National Council of the Slovak Republic

- Constitution of Slovakia

Part One - The National Council of the Slovak Republic

Article 72

The National Council of the Slovak Republic is the sole constituent and legislative body of the Slovak Republic.

Article 73

(1) The National Council of the Slovak Republic has 150 deputies who are elected for a four-year period.

(2) Deputies are representatives of citizens. They execute their mandate personally according to their conscience and conviction and are not bound by orders.

Article 74

(1) Deputies are elected by secret ballot in general, equal, and direct elections.

(2) A citizen who has the right to vote, has reached the age of 21, and is permanently resident on the territory of the Slovak Republic can be elected deputy.

(3) Details concerning the election of deputies will be set out in a law.

Article 75

(1) The deputy is sworn in at the first meeting of the National Council of the Slovak Republic in which he participates, by taking the following oath:

"I promise by my honor and conscience to be faithful to the Slovak Republic. I will fulfill my duties in the interest of its citizens. I will observe the Constitution and other laws and work toward their translation into life."

(2) Refusing to take this oath, or taking it with reservations, results in the loss of mandate.

Article 76

The validity of the election of deputies is verified by the National Council of the Slovak Republic.

Article 77

(1) The post of deputy is incompatible with the post of president, judge, prosecutor, member of the Police Corps, member of the Prison Guard Corps, and professional soldier.

(2) If a deputy is appointed member of the Government of the Slovak Republic, his mandate as a deputy does not cease while he executes the government post, but is just not being exercised.

Article 78

(1) A deputy cannot be made criminally liable because of his voting in the National Council of the Slovak Republic or its bodies, which applies also to the period after the expiry of his mandate. For statements made in the National Council of the Slovak Republic or its bodies while discharging the functions of a deputy, a deputy is answerable to the disciplinary powers of the National Council of the Slovak Republic.

(2) No criminal or disciplinary proceedings can be initiated against a deputy, and he cannot be taken into custody, without the consent of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. If the National Council of the Slovak Republic denies its consent, prosecution is ruled out forever.

(3) If a deputy has been caught and detained while committing a criminal offense, the relevant authority is obliged to report this immediately to the chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. Unless the Mandate and Immunity Committee of the National Council of the Slovak Republic gives its consent to the detainment, the deputy must be released immediately.

Article 79

A deputy may refuse to testify in matters about which he learned while discharging his office, even after he ceases to be a deputy.

Article 80

(1) A deputy may address an interpellation to the Government of the Slovak Republic, a member of the Government of the Slovak Republic, or the head of another central body of state administration concerning matters within their jurisdiction. The deputy must receive a reply within 30 days.

(2) The reply to an interpellation shall become the subject of a debate in the National Council of the Slovak Republic that may be linked with a vote of confidence.

Article 81

(1) A deputy may surrender the post of deputy.

(2) The mandate of a deputy shall expire if the deputy is sentenced in a legally valid way for a particularly grave deliberate criminal act.

Article 82

(1) The National Council of the Slovak Republic holds permanent sessions.

(2) The constituent meeting of the National Council of the Slovak Republic is called by the president of the Slovak Republic within 30 days after the announcement of election results. If he fails to do so, the National Council of the Slovak Republic convenes on the 30th day after the announcement of the election results.

(3) The National Council of the Slovak Republic may interrupt its session by means of a resolution. The length of interruption must not exceed four months in a year. The chairman, deputy chairmen, and bodies of the National Council of the Slovak Republic perform their duties while the National Council of the Slovak Republic is in recess.

(4) While the session is interrupted, the chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic may call a meeting of the National Council of the Slovak Republic even prior to the set date. He will call a meeting whenever requested to do so by the Government of the Slovak Republic or at least one-fifth of the deputies.

(5) The session of the National Council of the Slovak Republic ends with the expiration of the electoral term or with its dissolution.

Article 83

(1) Meetings of the National Council of the Slovak Republic are called by its chairman.

(2) The chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic shall call a meeting of the National Council of the Slovak Republic also when requested to do so by at least one-fifth of its deputies. In that case he will call a meeting within seven days.

(3) Meetings of the National Council of the Slovak Republic are public.

(4) Non-public meetings can be held only in cases specified by law or on the basis of a decision by three-fifths of all deputies of the National Council of the Slovak Republic.

