Parliament of Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Parliament of Georgia საქართველოს პარლამენტი sakartvelos p'arlament'i
11th Parliament
Type
Type	Unicameral (see more)
History
Preceded by	State Council (1992)
Leadership
Chairperson	Shalva Papuashvili (GD) Since 29 December 2021
Deputy Speakers	List Giorgi Volski, GD since 25 November 2019 Thea Tsulukiani, GD since 25 November 2024 Nino Tsilosani, GD since 25 November 2024 Giorgi Kakhiani, GD since 25 November 2024 Sozar Subari, PP since 13 December 2024
Structure
Seats	150
Political groups	Government (79)      Georgian Dream (79) Other parties (10)      People's Power (7)      European Socialists (3) Vacant (61)      Vacant (61)
Committees	16 Agrarian Issues Budget and Finance European Integration Culture Defence and Security Diaspora and Caucasus Issues Education and Science Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Foreign Relations Healthcare and Social Issues Human Rights and Civil Integration Legal Issues Procedural Issues and Rules Regional Policy and Self-Government Sector Economy and Economic Policy Sports and Youth Issues
Length of term	Four years
Elections
Voting system	Party-list proportional representation
Last election	26 October 2024
Next election	TBD
Meeting place
Georgian Parliament Building Shota Rustaveli Avenue 8 Tbilisi, 0118 Georgia
Website
www.parliament.ge
Constitution
Constitution of Georgia

The Parliament of Georgia (Georgian: საქართველოს პარლამენტი) is the main group of people who make laws for the country of Georgia. Think of it like a big team that decides the rules for everyone. It's a unicameral parliament, which means it has one main group of members.

Currently, there are 150 members in the Parliament. These members are chosen by the people of Georgia through elections. They serve for four years. The laws they make help guide how Georgia is run.

A Look Back: The Parliament's Story

The idea of people having a say in how the country is governed started a long time ago in Georgia. In the 12th century, during the time of Queen Tamar, some important people wanted to create a group that could help make decisions.

This group would have been like an early parliament. They wanted to discuss important matters and help the Queen rule. However, the Queen's supporters won, and the idea of a formal parliament didn't fully happen then. Queen Tamar did have advisors who helped her, though.

Much later, in 1906, Georgians finally got a chance to send their representatives to a larger parliament. This was the State Duma of the Russian Empire, as Georgia was part of the Russian Empire at that time. Famous Georgian leaders like Noe Zhordania and Ilia Chavchavadze were among these representatives.

Members of the National Council of Georgia, after declaring independence, Tbilisi 26 May 1918

In 1918, Georgia became an independent country. It then created its very first national Parliament. In 1921, this Parliament wrote Georgia's first Constitution.

However, Georgia soon became part of the Soviet Union. For about 69 years, Georgia did not have its own independent parliament. The building where the Parliament meets today in Tbilisi was built during this time, between 1938 and 1953.

In 1990, Georgia held its first elections where many different political parties could take part. The people elected in these elections later declared Georgia's independence.

After some changes in leadership, a new Parliament was elected. In 1995, this new Parliament adopted a new Constitution for Georgia. This Constitution set up Georgia's current system of government, with a single-chamber parliament.

A session hall of the Parliament of Georgia in Kutaisi

For a few years, from 2012 to 2018, the Parliament met in a new building in the city of Kutaisi. This was done to spread political power to different parts of the country. However, since January 2019, the Parliament has returned to its original home in Tbilisi.

How the Parliament Works: Structure and Role

Main facade of the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi

The Parliament of Georgia is the highest group of representatives in the country. Its main job is to make laws. It also helps decide Georgia's plans for both inside the country and with other countries. The Parliament also checks on the work of the Government.

Georgia's Parliament is unicameral, meaning it has one main chamber or group of members. There are 150 members in total. They are elected for a term of four years. Since the 2024 elections, all members are chosen through a system called proportional representation. This means that parties get seats in Parliament based on the percentage of votes they receive.

Choosing Members: How Elections Work

Members of the Parliament are chosen through elections that are fair and open to everyone. All citizens of Georgia who are old enough can vote in these elections. Elections are usually held on the last Saturday of October every four years.

To become a member of Parliament, a person must be a citizen of Georgia and at least 25 years old. They also need to have lived in Georgia for at least 10 years. People who have been sentenced to prison cannot become members of Parliament.

For a political party to take part in an election, it needs to have a member who is already in Parliament or gather signatures from at least 25,000 voters. Since 2024, a party needs to get at least 5% of the votes to have members in Parliament. Also, political parties cannot form large groups called "electoral blocs" anymore.

When Parliament Meets: Sessions and Meetings

The first meeting of a newly elected Parliament happens within 10 days after the election results are announced. The President of Georgia calls this first meeting.

The Parliament has two regular sessions each year. One session runs from September to December, and the other from February to June. Sometimes, if there's an urgent issue, the President can call an extra meeting. This can happen if the Chairperson of Parliament, a quarter of the members, or the Government asks for it.

Making Laws: How New Rules Are Created

Many different groups can suggest a new law. These include the Government, individual members of Parliament, parliamentary groups, or even at least 25,000 voters. The supreme representative bodies of the Autonomous Republics of Adjara and Abkhazia can also propose laws.

For a law to be adopted, most of the members present at the meeting must vote for it. At least one-third of all Parliament members must agree. Once Parliament passes a law, it goes to the President of Georgia within 10 days.

The President can either sign the law, making it official, or send it back to Parliament with suggestions for changes. If the President sends it back, Parliament can either accept the changes or vote again to keep the original law. If Parliament votes for the original law again, the President must then sign it. If the President still doesn't sign, the Chairperson of Parliament can sign it to make it official.

More Responsibilities: What Else Parliament Does

Besides making laws, the Parliament has other important jobs. It can approve, cancel, or end international agreements with other countries. This requires a majority vote of all its members.

The Parliament also has the power to remove high-ranking officials from their positions if they are not doing their job well. This includes the President, members of the Government, judges, and other important leaders. The President of Georgia can also dissolve the Parliament if it fails to approve a new Government within a set time.

The Parliament's Leader: The Chairperson

The Parliament of Georgia chooses its own leader, called the Chairperson. This person is elected by a secret vote of most of the Parliament members.

The Chairperson's job is to lead the Parliament's meetings. They make sure everyone can share their opinions freely. The Chairperson also signs the laws and decisions that Parliament adopts.

Where Parliament Meets: Its Main Home

The main home of the Parliament of Georgia is in Tbilisi, which is the capital city. As mentioned earlier, for a few years (from 2012 to 2018), the Parliament held its regular meetings in a new building in Kutaisi. However, since January 2019, all Parliament meetings and operations take place back in the capital city of Tbilisi.

See also

In Spanish: Parlamento de Georgia para niños