National Council (Slovenia) Explained

The National Council (sl|Državni svet) is according to the Constitution of Slovenia the representative of social, economic, professional and local interest groups in Slovenia.

The Council may be regarded as an upper house within a distinctively incomplete bicameralism;^[3] it has a legislative function as a corrective and oversight mechanism for the National Assembly, though it does not itself pass acts.^[4] It is not elected directly by the population, but is meant to represent significant interest groups in the country. Councilors are elected for a five-year term. Elections to the National Council are not regulated by the Constitution, but by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly.

The current president of the National Council (from 19 December 2022) is Marko Lotrič.

Composition

The council has 40 members:^[5]

• 22 representatives of local interests,
• 6 representatives of non-commercial activities,
• 4 representatives of employers,
• 4 of employees,
• 4 representatives of farmers, crafts, trades and independent professionals.

The local (or "territorial") councilors are elected by municipal bodies, while the remaining "functional" councilors are elected by professional and interest-group associations. The Council is officially nonpartisan, though parties exert an influence on the selection of local councilors.

History

Prior to 1992, the Parliament of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia had a tricameral structure, comprising a Sociopolitical Assembly, a Municipalities' Assembly, and an Assembly of United Labor. The National Council is the successor of the latter two chambers, and is similarly geared toward the representation of local, economic, and occupational interests.

Competences

Most of the National Council's powers are advisory in nature. It may:

• propose laws or amendments to the National Assembly
• present a resolution on a matter to the National Assembly
• request a parliamentary inquiry by the National Assembly into a matter
• demand the National Assembly clarify or disambiguate a law
• petition the Constitutional Court to review a law or regulation for compliance with the constitution

The Council also possesses a single non-advisory power, the suspensive veto: it may by majority vote suspend any new law within seven days of its passage. Laws suspended by a Council veto can be reconfirmed by the National Assembly, but an absolute majority of the chamber is required on second passage. Laws pertaining solely to the state budget are exempt from the veto, and the Council cannot veto the same law a second time.

Presidents of the National Council

See main article: List of Presidents of the National Council of Slovenia.

1. Ivan Kristan (LDS): 23 December 1992 – 17 December 1997
2. Tone Hrovat (SLS): 17 December 1997 – 17 December 2002
3. Janez Sušnik (DeSUS): 17 December 2002 – 12 December 2007
4. Blaž Kavčič (LDS / SMS-Zeleni): 12 December 2007 – 12 December 2012
5. Mitja Bervar (LDS / SMC) 12 December 2012 – 12 December 2017
6. Alojz Kovšca (GAS / Concretely) 12 December 2017 – 19 December 2022
7. Marko Lotrič (independent) 19 December 2022

Notes and References

1. Web site: History. December 3, 2013. Državni svet Republike Slovenije.
2. Web site: Volitve v Državni svet RS - Leto 2017 . Državna volilna komisija . sl . 25 February 2019.
3. Book: Lakota, Igor . Sistem nepopolne dvodomnosti v slovenskem parlamentu (diplomska naloga) . Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana . 2006 . 62 . sl . The system of incomplete bicameralism in the Slovenian Parliament (diploma thesis) . 16 December 2010.
4. News: U-I-295/07-8 . 22 October 2008 . 16 December 2010 . Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia . sl.
5. According to the information that can be found at the website of the National Council