The Leguslative and Executive Branches

Parliament

Parliament, the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus is the representative and legislative body of the Republic of Belarus.

Parliament consists of two Chambers, the Chamber of Representatives and the Council of the Republic. The Constitution defines the quantitative composition and the procedure of forming the Chambers. The Chamber of Representatives consists of 110 deputies elected on the basis of universal, free, equal and direct suffrage, by secret ballot. A deputy of the Chamber of Representatives must be a citizen of the Republic of Belarus reaching the age of 21. The Council of the Republic is the Chamber of territorial representation. In each region and in the city of Minsk, 8 members of the Council of the Republic are elected at sittings of deputies by secret ballot. Eight members of the Council of the Republic are appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus. A deputy of the Council of the Republic must be a citizen of the Republic of Belarus reaching the age of 30 and residing on the territory of the respective oblast or the city of Minsk for at least 5 years.

Sittings of the Chambers are held separately. Each Chamber elects its own Chairman and his Vice-Chairmen who run the sittings and manage the internal regulations in conformance with the Constitution. The Chamber of Representatives is entitled to hear the reports of the Prime Minister on the Government's programme of activity, to give a vote of no confidence to the Government, and to consider the issue of confidence to the Government upon the request of the Prime Minister.

The Chamber of Representatives appoints elections of the President and accepts the dismissal of the President.

The Council of the Republic may cancel the decisions of local Councils of Deputies, which run contrary to the legislation.

Any draft law, unless otherwise provided by the Constitution, is first considered by the Chamber of Representatives and then by the Council of the Republic.

A draft law, with the exception of cases provided by the Constitution, becomes a law upon adoption by the Chamber of Representatives and approval by the Council of the Republic, with a majority of votes of the full list of members in each Chamber.

The Constitution establishes the right of the Council of the Republic to consider the Decrees of the President on introducing the state of emergency, the martial law, total or partial mobilisation, and to take an appropriate decision within three days after their submission.

Parliament takes a decision on the President's dismissal.

The term of office of Parliament is 4 years. The Parliament's term of office may only be extended in case of war.

The Government

The Government, i.e. the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, is the central body of state management, the executive power in the Republic of Belarus.

In its activity, the Government is subordinated to the President and reports to Parliament.

The Government of the Republic of Belarus manages the system of state management bodies and other bodies of executive power subordinated to it.

The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus is a collective body. It includes the Prime Minister, his deputies and the ministers. The Government may also include heads of other national state management bodies.

The Constitution establishes the right of the Government to issue resolutions which are binding on the entire territory of the Republic of Belarus, and to cancel the decisions of ministries and other bodies of state management

The Council of Ministers is one of the bodies which possesses the right of law-making initiative.

The Government terminates its powers before the newly elected President of the Republic of Belarus.

The President on the basis of and in agreement with the Constitution issues Decrees and Directions binding on the whole territory of the Republic of Belarus. In cases stipulated by the Constitution the President issues Decrees having the power of law. The President directly or through the bodies created by him provides execution of Decrees, Edicts and Directions.

Local Government and Self-government

The local government and self-government is exercised through local Councils of Deputies, executive and management bodies, bodies of territorial public self-management, local referenda and meetings.

The local Councils of Deputies are representative bodies of state power on the territory of the respective territorial administrative units and the main bodies of self-management.

The Constitution establishes the exclusive competence of local Councils of Deputies on the following issues: approval of programmes of economic and social development, local budgets and report on their execution.

The local Councils of Deputies are elected by citizens of the respective territorial administrative units for the term of 4 years.

In conformance with the Fundamental Law, heads of the local executive and management bodies are appointed and dismissed by the President or in the order established by him, and approved by the respective local Councils of Deputies.

Text D. Ask questions on the text and discuss the contents in pairs.