National Council (Slovakia)

National Council of the Slovak Republic Národná rada Slovenskej republiky
Type
Type	Unicameral
Leadership
Speaker	Peter Pellegrini, Smer Since 17 November 2014
Structure
Seats	150 Slovakia's Council
Political groups	Direction – Social Democracy (83)      Christian Democratic Movement (15)      Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (13)      Most–Híd (13) Non-committed (26)
Elections
Voting system	Open list proportional representation with a 5% election threshold
Last election	11 March 2012
Meeting place
File:NR SR.JPG
Parliament Building, Bratislava
Website
http://www.nrsr.sk/

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 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 Peter Pellegrini.

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

Slovak Parliament 2012–present

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

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 on 10 March 2012.

Latest election

  Summary of the 10 March 2012 Slovak National Council election results

Parties		Votes	%	Total seats
				Before	After	±
	Direction – Social Democracy	1,134,280	44.41	62	83	21
	Christian Democratic Movement	225,361	8.82	15	16	1
	Ordinary People and Independent Personalities	218,537	8.55	0	16	16
	Most–Híd	176,088	6.89	14	13	1
	Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party	155,744	6.09	28	11	17
	Freedom and Solidarity	150,266	5.88	22	11	11
	Slovak National Party	116,420	4.55	9	0	9
	Party of the Hungarian Coalition	109,483	4.28	0	0	0
	People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia	23,772	0.93	0	0	0
	Others	243,775	9.6	0	0	0
Total (turnout 59.11%)		2,553,726	100%	150	150	0
Source: Statistics Bureau of Slovakia

Members (1990–present)

• List of members of the parliament of Slovakia, 1990–1992
• List of members of the parliament of Slovakia, 1992–1994
• List of members of the parliament of Slovakia, 1994–1998
• List of members of the parliament of Slovakia, 1998–2002
• List of members of the parliament of Slovakia, 2002–2006
• List of members of the parliament of Slovakia, 2006–2010
• List of members of the parliament of Slovakia, 2010–2012
• List of members of the parliament of Slovakia, 2012–present

Buildings

File:National Council of the Slovak Republic main building + Bratislava Castle 01.jpg

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. The secondary parliament building, which was the main building until 1994, is situated next to the Trinitarian Church below the castle hill in Bratislava.

External links

• Official website (Slovak) (English)