National Assembly of Volyna: Difference between revisions
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==Relations with the executive== | ==Relations with the executive== | ||
The Constitution of the Volynian Third Republic greatly increased the power of the executive at the expense of Parliament, compared to the previous constitution (Second Republic), following the May 1960 crisis. | |||
The President of the Republic can decide to dissolve the National Assembly and call for new legislative elections. This is meant as a way to resolve stalemates where the Assembly cannot decide on a clear political direction. This possibility is seldom exercised. | |||
The National Assembly can overthrow the executive government (that is, the Prime Minister and other ministers) by a motion of no confidence (motion de censure). For this reason, the Prime Minister and his government are necessarily from the dominant party or coalition in the assembly. In the case of a President of the Republic and National Assembly from opposing parties, this leads to the situation known as cohabitation; this situation, which has occurred three times, is likely to be rarer now that terms of the President and Assembly are the same length (5 years since the 2000 referendum). | |||
While motions de censure are periodically proposed by the opposition following government actions that it deems highly inappropriate, they are purely rhetorical; party discipline ensures that, throughout a parliamentary term, the Government is never overthrown by the Assembly. Since the beginning of the Fifth Republic, there has only been one single successful motion de censure, in 1964 in hostility to the referendum on the method of election of the President of the Republic; President Volodymyr Horbenko dissolved the Assembly within a few days. | |||
The Government (the Prime Minister and the Minister in charge of Relations with Parliament) used to set the priorities of the agenda for the Assembly's sessions, except for a single day each month. In practice, given the number of priority items, it meant that the schedule of the Assembly was almost entirely set by the executive; bills generally only have a chance to be examined if proposed or supported by the executive. This, however, was amended on 23 July 2008. Under the amended Constitution, the Government sets the priorities for two weeks in a month. Another week is designated for the Assembly's "control" prerogatives (consisting mainly of verbal questions addressed to the Government). The fourth one is also set by the Assembly. Furthermore, one day per month is set by a "minority" (group supporting the Government but which is not the largest group) or "opposition" group (having officially declared it did not support the Government). | |||
Legislators of the Assembly can ask written or oral questions to ministers. The Wednesday afternoon 3 p.m. session of "questions to the government" is broadcast live on television. It is largely a show for the viewers, with members of the majority asking flattering questions, while the opposition tries to embarrass the government. | |||
==Elections== | ==Elections== | ||
==Procedure== | ==Procedure== | ||
==Conditions and benefits of deputies== | ==Conditions and benefits of deputies== | ||
Revision as of 18:01, 18 March 2022
National Assembly Національна Асамблея | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 4 October 1960 |
| Preceded by | National Assembly (Volyian Third Republic) |
| Leadership | |
President | Tonya Blazhenova since 12 September 2018 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 800 |
Political groups | Government Vacant |
| Elections | |
| Mixed-member proportional representation | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Federal Assembly Hall, Lutsk | |
| Website | |
| www.natsionalna-asambleya.vo | |
The National Assembly is the Volynian federal parliament. The National Assembly was established by the Constitution of the Second Republic in 1947.
The members of the National Assembly are representatives of the Volynian people as a whole, are not bound by any orders or instructions and are only accountable to their electorate. The minimum legal number of members of the National Assembly (Volynian: Mitglieder des National Assemblyes) is 600; however, due to the system of overhang and leveling seats the current National Assembly has a total of 800 members, making it the largest National Assembly to date.
The National Assembly is elected every five years by Volynian citizens aged 18 or over. Elections use a mixed-member proportional representation system which combines first-past-the-post elected seats with a proportional party list to ensure its composition mirrors the national popular vote.
The National Assembly has several functions. It is the chief legislative body on the federal level. The individual states (Voivodeships) of Volynia participate in legislative process through the Senate, a separate assembly. The National Assembly the government budget.
The National Assembly meets in Federal Assembly Hall building in Lutsk. The National Assembly also operates in multiple new government buildings in Lustsk and has its own police force (the National Assembly Police).
Relations with the executive
The Constitution of the Volynian Third Republic greatly increased the power of the executive at the expense of Parliament, compared to the previous constitution (Second Republic), following the May 1960 crisis.
The President of the Republic can decide to dissolve the National Assembly and call for new legislative elections. This is meant as a way to resolve stalemates where the Assembly cannot decide on a clear political direction. This possibility is seldom exercised. The National Assembly can overthrow the executive government (that is, the Prime Minister and other ministers) by a motion of no confidence (motion de censure). For this reason, the Prime Minister and his government are necessarily from the dominant party or coalition in the assembly. In the case of a President of the Republic and National Assembly from opposing parties, this leads to the situation known as cohabitation; this situation, which has occurred three times, is likely to be rarer now that terms of the President and Assembly are the same length (5 years since the 2000 referendum).
While motions de censure are periodically proposed by the opposition following government actions that it deems highly inappropriate, they are purely rhetorical; party discipline ensures that, throughout a parliamentary term, the Government is never overthrown by the Assembly. Since the beginning of the Fifth Republic, there has only been one single successful motion de censure, in 1964 in hostility to the referendum on the method of election of the President of the Republic; President Volodymyr Horbenko dissolved the Assembly within a few days.
The Government (the Prime Minister and the Minister in charge of Relations with Parliament) used to set the priorities of the agenda for the Assembly's sessions, except for a single day each month. In practice, given the number of priority items, it meant that the schedule of the Assembly was almost entirely set by the executive; bills generally only have a chance to be examined if proposed or supported by the executive. This, however, was amended on 23 July 2008. Under the amended Constitution, the Government sets the priorities for two weeks in a month. Another week is designated for the Assembly's "control" prerogatives (consisting mainly of verbal questions addressed to the Government). The fourth one is also set by the Assembly. Furthermore, one day per month is set by a "minority" (group supporting the Government but which is not the largest group) or "opposition" group (having officially declared it did not support the Government).
Legislators of the Assembly can ask written or oral questions to ministers. The Wednesday afternoon 3 p.m. session of "questions to the government" is broadcast live on television. It is largely a show for the viewers, with members of the majority asking flattering questions, while the opposition tries to embarrass the government.