Parliament of the Czech Republic facts for kids

The Parliament of the Czech Republic is the main law-making group for the Czech Republic. Think of it as the country's big meeting place where important decisions are made. It's also called just the Parliament.

The Parliament has two main parts, like two different teams working together. This is called being bicameral. Both teams are chosen by the people of the Czech Republic through direct elections, which means citizens vote for who they want to represent them.

• The first part is the Lower House, known as the Chamber of Deputies.
• The second part is the Upper House, called the Senate.

What Does the Parliament Do?

The Parliament's main job is to create and approve laws for the country. These laws affect everyone living in the Czech Republic, from how schools are run to how taxes are collected.

Making New Laws

When a new law is needed, it usually starts as an idea from the government or a group of members in the Chamber of Deputies. They discuss the idea, make changes, and then vote on it. If it passes in the Chamber of Deputies, it then goes to the Senate for their review and vote. Both houses must agree on a law before it can become official.

Watching Over the Government

Another important role of the Parliament is to keep an eye on the government. They make sure the government is doing its job well and following the laws. Members of Parliament can ask questions to government ministers and even vote to remove a government if they believe it's not working properly.

Approving the Budget

The Parliament also decides how the country's money will be spent. This is called approving the national budget. They look at how much money the government expects to collect (from taxes, for example) and how it plans to spend it on things like healthcare, education, and roads.

The Chamber of Deputies

The Chamber of Deputies is the more powerful of the two parts of Parliament. It has 200 members, called deputies.

How Deputies Are Chosen

Deputies are elected by the people for a term of four years. This means they serve for four years before new elections are held. Anyone who is a citizen of the Czech Republic and is at least 21 years old can run to become a deputy.

Where They Meet

The Chamber of Deputies meets in a special building in Prague, the capital city. This is where they hold their debates and votes.

The Senate

The Senate is the Upper House of the Parliament. It has 81 members, called senators.

How Senators Are Chosen

Senators are elected for a term of six years. However, elections for the Senate happen every two years, but only for one-third of the senators each time. This helps to keep the Senate more stable and less affected by sudden changes in public opinion. To become a senator, you must be a citizen of the Czech Republic and at least 40 years old.

The Senate's Role

While the Chamber of Deputies is usually the first to vote on new laws, the Senate acts as a check on its power. The Senate can approve, reject, or suggest changes to laws passed by the Chamber of Deputies. If the Senate rejects a law, the Chamber of Deputies can sometimes override their decision with a special vote.

History of the Parliament

The idea of a parliament in the Czech lands goes back a long time, even before the modern Czech Republic was formed. After the country became independent in 1993, the current system of a two-chamber Parliament was set up. It was designed to make sure that laws are carefully considered and that different parts of society are represented.

Images for kids

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  Session room of the Chamber of Deputies