History	Main parliamentary parties
Constitutional Institutions	Minor parties
Political Scene

HISTORY

After World War II, the political system in Czechoslovakia was greatly affected by the introduction of a Soviet-style Communist regime, as it was in the other countries of central and eastern Europe. The system of power was distorted. In effect this imbalance meant that the three branches of power necessary for democratic development - executive, legislative and judicial - were substituted by a unified Communist power. Its power was based on the constitution and for forty years it ruled all layers of social and political life throughout the country with the help of oppressive institutions. After February 1948, the Communist Party became the only autonomous political entity. It allowed a few other parties to exist within the so-called National Front; however, these parties held no real power and were created to provide an outward image of Czechoslovakia as a democratic state.

After the revolutionary events of November 1989 which brought about the downfall of the Communist regime, the entire country faced the uneasy task of resuming its pre-Communist traditions and building a democratic political system. A wide diversity of political parties were well-established even before the break-up of Czechoslovakia on December 31, 1992. The constitution of the Czech Republic, which became valid on the day of the birth of the new state, explicitly defined civil rights, the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of power, and the independence of the judiciary.

CONSTITUTIONAL INSTITUTIONS (selection)

The President
Elected for a term of five years by a joint session of both chambers of Parliament, the President may serve a maximum of two successive terms in office. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Presidential power is limited; the most important is the right to veto any bill which has already been passed by Parliament, with the exception of constitutional bills. This power is void in times of constitutional or other political crises.

Parliament
The Parliament consists of two chambers - the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. It passes all bills valid in the territory of the Czech Republic and expresses approval of important international treaties; i.e. those concerning human rights and basic liberties, political treaties, and general economic treaties. It decides the most important acts of state, such as declaring war or approving the deployment of foreign armies on Czech soil.

Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is made up of 200 deputies who are elected for a term of four years (the last elections took place in June 1998). The President can dissolve the Chamber of Deputies in cases outlined in the constitution. Political lobbies, ongoing parliamentary commissions and committees operate in the historical building which houses the chamber.

Senate
The Senate is made up of 81 senators elected for six-year terms. Every two years one-third of the Senate’s seats come up for re-election. The Senate cannot be dissolved.

Parliamentary Activity:
A resolution by a parliamentary chamber is passed by a clear majority of deputies or senators present. A constitutional bill or an international treaty must be passed by a 60% majority of the total number of deputies and senators present.

The Legislative Process:
Bills are sent to the Chamber of Deputies. The right of legislative initiative is possessed by a deputy, a group of deputies, the Senate, the Cabinet or local or regional cabinet representatives.
A bill passed by the Chamber of Deputies is sent to the Senate which has the power to veto it, send it back to the Chamber of Deputies with amendments, or table the bill.

Elections to the Legislative Bodies:
Elections to the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate take place by secret ballot on the basis of general, equal and direct voting. The Chamber of Deputies is elected on the basis of proportional representation. Political parties must obtain five percent of the popular vote in order to gain seats in the chamber. The Senate is elected on the basis of majority vote.
All citizens of the Czech Republic over 18 years of age have the right to vote for representatives in both chambers of Parliament. Candidates for the Chamber of Deputies must be over 21 years of age, while candidates for the Senate must be over 40 years of age.

The Government
The Government is the supreme body of executive power. It Consists of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers, and coordinates activities of the ministries and the central bodies of the state administration and manages the state administration throughout the territory of the state. The Government has exclusive legislative initiative in terms of the state budget.

The Supreme Audit Office
The Supreme Audit Office is an independent controlling agency which audits the management of state property and the implementation of the state budget. It audits the ways in which the resources of the state budget of the Czech Republic are created and used.

The Czech National Bank
This is the central state bank of the Czech Republic.
Based on law, the main goal of the bank is to preserve the stability and purchasing power of the currency, and while pursuing this goal, the bank is not dependent on the cabinet of the Czech Republic. The president and executives of the bank are appointed by the Head of State.

The Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court was set up to protect constitutional rights. It consists of 15 judges who are appointed by the President - with the consent of the Senate - for a term of ten years. In their decisions judges are bound only by constitutional laws, international treaties, and by a law designating the proceedings of the constitutional court.

The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the supreme judicial body in all matters within the jurisdiction of the courts, except those within the jurisdiction of the constitutional court or the supreme administrative court. The judges are bound only by law and they are in a position to decide whether other legal regulations are in accordance with the law.

THE POLITICAL SCENE

The Czech Republic is a parliamentary democracy

In 1989, after overthrowing the one-party government, Czechoslovak citizens found new freedom - the right to freely form political parties and movements according to one's political convictions. Very soon after the fall of the totalitarian regime, a colorful variety of political parties was established and provided the foundations for a more stable political climate.

In the 1992 elections the majority of votes gained the coalition of ODS - KDS (33,4 %). In the Czech Republic a governmental coalition is formed (ODS -KDS - ODA - KDU-CSL). Prime Minister is Vaclav Klaus (ODS)

In the 1996 elections sixteen political parties and movements participated. Six of them obtained 5% or more of the popular vote in the Czech Republic. The three strongest government coalition parties (ODS, KDU - CSL, ODA), obtained 99 mandates in the Chamber of Deputies and 52 mandates in the Senate. The government was center and right oriented and tried to finish the transformation process of the Czech republic. Prime Minister is Vaclav Klaus (ODS).

In December 1997 the coalition parties (ODS, KDU - CSL, ODA) were forced to resign due to collapse of coalition which was mainly caused by the long-term disagreements within the coalition, several scandals with financing the parties and also due to worsening of economic performance of the Czech Republic.

In January 1998 the new temporary government of Mr. Tošovský was appointed. The task was to prepare the country for the early elections.

In June 1998 the early elections were held and the Czech Social Democratic Party gained the majority of votes (32,3 %). After few weeks of negotiations among all the parties finally CSSD formed a minority government following a procedural agreement with the ODS (27,74). For the first time after the year 1989 a left oriented party rules in the Czech Republic. Prime minister is Milos Zeman (CSSD).

MAIN PARLIAMENTARY PARTIES (according to the results of 1998 elections) :

Ceská strana sociálne demokratická (CSSD) - Czech Social Democratic Party:

Description:
The current CSSD was re-established in November 19th, it is the successor to a party established in 1878 and disbanded by the Communists in 1948. Its manifesto says that it supports a socially and environmentally oriented and state-regulated economy. The popularity of the party has been growing almost constantly. In 1996 elections the party the party gained 26,4 % of votes but stayed in the opposition. In the 1998 elections the party gained 32,3 % of votes and formed a minority social democratic government. It emphasizes social policies and critiques of the concept and process of economic reform.The main tasks CSSD is going to concentrate on are 1. to start up the economic growth 2. play an active role in the fight against corruption and economic crime 3. create a financial policy 4. introduce property admission 5. independent courts

Obcanská demokratická strana (ODS) - Civic Democratic Party:

Description:
The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) is a right-wing conservative party founded in April 1991. ODS pushed through rapid economic reforms in Czechoslovakia and than in the Czech Republic. ODS promotes a liberal economy ruling without major state interventions. In 1996 ODS became once again the leading part of governmental coalition but the government didn’t have majority in the Deputy Chamber of Parliament. In the year 1997 a campaign finance scandal caused that several top party officials defected in January 1998 to form the Freedom Union. For the 1998 elections the party mounted an aggressive PR campaign to stop the decreasing trend in voters support. The party wants strong ties with Western Europe, supports NATO and European Union membership as well as the development of stronger local and regional government.

Krestansko-demokratická unie - Ceskoslovenská strana lidová (KDU-CSL)
The Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People’s Party:

Description:
The successor to the Catholic-oriented People's Party which was active between the wars. In the Communist era it existed as a powerless decoration of the totalitarian regime. After 1989 the party underwent a complicated internal transformation, and at present it declares itself to be a conservative party with a Christian social orientation. It supports the idea of social market economy. The party's manifesto calls for completion of privatization, balanced budget, gradual change from direct to indirect taxation. The party receives traditionally between 8-10 % of votes.

