Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia
Encyclopedia
The Federal Assembly was the name of Czechoslovakia
's federal parliament
from January 1, 1969 to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia
on December 31, 1992. It was Czechoslovakia's highest legislative institution.
Chapter 3 of the 1960 Constitution of Czechoslovakia
recognized it as "the supreme organ of state power and the sole statewide legislative body."
The Federal Assembly was divided into two equal chambers, the Chamber of the People (other translation House of the People
) and the Chamber of the Nations (other translation House of Nations). The Chamber of the People reflected a system of proportional representation: in 1986 it included 134 deputies from the Czech Socialist Republic
and 66 deputies from the Slovak Socialist Republic
. The Chamber of Nations had 150 members, 75 from each republic. Deputies were selected through popular elections and served five year terms of office; all 350 served concurrently.
After an election each chamber met to select its own Praesidium consisting of three to six members. Together, the chambers elected the forty-member Presidium of the Federal Assembly, which served as the legislative authority when the assembly was not in session. A joint session of the Federal Assembly selected its chairman and vice chairman. Alois Indra served as chairman from 1971 to 1989.
The Federal Assembly met in regular session at least twice a year, in the spring and fall. Legislation presented to the assembly at these sessions had to be approved by both chambers and in some cases required a majority vote by both the Czech and the Slovak deputies in the Chamber of the Nations.
Constitutionally, the Federal Assembly had exclusive jurisdiction in all matters of foreign policy, fundamental matters of domestic policy, the economic plan, and supervision of the executive branch of government. In practice, however, its function was largely confined to approving measures placed before it by the KSČ
. Laws in Czechoslovakia were decided at the highest level of the communist party and presented to the Federal Assembly for its unanimous approval.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
's federal parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
from January 1, 1969 to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia
Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
The dissolution of Czechoslovakia, which took effect on 1 January 1993, was an event that saw the self-determined separation of the federal state of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia, entities which had arisen in 1969 within the framework of Czechoslovak federalisation, became...
on December 31, 1992. It was Czechoslovakia's highest legislative institution.
Chapter 3 of the 1960 Constitution of Czechoslovakia
1960 Constitution of Czechoslovakia
The Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic , promulgated on 11 July 1960 as the constitutional law 100/1960 Sb., codified the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia...
recognized it as "the supreme organ of state power and the sole statewide legislative body."
The Federal Assembly was divided into two equal chambers, the Chamber of the People (other translation House of the People
House of the People
House of the People can refer to:* Palace of the Parliament * House of the People * The Maison du Peuple, a former building in Brussels, Belgium...
) and the Chamber of the Nations (other translation House of Nations). The Chamber of the People reflected a system of proportional representation: in 1986 it included 134 deputies from the Czech Socialist Republic
Czech Socialist Republic
From 1969 to 1990, the Czech Socialist Republic was the official name of that part of Czechoslovakia that is the Czech Republic today. The name was used from 1 January 1969 to March 1990....
and 66 deputies from the Slovak Socialist Republic
Slovak Socialist Republic
From 1969 to 1990, the Slovak Socialist Republic was the official name of that part of Czechoslovakia that is Slovakia today. The name was used from 1 January 1969 until March 1990....
. The Chamber of Nations had 150 members, 75 from each republic. Deputies were selected through popular elections and served five year terms of office; all 350 served concurrently.
After an election each chamber met to select its own Praesidium consisting of three to six members. Together, the chambers elected the forty-member Presidium of the Federal Assembly, which served as the legislative authority when the assembly was not in session. A joint session of the Federal Assembly selected its chairman and vice chairman. Alois Indra served as chairman from 1971 to 1989.
The Federal Assembly met in regular session at least twice a year, in the spring and fall. Legislation presented to the assembly at these sessions had to be approved by both chambers and in some cases required a majority vote by both the Czech and the Slovak deputies in the Chamber of the Nations.
Constitutionally, the Federal Assembly had exclusive jurisdiction in all matters of foreign policy, fundamental matters of domestic policy, the economic plan, and supervision of the executive branch of government. In practice, however, its function was largely confined to approving measures placed before it by the KSČ
KSC
KSC can mean:* Karlsruher SC, a German football team* Keene State College, a US college that is part of the University System of New Hampshire* Keepers of The Sacred Chao...
. Laws in Czechoslovakia were decided at the highest level of the communist party and presented to the Federal Assembly for its unanimous approval.
Presidents of the Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia
- Peter Colotka January 30, 1969 - April 28, 1969
- Alexander DubčekAlexander DubcekAlexander Dubček , also known as Dikita, was a Slovak politician and briefly leader of Czechoslovakia , famous for his attempt to reform the communist regime during the Prague Spring...
April 28, 1969 - October 15, 1969 - Dalibor Hanes October 15, 1969 - December 9, 1971
- Alois Indra December 9, 1971 - November 29, 1989
- Stanislav Kukrak December 12, 1989 - December 28, 1989
- Alexander DubčekAlexander DubcekAlexander Dubček , also known as Dikita, was a Slovak politician and briefly leader of Czechoslovakia , famous for his attempt to reform the communist regime during the Prague Spring...
December 28, 1989 - June 25, 1992 - Michal KováčMichal KovácMichal Kováč was a Slovak politician in the early 1990s and the first President of Slovakia after the creation of that state from 1993 to 1998....
June 25, 1992 - December 31, 1992
See also
- List of Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of Czechoslovakia
- List of Presidents of the Senate of Czechoslovakia
- List of Presidents of the National Assembly of Czechoslovakia
- List of Presidents of the Chamber of the Nations (Czechoslovakia)
- List of Presidents of the Chamber of the People (Czechoslovakia)