif of 1839, the patriarch and his clients, within limits, possessed authority over Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire. The first step to Constitutional parliamentary activity still in the 19th century began with the Armenian National Constitution of 1860 in the Ottoman Empire. In line with this particular constitutional document Armenian National Assembly (Ottoman Empire) began to convene its sessions with 140 members. It dealt with the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire's domestic activity, as well as national, religious, educational, cultural and other issues.

In 1917 the February revolution caused great changes and sociopolitical shifts in the vast Russian Armenia. The first steps were undertaken towards democratization of the Democratic Republic of Armenia. National life awoke and national self-consciousness grew through Armenian National Councils which established the Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians. At the initiative of the Armenian political parties mainly Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Armenian national congress was summoned in later September and earlier October 1917. The congress, held in Tiflis brought together 203 and declared the first Armenian Republic.

Current

The National Assembly is a unicameral body. It comprises 131 members, elected for four-year terms: 56 members in single-seat constituencies and 75 by proportional representation. The proportional-representation seats in the National Assembly are assigned on a party-list basis amongst those parties that receive at least 5% of the total of the number of the votes. The current speaker of the National Assembly is Hovik Abrahamyan from 2008. Its predecessor was the Supreme Soviet.

Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet (1938-1990)

Chairmen of the Supreme Council

Speakers of the National Assembly

e • d Summary of the 12 May 2007 Armenian National Assembly election results
Parties Votes % Seats +/–
Republican Party of Armenia (Hayastani Hanrapetakan Kusaktsutyun, "Հայաստանի Հանրապետական կուսակցություն") 458,258 33.91 64 +33
Prosperous Armenia (Bargavadj Hayastan Kusaktsutyun, "Բարգավաճ Հայաստան կուսակցություն") 204,483 15.13 18 +18
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Hay Heghapokhakan Dashnaktsutiun, "Հայ Հեղափոխական Դաշնակցություն") 177,907 13.16 16 +5
Rule of Law (Orinants Erkir, "Օրինաց Երկիր") 95,324 7.05 9 –10
Heritage (Zharangutiun, "Ժառանգություն") 81,048 6.00 7 +7
United Labour Party (Miavorvats Ashkhatankayin Kusaksutyun, "Միավորված աշխատանքային կուսակցություն") 59,271 4.39 –6
National Unity (Azgayin Miabanutyun, "Ազգային Միաբանություն") 49,863 3.58 –9
New Times (Nor Zhamanakner, "Նոր Ժամանակներ") 47,060 3.48 ±0
People's Party (Zhoghovrdakan Kusaktsutyun, "Ժողովրդական կուսակցություն") 37,044 2.74
Union Party (Dashink Kusaktsutyun "Դաշինք" կուսակցություն) 32,943 2.44
People's Party of Armenia (Hayastani Zhoghovrdakan Kusaktsutyun, "Հայաստանի Ժողովրդական կուսակցություն") 22,762 1.68
Republic Party (Hanrapetutyun Kusaktsutyun, "Հանրապետություն" կուսակցություն) 22,288 1.65 ±0
Impeachment Union (Dashink Impeachment դաշինք "Իմպիչմենտ") 17,475 1.29
Others 17 –38
Total (turnout 59.35%) 1,375,733 100.0 131
Sources: Central Election Commission

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