Info
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
c . Directly elected in general elections (absolute majority with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments: The head of state is the President, elected by a secret ballot for a five year term. A candidate for the President is elected if he/she receives absolute majority of votes. If none of the candidates receives the necessary majority of votes, a second round is held within 14 days of the voting.
Source: The Constitution of the Slovak Republic, Article 101: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/SK/constitution-of-the-slovak-republic-as-amended-to/view
Verified: 2024/10/25
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
e . Appointed
Comments: The President appoints and removes the Prime Minister and other members of the government. The government is obliged within 30 days of its nomination, to present itself to the National Council of the Slovak Republic, submit ist government program and ask for a vote of confidence.
Source: The Constitution of the Slovak Republic, Article 110 & 113: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/SK/constitution-of-the-slovak-republic-as-amended-to/view
Verified: 2024/10/25
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: The President is the head of state of the Slovak Republic. The President represents
the Slovak Republic both outwardly and through his decisions ensures due performance of
constitutional bodies. The President performs his office according to his/her best
conscience and conviction, and is not bound by any orders.
Source: The Constitution of the Slovak Republic, Article 101: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/SK/constitution-of-the-slovak-republic-as-amended-to/view
Verified: 2024/10/25
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
a . One chamber
Comments: The National Council of the Slovak Republic is the sole constitutional and legislative body of the Slovak Republic. It consists of 150 members elected for a four year term.
Source: The Constitution of the Slovak Republic, Article 72 &73: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/SK/constitution-of-the-slovak-republic-as-amended-to/view
Verified: 2024/10/25
ES005
Electoral System (Chamber 1)
Question: What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):
g . List Proportional Representation
Comments: Article 1
Elections to the National Council of the Slovak Republic shall be conducted on the basis of a universal, equal and direct electoral franchise, by means of secret ballot, and in accordance with the principle of proportional representation. In addition to voting for a party, each elector can cast four preferential votes for candidates with respect to the same list.
Article 18
List of candidates
(1) A list of candidates may be submitted by any political party which is registered pursuant to a separate law;[10]it shall be delivered by the political party's plenipotentiary to the electoral officer of the Central Electoral Commission in two counterpart copies and in electronic form not later than ninety days before polling day.
(2) Political parties may form a coalition and submit a joint list of candidates pursuant to subsection (1). A political party which is a member of a coalition may not submit a separate list of candidates.
Article 43
Allocation of seats
(1) The sum of valid votes cast for the proceeding political parties or coalitions shall be divided by the number 151 (the number of seats plus one). The result of this division rounded off to a whole number is the republic electoral number.
(2) The sum of valid votes obtained by a political party or coalition shall be divided by the republic electoral number; a political party or coalition shall be allocated a number of seats equal to the number of times the republic electoral number divides into the sum of valid votes which it obtained.
(3) In the event that there is allocated one seat more than should have been, the surplus seat shall be deducted from the political party or coalition which has the smallest remainder from the division. If remainders are equal, the seat shall be deducted from the political party or coalition which obtained the fewer number of votes. If the numbers of votes are equal, the deduction shall be decided by drawing lots.
(4) In the event that not all seats are allocated or that a political party or coalition should be allocated more seats than it has candidates, then the Central Electoral Commission shall allocate such seats among other political parties or coalitions in order of their remainder from the division beginning with the highest. If remainders are equal, the seat shall be allocated to the political party or coalition which obtained the larger number of votes. If the numbers of votes are the equal, the allocation shall be decided by drawing lots.
(5) The seats allocated to a political party or coalition shall be allocated among its candidates in the order that they are stated on the ballot paper. If any of the electors who cast a valid vote for the political party or coalition exercised the right to a preferential vote, then a seat shall be allocated firstly to a candidate who obtained preferential votes totalling not less than three per cent of the sum of valid votes cast for the political party or coalition. If the political party or coalition is allocated more seats and has more candidates that fulfill the condition mentioned in the previous sentence, then these candidates shall receive seats in the order of the number of preferential votes they received beginning with the highest. If the number of preferential votes is the same, the allocation shall be decided by order on the ballot paper.
(6) Candidates who were not allocated a seat shall become substitutes.
Source: Slovakia: On Elections to the National Council of the Slovak Republic (2004), Section 1, 18, & 43: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/SK/slovakia-municipalities-election-law-1990/view
Verified: 2024/10/25
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