Brief information

The legal status of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus is defined by the Constitution of the country. According to Article 90 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus is a two-chamber representative and legislative body of the Republic of Belarus.

The House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus comprises 110 deputies elected on the basis of a universal, free, equal and direct suffrage by secret vote. In conformity with the Constitution, the right to nominate candidates for deputies belongs to public associations, labour collectives and citizens of the Republic of Belarus. A citizen of the Republic of Belarus beginning from the age of 21 may be a candidate for a deputy to the House of Representatives.

The Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus is a chamber of territorial representation and consists of 64 members. The procedure of forming the Council of the Republic combines elements of election and appointment. Eight members of the Council of the Republic are appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus and the remaining members are elected by secret vote: eight members of the Council of the Republic are elected from each of the country's region and Minsk City at sessions of local Soviets of Deputies of the basic level. A citizen of the Republic of Belarus aged 30 and more, who has lived on the territory of the respective region or Minsk City for at least five years may be a member of the Council of the Republic.

The main functions of the Parliament of the Republic of Belarus, like those of parlia­ments of the majority of countries of the world, are as follows:

1. law-making;
2. adoption of the state budget;
3. participation in the formation of the executive and judicial powers;
4. exercise of control functions;
5. foreign policy activities.

These functions are performed by the chambers of Parliament in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus.