Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Frequently asked questions are divided into five groups:

  1. Document searches
  2. Legislative process
  3. Constitutional status of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic
  4. Information on senators
  5. Questions - other

I. Document searches

Most of the documents are only available in Czech. Do you have any questions? Contact us.

1. How can I find information on bills which are currently under debate at the Senate?

Recently debated prints can be found on the Documents and legislation page.

You will also find the link to bills under debate on the Senate Activities page where you need to select the relevant meeting in the list of meetings and continue to the Senate print to view the details.

For further details, visit Documents and legislation page – Senate prints section.

2. Which committee has a particular bill been assigned to for a debate?

You will find the link to bills under debate on the Senate Activities page where you need to select the relevant meeting in the list of meetings and continue to the Senate print to view the details.

For further details, visit Documents and legislation page – Senate prints section.

3. Where do I find the texts of particular Senate documents?

The texts of bills, proposed amendments and some international treaties are available on the Senate Documents page under the Documents for discussion at a sitting link.

4. How can I get a verbatim record of the entire proceedings of a Senate meeting?

On the Senate Documents page under the Stenographic minutes from plenary sessions link. Verbatim record is available only in Czech.

5. When, where and under which number was a passed act promulgated in the Collection of Laws of the Czech Republic?

The information can be found at Senate Documents/Senate prints and further a filter can be used to specify the relevant bill (to choose a term, a type of the print, its present state – in this case the process has been closed) and the table shown will enable you to find exact description of the history of the bill (print) including the number under which the bill has been published in the Collection of Laws of the Czech Republic.

 

II. Legislative process

1. What is the procedure for enacting bills?

You can find the information about the legislative process here.

Legislative process in brief:

  • A bill approved by the Chamber of Deputies is sent in short order by its Speaker to the Senate.
  • If the Senate approves the bill or does not adopt a resolution or agrees not to deal with it within 30 days, the bill is accepted.
  • If the Senate rejects a bill, the Chamber of Deputies votes on it again (a simple majority of the votes of all deputies is required for the bill to be passed).
  • If the Senate returns the bill to the Chamber of Deputies with amendments, the vote is then on the wording approved by the Senate (the consent of a simple majority of deputies present is required for the bill to be passed).
  • If the Chamber of Deputies does not approve the bill in the wording approved by the Senate, it votes on the bill again in the wording that was referred to the Senate (the approval of a simple majority of all deputies is required for the bill to be passed).
  • If the Chamber of Deputies does not approve the bill either in the wording approved by the Senate or in the originally approved wording, the bill is not passed.
  • If a bill has been passed, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies refers the approved bill to the President of the Republic for signing.
  • If the President of the Republic returns the bill to the Chamber of Deputies within 15 days of its referral, the Chamber of Deputies votes on it again (and the bill is passed if the Chamber of Deputies overrides the President´s veto by a simple majority of all deputies).
  • After the act has been signed by the Prime Minister, it is promulgated in the Collection of Laws.

2. Where are the acts published in digital form?

In accordance with the Act on the Collection of Laws and the Collection of International Treaties, the texts of acts which have been passed are published in the Collection of Laws of the Czech Republic issued by the Ministry of the Interior. An act which has been passed comes into effect (and thus becomes public) on the date of its promulgation in the Collection of Laws and comes into force on the date set in that act. You can find the Collection of Laws in digital form on the following pages:

However, only the printed version of the Collection of Laws is legally binding.

 

III. Constitutional status of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic

1. Who has legislative power in this country?

Under the Constitution of the Czech Republic, which came into force on January 1, 1993, the legislative power is vested in the Parliament of the Czech Republic, which consists of two chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

The Senate is a permanent constitutional institution. It cannot be dissolved, and every two years, one third of members are subject to reelection.

The Chamber of Deputies has a four-year term of office, so every four years, all deputies are subject to reelection unless the Chamber of Deputies is dissolved at an earlier date.

Senators are elected under the majority electoral system in single-mandate electoral constituencies for six years. 81 people are elected.

Deputies are elected under the proportional representation system.

2. What are the powers of the Senate?

  • Debates bills tabled by the Chamber of Deputies (and may approve them, reject them, or return them with amendments); constitutional and election laws must be approved by both chambers in the same wording
  • Proposes legislation
  • Comments on proposed European Union legislation and other EU documents, may instigate proceedings for violation of the principle of subsidiarity by an EU act
  • Adopts statutory measures in case the Chamber of Deputies is dissolved
  • Approves the ratification of international treaties
  • Declares war in conjunction with the Chamber of Deputies and approves the deployment of foreign troops in the territory of the Czech Republic and sending of Czech troops abroad
  • The President of the Senate announces the election of the President of the Czech Republic
  • The President-elect is sworn in to the President of the Senate during a joint session of both chambers; the President of the Senate also accepts the President´s abdication
  • Approves the appointment of judges of the Constitutional Court
  • Elects members of the Council of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes
  • Has the exclusive right to sue the President of the Czech Republic before the Constitutional Court for high treason (Article 65, paragraph 2 of the Constitution)
  • Presents to the President of the Czech Republic proposals for the conferring or awarding of state honors
  • Puts forward two candidates for the position of the Public Defender of Rights and two candidates for the positions of Deputy of the Public Defender of Rights to the Chamber of Deputies
  • Puts forward candidates for the position of President and inspectors of the Office for Personal Data Protection to the President of the Czech Republic
  • The President appoints members of the Authority on the supervision of economic activities of political parties and movements out of the candidates elected by the Senate. Both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies also nominate candidates for the Chairman of the Authority to the President of the Czech Republic.

3. When does the Senate serve as a constitutional safeguard?

If the Chamber of Deputies is dissolved, the Senate shall be empowered to adopt legislative measures concerning matters which cannot be delayed and which would otherwise require the adoption of a statute. The unconditional consent of the Senate is required for the adoption of constitutional laws and some other legislation, e.g. concerning elections.

4. Are Senate meetings public?

Senate meetings are public unless the Senate passes a resolution to make a meeting or its part closed, particularly if classified matters associated with defense or state security are debated. Debates on bills and legal measures are always public.

5. Who is allowed to take part in Senate plenary sessions?

Apart from senators, Senate plenary sessions may also be attended by the President of the Republic and members of the government and persons authorized under the law to take part in meetings of the Senate and its bodies. Other persons may only take part if the Senate expresses its consent to their participation. The Senate President may call upon such persons to speak. A place is reserved for the public, guests, and representatives of the mass media to watch the session.

6. How does the Senate vote?

It votes publicly on bills, international treaties, a declaration of war or of the state of national emergency, extension or termination of the state of emergency, consent to the deployment of foreign troops in the territory of the Czech Republic, and to the deployment of armed forces outside the territory of the Czech Republic. A secret ballot is used to elect officers of the Senate, commissions, and members of permanent delegations of the Parliament of the Czech Republic to interparliamentary delegations. Committee chairpersons are elected by secret ballot at committee meetings; their election is confirmed by the plenary. A secret ballot is required by law or if the Senate adopts a resolution to this effect.

7. When does the Senate constitute a quorum?

The Senate constitutes a quorum if at least one third of all senators are present. The consent of a simple majority of all attending senators is required for a Senate resolution to be effective. Three-fifths majority of senators present is required to pass a constitutional law or an international treaty on human rights and liberties. For a resolution to be passed on a declaration of the state of war or consent to the deployment of foreign troops in the territory of the Czech Republic or to sending our troops, the consent of a simple majority of all senators is required.

8. Are the proceedings of the Senate committees and commissions public?

Committee meetings are public unless the law determines otherwise or a committee decides that a meeting or its part is not public. Procedures involving disciplinary matters are always closed. Closed committee meetings or parts of meetings which have been declared closed may be attended by senators, the President of the Republic, government members, and other persons who are authorized under the law to take part in meetings of the Senate and its bodies. Other persons may only attend with the consent of a particular committee. The same principles apply to commission meetings. Meetings of the Committee on Agenda and Procedure are not public unless the Committee decides otherwise. Meetings of the Committee on Mandate and Parliamentary Privilege are always closed.

9. Can a senator submit a bill?

Bills are submitted to the Chamber of Deputies. They may be tabled by a deputy, a group of deputies, the Senate as a whole, the Government or a higher territorial self-administrative authority. A bill (or its amendment, modification etc.) to be submitted by the Senate to the Chamber of Deputies may be put forward for debate in the Senate by a senator, a committee, or a commission. If a draft Senate bill is approved, the President of the Senate is authorized by the Senate to refer it to the Chamber of Deputies. A senator is also authorized to explain the bill to the Chamber of Deputies.

10. Which committees and commissions may be established by the Senate?

Normally at the first meeting of each period of office, the Senate adopts a resolution to set up the Committee on Agenda and Procedure, the Committee on Mandate and Parliamentary Privilege, and other committees and commissions. Their number, title, and competence are not determined by law and are decided by the Senate at its meeting. A committee may set up subcommittees to deal with particular issues. Their members may be senators from other committees. Commissions shall be established in particular when they deal with tasks that affect the competence of several bodies of the Senate or tasks that are not within the competence of any of the bodies established by the Senate. In addition to Senators, other persons may be members of commissions.

