National Council (Slovakia)


The National Council of the Slovak Republic, 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.
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 in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, 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 amendments, and other legislation. It approves the state budget. It elects some officials specified by law, as well as justices of the Constitutional Court and the prosecutor general. Prior to their ratification, the parliament also 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 are present. To pass a decision, the approval of a simple majority of all MPs present is required. Almost all legal acts can be adopted by this relative majority. An absolute majority is required to pass a vote of no-confidence in the cabinet or its members, or to elect and recall the Council's speaker or the deputy speakers. A qualified majority of 3/5 of all deputies 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 Boris Kollár.

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.

[Slovak [parliamentary election, 1990|Slovak Parliament 1990–1992]]

Slovak Parliament 1992–1994">Slovak parliamentary election, 1992">Slovak Parliament 1992–1994

Slovak Parliament 1994–1998">Slovak parliamentary election, 1994">Slovak Parliament 1994–1998

Slovak Parliament 1998–2002">Slovak parliamentary election, 1998">Slovak Parliament 1998–2002

Slovak Parliament 2002–2006">Slovak parliamentary election, 2002">Slovak Parliament 2002–2006

Slovak Parliament 2006–2010">Slovak parliamentary election, 2006">Slovak Parliament 2006–2010

Slovak Parliament 2010–2012">Slovak parliamentary election, 2010">Slovak Parliament 2010–2012

Slovak Parliament 2012–2016">Slovak parliamentary election, 2012">Slovak Parliament 2012–2016

Slovak Parliament 2016–2020">Slovak parliamentary election, 2016">Slovak Parliament 2016–2020

Slovak Parliament 2020–">2020 Slovak parliamentary election">Slovak Parliament 2020–

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 2020.

Latest election

Members (1990–present)

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.