| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Narodna rada Slovenskej republiky / National Council |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| NATURE |
| Nature of the mandate |
· Free representation (Art. 73 (2) of the Constitution of 03.09.1992)
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| Start of the mandate |
· When the MPs take the oath (S. 5 of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council). Procedure (Art. 75 (1) of the Constitution, S. 4 of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council).
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| Validation of mandates |
· Validation by the National Council (Art. 76 of the Constitution)
· Procedure (S. 8 and 57 (1) (a) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
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| End of the mandate |
· On the day when the legal term of the House ends - or on the day of early dissolution
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| Can MPs resign? |
Yes |
· Yes, of their own free will (Art. 81 (1) of the Constitution)
· Procedure (S. 10 (2) (c) and (3) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
· Authority competent to accept the resignation (S. 2 (3) (e) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council): the National Council
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| Can MPs lose their mandate ? |
Yes |
(a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter:
- Loss of mandate for refusal to take the oath (Art. 75 (2) of the Constitution, S. 10 (2) (a) and (3), and 57 (1) (b) and (f), 135 (c), 136 (1), (2) (c), and (3), 137, 138, and 139 (3) and (4) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council; see also Start of the mandate)
- Breach of the ban on voting for another Member (S. 39 (6), 135 (b), and 139 (2) to (4) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council; see Discipline - Procedure for offence or insult, breach of the ban on voting for another Member, major breach of the oath)
- Conviction for a serious malicious offence (Art. 81 (2) of the Constitution, S. 10 (2) (d) and (3) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
- Incompatibilities (Art. 77 (1) of the Constitution, S. 9, 10 (2) (f) and (3), and 58 (a) and (c) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council, Constitutional Act No. 119/1995 of the National Council)
- Loss of eligibility (Art. 74 (2) of the Constitution)
- General procedure (S. 2 (3) (e) and (f), S. 57 (1) (c) and (g) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
(b) Death (S. 10 (2) (e) and (3) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
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| STATUS OF MEMBERS |
| Rank in hierarchy |
· Within Parliament:
1. The President
2. The Vice-President
3. The Chairpersons of the committees
4. The Authentication Officers of the National Council
5. The Vice-chairperson of the committees
6. The Authentication Officers of the committees
7. The Chairpersons of the political groups
8. The Vice-Chairpersons of the political groups
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| Indemnities, facilities and services |
· Diplomatic passport
· Basic salary: in accordance with function
+ Across-the-board remuneration:
- 70 % of the basic salary when residence at the seat of the Council
- 80 % of the basic salary when residence outside of the Council's seat
+ Additional allowances
· Exemption from tax for the across-the-board remuneration. The basic salary and the additional allowances are not tax exempt.
· No special pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat for the President
(b) Official housing
(c) Official car for the President and the Vice-Presidents
(d) Security guards for the President
(e) Telephone services for the President and the Vice-Presidents free of charge
(f) Travel and transport
(g) Others
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| Obligation to declare personal assets |
Yes |
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| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability |
· The concept does exist (Art. 78 (1) of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament if related to the exercise of the mandate.
· Derogations: disciplinary measures (Art. 78 (1) of the Constitution, S. 2 (3) (f), 57 (1) (f), 135 (a), 136 (1), (2) (a), and (3), 137, 138, and 139 (1) and (4) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council; see also Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate (Art. 78 (1) of the Constitution).
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| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability |
· The concept does exist (Art. 78 (2) of the Constitution).
· It applies only to criminal and disciplinary proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them, and from their homes being searched.
· Derogations: in cases of flagrante delicto offences or crimes, MPs may be arrested. The President of the National Council has to be notified without delay. Unless the arrest is approved by the Mandate and Immunity Committee, the Member must be immediately released (Art. 78 (3) of the Constitution, S. 43 (2) (h), 57 (1) (e), and 140 of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council).
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal (see, however, Art. 79 of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 78 (2) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority (S. 2 (3) (f), and 57 (1) (d) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council): the National Council, on recommendation of the Mandate and Immunity Committee
- Procedure (S. 57 (1) (d) and (2), and 141 to 142 of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council). In this case, MPs can be heard. They do not have means of appeal.
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament. |
| EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE |
| Training |
· There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. It consists of a one-week seminar on parliamentary procedures and practices at the beginning of the mandate, and of visits of similar committees abroad during the exercise of the mandate.
· It is provided by the National Council.
· Handbook of parliamentary procedure:
- Handbook on the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, the Act on Rules of Procedure of the Slovak National Council, the Act on Members of Parliament and Other Acts
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| Participation in the work of the Parliament |
· It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, committee meetings, and other meetings (S. 63 (1) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council; for the Attendance Roster and excuse for absence, see S. 63 (2) to (10) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council).
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation (S. 63 (6) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council, S. 7 (1) and (2) of the Act No. 120/1993 of the National Council (Law on Pay and Allowances): reduction of salary
· Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the Chancellery
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| Discipline |
· The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Art. 75 (2) of the Constitution, S. 2 (3) (f), 32, 39 (6), 57 (1) (b) and (f), and 135 to 139 of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council.
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Warning for irrelevance (S. 32 (1) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
- Loss of the floor/order to cease speaking (S. 32 (1) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
- Call to order (S. 32 (2) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
- Order to leave the Chamber (S. 32 (2) and (4) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
· Specific cases:
- Prohibition to use firearms (S. 32 (3) and (4) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council): call to order
- Offence or insult (S. 135 (a) and 139 (1) and (4) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council): order to apologise, fine
- Breach of the ban on voting for another Member (S. 39 (6), 135 (b), and 139 (2) to (4) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council; see also Loss of mandate): reprimand, fine, loss of the mandate
- Major breach of the oath (Art. 75 (2) of the Constitution, S. 135 (c), and 139 (3) to (4) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council): loss of mandate (see also Loss of mandate)
· Competent body to judge such cases:
- Warning for irrelevance, loss of the floor, order to cease speaking, call to order, order to leave the Chamber, prohibition to use firearms: the President
- Breach of the ban on voting for another Member, major breach of the oath: the National Council
- Offence or insult: the Mandate and Immunity Committee, the National Council
Penalties are imposed by the Chancellery.
· Procedure:
- Warning for irrelevance, loss of the floor, order to cease speaking (S. 32 (1) and (5) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
- Call to order, order to leave the Chamber (S. 32 (2), (4) and (5) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
- Prohibition to use firearms (S. 32 (3) to (5) of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
- Offence or insult, breach of the ban on voting for another Member, major breach of the oath (S. 2 (3) (f), 57 (1) (b) and (f), 135 to 139 of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council)
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| Code (rules) of conduct |
· This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system but there are some relevant provisions (Art. 77 (1) of the Constitution, S. 9, 10 (2) (f) and (3), and 58 of the Act on Rules of Procedure of the National Council, Constitutional Act No. 119/1995 of the National Council).
· Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct: loss of mandate (incompatibilities)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the National Council
· Procedure (S. 2 (3) (f), S. 57 (1) (g), and 58 (a) and (c) of the Act on Rules of Procedure). In this case, MPs have means of recourse.
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| Relations between MPs and pressure group |
· There are no legal provisions in this field.
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