11. Are Senate publications freely available?

A shorthand report shall be made of the plenary sessions of the Senate, giving an accurate account of the proceedings. Shorthand reports (verbatims) are Senate publications, as are the written documents supporting the proceedings of the Senate (Senate printed material), the resolutions adopted, and the results of votes. Senate publications are public and freely accessible at the Senate headquarters and on the Internet.

12. What is a public hearing?

Based on a proposal of at least five Senators or a Senate committee of the Senate, the Senate may decide to hold a public hearing. This is intended to discuss a particular issue within the jurisdiction of the Senate with experts and other persons who may provide information on the issue under consideration. Any committee of the Senate may also hold a public hearing on an issue within its competence. If a proposal is put forward by at least five senators or a Senate committee, the Senate may decide to hold a public hearing. This is intended to discuss certain matters that come under Senate authority with experts and other people who may provide information on the issue under debate. Public hearings may be arranged by any Senate Committee on any issue that comes within its area of authority.

 

IV. Information on senators

1. Where are senators’ e-mail addresses published?

An email address of each senator is automatically generated from his/her surname and the first letter of the first name. E.g., an email address of a senator “Václav Radima” would be . All senators may be also contacted at . You can also use ordinary mail or telephone.

2. Where can I find information on senators?

You can find more information on the Senators page under Senators’ Personal Pages.

3. How can I find the addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of senators’ constituency offices?

You can find the required information on the Senators page under Senators’ Constituency Offices.

4. I want to see senators’ financial disclosure reports, what shall I do?

To be able to do it, you have to send a request to the Senate e-mail registry: .

5. I would like to know the amount of senators’ salaries.

Senators’ salaries are determined by the Act Nr. 236/1995 Coll. on salaries and other belongings associated with the execution of the office of representatives of the state power and certain administrative bodies, judges, and members of the European Parliament. According to Paragraph 3, Article 2, senators are entitled to obtain treble the amount of an average nominal monthly salary of natural persons according to the data published by the Czech Statistic Authority for the calendar year before last. You will find the text of the act here.

6. I would like to know if senators’ e-mail addresses are published anywhere on your site.

There are e-mail addresses published on our Internet site for Caucuses, Committees, Commissions, and Senators’ Constituency Offices, where messages can be sent to individual Senate members.

7. Where can I find contact details for individual senators?

Contact details for individual senators can be found at Senators’ Constituency Offices.

 

V. Questions - other

1. Can I get information when a particular bill will be put on the Senate agenda?

For more information about bills follow the link Documents and Legislation/Senate Prints. If you do not find the required bill there, it is not yet known whether and when the bill is going to be debated.

2. Which constituency do I live in and who is my senator?

The name of your senator and the constituency number can be found by entering the name of your (part of the) municipality or street in the Constituency and Municipality Database Search System.

3. Could you please inform me about the date of the Senate elections and about the candidates?

You will find information about the elections under the link Elections to the Senate. You will find more information, including the list of candidates, on the Central Election Commission web page.

4. I think that my rights have been violated. Whom should I turn to?

Senate’s powers are legislative, not judicial or executive, so it cannot interfere in matters of individual citizens. In case of an appeal for help in a burdensome personal situation, the Senate does not have powers how to comply with the request. There are other institutions that may be of help in concrete situations:

5. I am seeking a job in the Senate Chancellery. Would there be an appropriate job opportunity for me?

The Senate Chancellery releases a list of job opportunities.

6. Can I receive a list of email addresses at the Senate?

You may use the address to email your filing (including filings according to the Act Nr. 106/1999). To report and solve problems related to the web presentation on www.senat.cz, or to share proposals, observations, or information on problems with displaying this web page, mail to .

7. Where can I find information on opening hours of the Waldstein Palace, Waldstein garden and other premises?

You will find information on opening hours for public in the section for public.

8. Is the Waldstein Palace open to the public on public holidays?

Yes, the Waldstein Palace is open to the public on public holidays in the spring season (from the 1st of April).

9. Where can I learn about current cultural events organised at the seat of the Senate?

You will find updated information about public events in the section for public.

10. Where can I find information about the history of the Senate palaces and Waldstein Garden?

You will find the information about the Waldstein, Kolowrat, and Small Fürstenberg palaces and the Waldstein Garden in the section for public.