Article 84

(1) The National Council of the Slovak Republic has a quorum if more than one-half of all its deputies are present.

(2) For a resolution of the National Council of the Slovak Republic to be valid, it must be passed by more than one-half of the deputies present, unless specified otherwise by this Constitution.

(3) The agreement of at least a three-fifths majority of all deputies is required to pass and amend the Constitution and constitutional laws, to elect and recall the president, and to declare war on another state.

Article 85

At the request of the National Council of the Slovak Republic or its body, a member of the Government of the Slovak Republic or head of another body of state administration must participate in its meeting or in the meeting of its body.

Article 86

The jurisdiction of the National Council of the Slovak Republic comprises, above all:

a) deciding upon the Constitution and constitutional and other laws and controlling compliance with them,

b) electing and recalling the president of the Slovak Republic by secret ballot,

c) approving by means of a constitutional law a treaty on the Slovak Republic's entering into an alliance with other states and on its abrogation of such a treaty,

d) deciding on proposals to call a referendum,

e) voicing consent, prior to ratification, with the conclusion of international political treaties, international economic treaties of a general nature, as well as with international treaties whose execution requires the passing of a law,

f) establishing ministries and other state administration bodies by means of law,

g) discussing the policy statement of the Government of the Slovak Republic, controlling the Government's activity, and passing a vote of confidence in the Government or its members,

h) approving the state budget, checking on its fulfillment, and approving the state closing account,

i) discussing basic domestic, international, economic, social, and other political issues,

j) electing judges, the chairman and deputy chairman of the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic, the chairman and deputy chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic, and the chairman and deputy chairman of the Supreme Control Office of the Slovak Republic.

k) deciding on the declaration of war if the Slovak Republic is attacked or as a result of commitments arising from international treaties on common defense against aggression,

l) expressing consent to sending armed forces outside the territory of the Slovak Republic.

Article 87

(1) Bills can be tabled by committees of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, deputies, and the Government of the Slovak Republic.

(2) Laws of the National Council of the Slovak Republic are signed by the chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, the president of the Slovak Republic, and the prime minister of the Slovak Republic.

(3) If the president of the Slovak Republic returns a constitutional or other law with comments, the National Council of the Slovak Republic will discuss the constitutional or other law again and, in the event of its approval, such a law must be promulgated.

(4) The president of the Slovak Republic will return a law with comments, in line with section 3, whenever requested to do so by the Government of the Slovak Republic.

(5) A law becomes valid with its promulgation. Details will be set out in a law.

Article 88

(1) The motion to pass a vote of no-confidence in the Government of the Slovak Republic or a member of it will be discussed by the National Council of the Slovak Republic if requested by at least one-fifth of its deputies.

(2) The consent of more than 50 percent of all deputies is required to pass a vote of no-confidence in the Government of the Slovak Republic or a member of it.

Article 89

(1) The chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic is elected and recalled by the National Council of the Slovak Republic by secret ballot, by more than 50 percent of the votes of all deputies. The chairman is accountable only to the National Council of the Slovak Republic.

(2) The chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic

a) calls and chairs meetings of the National Council of the Slovak Republic,

b) signs the Constitution, constitutional laws, and other laws,

c) takes the oath from deputies of the National Council of the Slovak Republic,

d) takes the oath from the president of the Slovak Republic,

e) takes the oath from judges, the chairman of the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic, and the chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic,

f) calls elections to the National Council of the Slovak Republic.

(3) The chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic remains in office after the electoral period expires, until the National Council of the Slovak Republic elects a new chairman.

Article 90

(1) The deputy chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic act as substitutes for the chairman. They are elected and recalled by secret ballot by the National Council of the Slovak Republic, by the votes of more than 50 percent of all deputies. The deputy chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic is accountable to the National Council of the Slovak Republic.

(2) The provision of

Article 89 section 3 applies also to the deputy chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic.

Article 91

The activity of the National Council of the Slovak Republic is steered and organized by the chairman and deputy chairmen.

Article 92

(1) The National Council of the Slovak Republic establishes from the ranks of deputies committees as its bodies having an initiating and control role and it elects their chairmen by secret ballot.

(2) The deliberations of the National Council of the Slovak Republic and its committees are regulated by law.