Type Unicameral Last election 5 March 2016 | Seats 150 | |
 | ||
Speaker Andrej Danko, SNS
Since 23 March 2016 Political groups Government (79)
Direction – Social Democracy (49)
Slovak National Party (15)
Most–Híd (15)
Opposition (71)
Freedom and Solidarity (20)
OĽaNO - New Majority (17)
People's Party – Our Slovakia (14)
We Are Family (8)
Independents (12) Voting system Open list proportional representation with a 5% election threshold Hagenbach-Bischoff system | ||
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.
Contents
- Functions
- Decision making
- Speakers
- Structure of former legislatures
- lections
- Latest election
- Members 1990present
- Buildings
- References
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).
Еlections
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
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. The secondary parliament building, which was the main building until 1994, is situated next to the Trinitarian Church below the castle hill in Bratislava.