Unie svobody (US) - Freedom Union:

Description:
Freedom Union party has been established in January 1998, primarily by the previous members of ODS. They criticized Václav Klaus for the country's economic slowdown as well as for a number of campaign finance scandals. Initial support for the party was more than 13 percent but has declined steadily. Some members have been accused of knowing more about the financial scandals than they have revealed; others, since the resurgence of ODS, rejoined the party. It is a modern conservative party, with a number of young politicians. In the manifesto the party wants to continue in privatization, reform pension system, put stress on decentralization of decision making process as well as on lowering of direct taxation.

Komunistická strana Cech a Moravy - The Communist Party:

Description:
While the Communists have distanced themselves from the 1948-89 era, they continue to advocate a state-regulated economy and higher taxes for the rich. Their platform also calls for free education, free health care, a 35-hour work week and measures against the "Americanization" of Czech culture (through broadcasting regulations, for example). They want to review controversial privatizations, stop privatization and reverse the deregulation of rents and utility costs.
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia failed to transform itself into a modern left-wing party of the kind which exists in neighboring countries. It is the last of the former totalitarian parties in Central Europe to retain the name ‘Communist.’ Splinter groups have broken off from the party because of internal divisions, leading to the establishment of several new parties. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) holds 24 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 2 seats in the Senate.

MINOR PARTIES

Sdruzení pro republiku - Republikánská strana Ceskoslovenska (SPR-RSE) - The Assembly for the Republic - Republican Party of Czechoslovakia
Chairman: Miroslav Sládek
Founded on December 26, 1989, the SPR-RSC is an extremely nationalistic right-wing party similar to the German Republicans and the French Republican Party. Party has a large support among young skinhead groups. Their manifesto calls for radical restrictions on state intervention in the economy and as well as on foreign business in the Czech Republic; lowering taxes; a declaration of neutrality and refusal to join NATO; no negotiations with Germany on reparations for Sudeten Germans expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II; free education and social benefits; a reintroduction of the death penalty; restrictions on immigration; the cancellation of "illegitimate benefits" for Gypsies and the absolute prohibition on the production, distribution and use of drugs. In the elections 1998 the party received only 3,9 % thus they have no representatives in Chamber of Deputies.

Duchodci za zivotní jistoty (DZJ) - Pensioners for a Secure Life
Chairmen: Eduard Kremlicka
A single-issue party, it continues to attract people who must pay for rising health and housing costs with pensions that have decreased in real terms since 1989. In March, support for the DZJ rose above the 5 percent minimum necessary to gain seats in Parliament. Though the market-oriented parties have dismissed the DZJ as communists, they are unlikely to win over many DZJ supporters, given their record on issues of relevance to elderly voters. They were not successful and received 3,06 % of votes in 1998 elections, therefore they are not in the Chamber of Deputies.

Obcanská demokratická aliance (ODA) - Civic Democratic Alliance:
Chairmen: Daniel Kroupa
The right wing neoliberal party supports the integration of the Czech Republic into the NATO and the EU, is in favor of market economy and has modern liberal ideas. ODA did not participate in the early 1998 elections.

Demokratická unie (DEU) - Democratic Union
Chairman: Ratibor Majzlik
DEU holds 2 seats in the Senate.

Strana zelených - Green Party
Chairman: Emil Zeman

Obcanská koalice-Politický klub - Civic Coalition-Political Club
Chairman: Jozef Wagner

References:
Broklová, Eva : Czechoslovak Democracy (Political System of CSR1918-1938), Praha, Slon, 1992 Traditions & Present Problems
of Political Culture.
Czech Philosophical Studies I., edited by M.Vejra3ka, M.Bednáo, Council
for Research in Values & Philosophy, 1994
Wolchik S. L.: Czechoslovakia in Transition: Politics, Economics and
Society, London, Pinter, 1991
Web pages of the political parties and state institutions