Legal provisions for agenda initiatives at national level

CONSTITUTIONOF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

(Adopted 1992; lastamended 2006)

http://www.nrsr.sk/web/default.aspx?SectionId=124

Chapter2: Basic Rights and Freedoms

Article27

(1) The rightof petition is guaranteed. Everyone has the right, alone or with others, toaddress requests, proposals, and complaints to state bodies and territorialself-administration bodies in matters of public or other common interest.

RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL

(Adopted 1996;last amended 2005)

http://www.nrsr.sk/web/default.aspx?SectionId=124

Part 4: Sessions ofthe National Council

Section 24: Agenda of Sessionsof the National Council

(1) At thebeginning of each session, the National Council shall discuss and vote on theagenda proposed by the Speaker of the National Council. In considering the proposedagenda, the National Council may amend the agenda upon a motion made by anyMember. Members’ names shall not be disclosed in any item on the agendainvolving disciplinary proceedings, criminal prosecution or detention ordersagainst any Member.

Voting at Sessions of the National Council

Section36

(1) Any motion putbefore the National Council shall be decided by a vote. Voting shall usuallytake place immediately after the debate ends or is closed, unless the NationalCouncil decides otherwise without debate.

Part 19: Petitions

Section 133

(1)Petitions delivered to the National Council, its committees, the Speaker andDeputy-Speakers of the National Council shall be submitted to the Chancellery,which shall keep records thereof. The Speaker of the National Council shallrefer the petition to a lead committee for consideration and opinions. Where apetition falls within the powers of more than one committee, the appropriatecommittee shall be responsible for coordination of all activities and settlementthereof.

(2) Wherethe petition relates to matters outside the powers of the National Council, theChancellery shall refer it to the appropriate Ministry or another central stateadministration body.

(3) A petition signed by at least100,000 citizens shall be considered by the National Council.

'The 1996 standing order of the parliament declares that if an initiative submitted to the parliament collects at least 100,000 signatures, it has to be discussed as a point of agenda during the parliamentary session. However, it does not include promoters’ rights to a hearing nor to be present during the discussion. The discussion formally ends by voting on a draft resolution that addresses the subject of the initiative.” (p. 156)

Erik L?štic, “If It Works, Fine, If Not, So What? Initiatives in Slovakia,” in Maija Set?l? and Theo Schiller, eds.: Citizens’ Initiatives in Europe: Procedures and Consequences of Agenda-Setting by Citizens. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.