National Council (Slovakia)

National Council of the Slovak Republic
Národná rada Slovenskej republiky
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Andrej Danko, SNS
Since 23 March 2016
Structure
Seats

150

Political groups

Government (79)

Opposition (71)

Elections
Open list proportional representation with a 5% election threshold Hagenbach-Bischoff system
Last election
 5 March 2016
Next election
 March 2020 or earlier
Meeting place
Parliament Building, Bratislava
Website
http://www.nrsr.sk/
Slovakia
This article is part of a series on the
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 members, who are elected by universal suffrage under proportional representation with seats distributed via Hagenbach-Bischoff quota 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.

Functions

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

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

For the speakers see: List of speakers of Slovak parliaments

The current speaker of the Slovak National Council is Andrej Danko.

Structure of former legislatures

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

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

Slovak Parliament 1992–1994

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

Slovak Parliament 1994–1998

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

Slovak Parliament 1998–2002

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

Slovak Parliament 2002–2006

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

Slovak Parliament 2006–2010

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

Slovak Parliament 2010–2012

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

Slovak Parliament 2012–2016

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

Slovak Parliament 2016-present

49 10 11 11 19 21 15 14
Smer-SD #Network Most–Híd We Are Family OĽaNO- NOVA SaS SNS ĽSNS

Elections

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 in 2016.

Latest election

Slovak parliamentary election, 2016

Members (1990–present)

Buildings

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

  1. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/08/world/europe/slovakia-is-key-to-survival-of-euro-currency-zone.html?_r=1&hp

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

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