Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic

CSSD 45
ODS 15
KDU- CSL & Indep. 9
STAN 5
SPOZ KSČM 5
Non-attached 2

The Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic ( České Republiky Senát Parlamentu ) was created with the Constitution of 1992 as the upper chamber of the Czech Parliament. The first Senate elections were held in 1996. The Senate is in the tradition of the Senate of Czechoslovakia in 1920 until 1938.

History

Already in the first Czechoslovak Republic, there were, according to the Constitution, adopted on January 29, 1920 a Senate - certainly in terms of the Austro-Hungarian tradition and by the examples of France and the USA. This Senate had 150 members, elected for a period of eight years. The minimum age for candidacy for the Senate was 45 years. The first Senate elections were held in May 1920, shortly after the first parliamentary elections held.

Composition

Currently, the following groups and parties are represented in the Senate:

Select * of which a seat in a by-election in 2011 selected ** for CSSD

The Senate can not be dissolved. The senators are elected from constituency-based candidates through a personal election by majority vote. According to the number of constituencies, the Senate of 81 persons of which must be at least 40 years old there. The candidates may be proposed by political parties ( and supported) or independent candidate. Independent candidates must submit a list of at least 1,000 signatures of people who support her candidacy. Also, ask for a deposit of 20 000 Czech crowns.

The senators are elected for 6 years. If none of the candidates in a constituency, an absolute majority of votes, so there will be a runoff between the top two candidates. Elections are held every two years, with each elected in a third of constituencies. Occur often known or distinguished individuals in public life as an election candidate.

In the first election one third of the senators were elected for two years, another third for four years and the rest for six years.

At the regular election is common in the constituencies 1, 4, 7, ... 79, two years later in the constituencies 2, 5, 8, ... 80, and again two years later, finally in the constituencies 3, 6, 9, ... 81 selected. If a Senator or a Senator prematurely leave office, the successor is specified in the relevant constituency by -election.

Powers of the Senate

The Senate does not consent to a law, it must be approved by the Chamber of Deputies, by a majority of all deputies again. The consent of the Senate is required only when amendments to the Constitutional Law and the election laws. In the sole responsibility of the Senate appointed by the President confirmed the constitutional judges. Together with the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate chose to come into force a constitutional amendment in 2013 for five-year terms of office the President of the Czech Republic. Since then, the president of the Czech Republic shall continue for five -year terms, however, directly elected by the people.

Seat of the Senate

Seat of the Senate is the Wallenstein Palace in Prague, extensions are the Kolovrat Palace and the Small Fürstenberg Palace. The meeting room of the Senate is located in the former stables of the Wallenstein Palace.

722556