Check for constitutionality or legality of initiatives

Citizens’ initiative – President can request check for constitutionality after petition for referendum is submitted; Agenda initiative – Not specified by legislation

The Petition Law, which establishes generalnorms on petitions to public authorities in general, specifies that thecompetent public authority is obliged to investigate the issue raised in thepetition and respond to the representative of the petition committee within 30days of submission (Art. 5(7)).

The Constitutionand the Act on the Constitutional Courtspecify the relevant procedures for citizens’ initiatives.

However, the Rules of Procedure of the National Councildo not have explicit provisions for checking the constitutionality or legalityof agenda initiatives.

PETITIONLAW

(Adopted 1990; last amended 2010)

http://?www.?bratislava.?sk/?vismo/?dokumenty2.?asp?id_?org=700000&id=11025535&p1=15346

Article 5 Podanie a vybavenie pet?cie

(7) Pr?slušn? org?n verejnejspr?vy je povinn? prešetri? a vybavi? pet?ciu tak, aby zistil skuto?n? stavveci, jeho s?lad alebo rozpor s pr?vnymi predpismi a verejn?m alebo in?mspolo?n?m z?ujmom. V?sledok vybavenia pet?cie p?somne ozn?mi do 30 pracovn?chdn? od doru?enia pet?cie alebo od odstr?nenia jej nedostatkov pod?a odseku 5osobe, ktor? podala pet?ciu, alebo osobe ur?enej na zastupovanie v styku sorg?nom verejnej spr?vy. Ak nemožno vybavi? pet?ciu v tejto lehote, pr?slušn?org?n verejnej spr?vy p?somne ozn?mi osobe, ktor? ju podala, že pet?cia budevybaven? v lehote ?alš?ch 30 pracovn?ch dn?. Ak tento z?kon neustanovuje inak,pri prešetren? pet?cie sa primerane postupuje pod?a osobitn?ho predpisu.

CONSTITUTIONOF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

(Adopted 1992; lastamended 2006)

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

Chapter5: Legislative Power

Part2: The Referendum

Article 95

(2) ThePresident of the Slovak Republic may, before calling a referendum, file withthe Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic a petition for a decisionwhether the subject of the referendum, which should be called on the basis of acitizens’ petition or a resolution of the National Council of the SlovakRepublic pursuant to paragraph 1, is in compliance with the Constitution or aconstitutional law…

Chapter7: Judicial Power

Part1: The Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic

Article125b

(1) TheConstitutional Court decides whether the subject of the referendum to be calledon the basis of a citizens’ petition, or a resolution of the National Councilof the Slovak Republic pursuant to Article 95, paragraph 1, is in compliancewith the Constitution or a constitutional law.

(2) Thepetition for a decision pursuant to paragraph 1 may be filed with theConstitutional Court by the President of the Slovak Republic before calling ofa referendum, when he has doubts if the subject of the referendum to be calledon the basis of a citizens’ petition, or a resolution of the National Councilof the Slovak Republic pursuant to Article 95, paragraph 1, is in compliancewith the Constitution or a constitutional act.

(3) TheConstitutional Court decides on the petition pursuant to paragraph 2 within 60days from the day of its delivery; if the Constitutional Court by its decision state that the subject ofthe referendum to be called on the basis of a citizens’ petition, or aresolution of the National Council of the Slovak Republic pursuant to Article95, paragraph 1, is not in compliance with the Constitution or a constitutionalact, the referendum may not be called.

ACT ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

(Adopted 1993; last amended 2004)

http://?portal.?concourt.?sk/?pages/?viewpage.?action?pageId=3604914

Second Heading: Specific Provisions

Third Section: Proceedings on the subject of a referendum

Article 41f

(1) A motion to startproceedings on the conformity of the subject of a referendum, which shall beannounced under special regulation, may be submitted to the ConstitutionalCourt by the President of the Slovak Republic prior to declaring a referendum,if he/she has doubts on whether the subject of the referendum is in conformitywith the Constitution or a constitutional law.

(2) Besides the generalrequirements set out in ? 20 (1), the motion shall contain:

a)     the subject of the referendum

b)     the legal basis for announcing the referendum

c)      the reasons leading the applicant to doubt the conformity of the referendumsubject with the Constitution or with constitutional laws.

Article 41g

(1) The Constitutional Courtshall decide on the motion within 60 days of its delivery.

(2) The Constitutional Court,prior to its decision, shall require the opinion of the National Council of theSlovak Republic, if the referendum is to be announced on the basis of itsresolution, or the opinion of the Referendum Petition Commission establishedunder special regulation, if the referendum is to be announced on the basis ofa citizens? petition.

Article 41h

(1) The Constitutional Courtshall decide on the merits of the case by a finding, which shall be sent to theapplicant and to the National Council of the Slovak Republic, or to thePetition Commission if the referendum is to be announced on the basis of acitizens? petition.

(2) If the ConstitutionalCourt decides that the subject of the referendum is not in conformity with theConstitution or with constitutional laws, such a referendum cannot beannounced.