National Assembly of Belarus

National Assembly of Belarus is the bicameral legislative body of Belarus, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic. The Constitution of Belarus establishes the National Assembly as the highest representative body of the Belarusian people, with the power to adopt laws of Belarus. The National Assembly is headed by the Chairman of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Council of the Republic, who are elected by their respective chambers. The National Assembly is composed of members of the House of Representatives of Belarus and members of the Council of the Republic of Belarus, who are elected by the citizens of Belarus through a secret ballot.

● History

The National Assembly of Belarus was established in 1996, following the adoption of the Constitution of Belarus by a national referendum. The first elections to the National Assembly were held in 1996 and 1997, with the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic being formed. The National Assembly has since played a crucial role in the development of the legislative system of Belarus, with notable events including the adoption of the Civil Code of Belarus and the Criminal Code of Belarus. The National Assembly has also been involved in the development of international relations with countries such as Russia, China, and EU member states like Germany and France. The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has also played a significant role in shaping the National Assembly, with the support of political parties like the Belarusian Agrarian Party and the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus.

● Structure

The National Assembly of Belarus is composed of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic. The House of Representatives is the lower chamber, consisting of 110 members of the House of Representatives of Belarus who are elected by the citizens of Belarus for a term of four years. The Council of the Republic is the upper chamber, consisting of 64 members of the Council of the Republic of Belarus who are elected by the regional councils of Belarus for a term of four years. The National Assembly is headed by the Chairman of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Council of the Republic, who are responsible for organizing the work of their respective chambers. The National Assembly also has a number of committees of the National Assembly of Belarus, including the Committee on International Affairs and National Security and the Committee on Economy, Budget and Finance.

● Powers and Functions

The National Assembly of Belarus has a range of powers and functions, including the adoption of laws of Belarus, the approval of the state budget of Belarus, and the exercise of parliamentary control over the Government of Belarus. The National Assembly also has the power to appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister of Belarus and other members of the Government of Belarus, as well as the Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Belarus and the Prosecutor General of Belarus. The National Assembly is also responsible for ratifying international treaties and agreements, such as the Treaty on the Union State of Russia and Belarus and the EAEU treaty. The National Assembly has also been involved in the development of economic policies, including the Belarusian economic reform and the Belarusian investment policy.

● Composition

The National Assembly of Belarus is composed of members of the House of Representatives of Belarus and members of the Council of the Republic of Belarus, who are elected by the citizens of Belarus through a secret ballot. The House of Representatives is composed of 110 members of the House of Representatives of Belarus, who are elected for a term of four years. The Council of the Republic is composed of 64 members of the Council of the Republic of Belarus, who are elected by the regional councils of Belarus for a term of four years. The National Assembly also includes a number of deputy chairmen of the National Assembly of Belarus, who are responsible for assisting the Chairman of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Council of the Republic.

● Legislative Process

The legislative process in the National Assembly of Belarus involves the introduction of bills by the Government of Belarus, the members of the House of Representatives of Belarus, or the members of the Council of the Republic of Belarus. The bills are then considered by the committees of the National Assembly of Belarus, which conduct hearings and gather expert opinions. The bills are then debated and voted on by the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic, with the requirement of a simple majority or a qualified majority depending on the type of bill. The National Assembly also has the power to amend the Constitution of Belarus, with the requirement of a two-thirds majority in both chambers. The legislative process in Belarus is also influenced by the Constitutional Court of Belarus and the Supreme Court of Belarus.

● International Relations

The National Assembly of Belarus has been involved in the development of international relations with countries such as Russia, China, and EU member states like Germany and France. The National Assembly has ratified a number of international treaties and agreements, including the Treaty on the Union State of Russia and Belarus and the EAEU treaty. The National Assembly has also been involved in the development of inter-parliamentary relations with countries such as Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania. The National Assembly is a member of a number of international parliamentary organizations, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliamentary Association. The National Assembly has also been involved in the development of regional cooperation initiatives, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has also played a significant role in shaping the country's international relations, with the support of political parties like the Belarusian Agrarian Party and the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus. Category:Government of Belarus