STATE AND POLITICAL SYSTEM
The Constitution
The President of the Republic
The National Assembly
The National Council
The Government
The Prime Minister
The Judiciary
The Constitutional Court
The state prosecution service
The Human Rights Ombudsman
Local government
Symbols and the National Currency
Political Parties represented in Parliament
President of the Republic: Milan Kučan
Prime Minister: Dr Janez Drnovšek
Government: Prime Minister, 14 Ministers, 1 Minister without Portfolio
National Assembly: 90 deputies (88 elected representatives of the parliamentary parties and one representative each from the Italian and Hungarian national minorities).
National Council: 40 elected representatives of employers, employees, farmers, tradesmen and the self-employed, as well as from the non-economic sector and local interest groups.
The Constitution
"Slovenia is a state of all its citizens and is founded on the permanent and inalienable right of the Slovenian nation to self-determination" says the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia, which was adopted by the parliament on 23 December 1991. The Constitution, as the state's ultimate legal act, can be changed following a proposal by twenty National Assembly deputies, by the Government or by at least 30,000 voters. The proposal can then be accepted by the National Assembly by a two-thirds majority of deputies present at the vote. The proposal also has to be confirmed by voters at a referendum if at least thirty deputies demand this.
The President of the Republic
According to the Constitution, the President of the Republic represents the Republic of Slovenia and is the supreme commander of its armed forces. The President is elected directly by a secret ballot of the whole electorate for a period of five years, for a maximum of two consecutive terms.
The National Assembly
The National Assembly, which is the highest legislative body in Slovenia, is composed of 90 deputies, elected directly by secret ballot according to a proportional voting system.
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The parliament building on Šubičeva Street in Ljubljana houses the National Assembly and the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia. |
The National Council
The National Council (40 members) is a body of representatives from social, economic, professional and local interest groups. Members of the National Council are elected for five years by the elected representatives of special-interest organisations and local communities. The National Council, which has an advisory role, can propose new laws to the National Assembly, give its opinions on all matters within its area of competence, and it can demand that the National Assembly takes another vote on a law before it is announced.
The Government
The Government of the Republic of Slovenia is a body of executive power and the highest body of the state administration. It governs in accordance with the Constitution and with the laws and other general acts passed by the National Assembly; it also determines, guides and co-ordinates the implementation of state policies. The Government has 16 members. In addition to the Prime Minister, there are 14 ministers and 1 minister without portfolio responsible for European Affairs.
The current government is a coalition between the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia, the United List of Social Democrats of Slovenia, the SLS+SKD Slovenian Peoples Party and the Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia.
The Prime Minister
The Prime Minister is elected by a majority vote of the deputies in the National Assembly, following a proposal by the President of the Republic. The Prime Minister directs and leads the work of the Government, he maintains the unity of its political and legal direction and co-ordinates the work of the ministers. He also proposes ministers, who are appointed and relieved of their duties by the National Assembly.
The first democratically elected prime minister of the Republic of Slovenia was Lojze Peterle. During his period in office (1990-1992) Slovenia obtained independence and international recognition, introduced its own currency and started economic and social reform. His successor, Dr Janez Drnovšek, was prime minister from April 1992 to April 2000. On 3 May 2000, Dr Andrej Bajuk was elected as the prime minister and he headed the government from 7 June 2000 untill 30 November 2000. Following the recent parliamentary elections Dr Janez Drnovšek was elected as the prime minister on 16 November 2000 for the fourth time.
The Judiciary
The Constitution states that judges are independent in carrying out their functions, but are bound by the Constitution and the law. Judicial power in Slovenia is implemented by courts with general responsibilities and specialised courts which deal with matters relating to specific legal areas.
The highest judicial body for the protection of constitutionality and legality in the Republic of Slovenia is the Constitutional Court.
District Courts (44), Regional Courts (11), Higher Courts (4) and the Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia are the courts with general jurisdiction.
In addition to courts with general jurisdiction, there are 4 labour courts and 1 social court.
The Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court is the highest body of judicial power for the protection of constitutionality and legality, as well as of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It consists of nine judges: legal experts proposed by the President of the Republic and elected by the National Assembly for a single nine-year term. Constitutional Court is autonomous and independent, and its rulings are binding. The Constitutional Court ensures that all laws are in line with the Constitution.
The National Assembly is bound by the opinion of the Constitutional Court.
The state prosecution service
Public prosecutors prosecute the perpetrators of criminal and other punishable acts by instituting and carrying out proceedings in a court of law. There are 11 regional public prosecution offices, 4 higher public prosecution offices and the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Slovenia.
The Human Rights Ombudsman
The Human Rights Ombudsman is responsible for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in relation to state bodies, local administrative bodies and all those with public jurisdiction.
The Human Rights Ombudsman is proposed by the President and elected by the National Assembly for a period of six years; he is autonomous and independent in his work.
Local government
The municipality as the basic unit of local government comprises of one or a number of settlements united by the population's common needs and interests, whilst within municipalities, smaller units may be set up in towns, parts of towns, or villages.
Following the last local elections in 1998, there are 192 municipalities, 11 of which have the status of urban municipalities. The highest decision-making body in a municipality is the Municipal Council, the members of which are directly elected. A Mayor, also is directly elected.
Symbols and the National Currency
The flag
Slovenia's national flag is white, blue and red and bears the Slovene coat of arms. The three-coloured flag first appeared during the "Spring of Nations" in 1848. The present flag is based on the Carniolan flag, in use between 1848 and 1918. The decision on the design of the present flag was taken by the parliament upon the announcement of Slovenia's independence on 25 June 1991.
The coat of arms
Slovenia's coat of arms is in the shape of a shield. As on the flag, the three national colours (white, blue and red) of Carniola are used. The sixpointed stars are the symbols of the Celje counts, and Mount Triglav is a symbol of Slovenehood.
The anthem
The seventh stanza of Zdravljica (A Toast), a lengthy poem by France Prešeren (1800 - 1849) is used as the Slovene national anthem. The poem was set to music decades ago by Stanko Premrl (1880 - 1965). The part of the poem which is used in the anthem talks of the equal and peaceful co-existence of large and small nations in the world.
The currency
The Slovene national currency is the Slovene tolar, with the international abbreviation SIT, which is divided into 100 stotins. The Slovenebank notes and coins were designed by Miljenko Licul and Zvone Kosovelj, and the coins were modelled by the sculptor Janez Boljka. On the notes, there are portraits of famous Slovenes by Rudi Španzel.
Political Parties represented in Parliament (National Assembly)(elections of 15. October 2000)