Parliament of the Czech Republic


The Parliament of the Czech Republic or just Parliament is the legislative body of the Czech Republic, seated in Malá Strana, Prague.
It consists of two chambers, both elected in direct elections:
Art. 15 of the Constitution stipulates its name as the "Parliament". The Parliament exercises competences usual in parliamentary systems: it holds and passes bills, has the right to modify the Constitution, ratifies international agreements; if necessary, it declares war, approves presence of foreign military forces in the Czech Republic or a dispatch of Czech military forces abroad.

History

The tradition of modern parliamentarianism in the Bohemian lands dates back to times of the Austrian Empire, where the Imperial Council was created in 1861.
After proclamation of Czechoslovakia in 1918 its National Assembly undertook legislative duties both of the Imperial Council and State Diets. In 1938–39 and between 1948–89 there existed a parliament within non-democratic regimes. As a consequence of federalization of Czechoslovakia, national councils of Czech and Slovak parts of the country were created.
The Chamber of Deputies keeps continuity with the Czech National Council, while the Senate was established in 1996.