The National Council is according to the Constitution of Slovenia the representative of social, economic, professional and local interest groups in Slovenia. The Council may be regarded as an upper house within a distinctively incomplete bicameralism; it has a legislative function as a corrective and oversight mechanism for the National Assembly, though it does not itself pass acts. It is not elected directly by the population, but is meant to represent significant interest groups in the country. Councilors are elected for a five-year term. Elections to the National Council are not regulated by the Constitution, but by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly. The current president of the National Council (from 19 December 2022) is Marko Lotrič.

Composition

The council has 40 members: The local (or "territorial") councilors are elected by municipal bodies, while the remaining "functional" councilors are elected by professional and interest-group associations. The Council is officially nonpartisan, though parties exert an influence on the selection of local councilors.

History

Prior to 1992, the Parliament of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia had a tricameral structure, comprising a Sociopolitical Assembly, a Municipalities' Assembly, and an Assembly of United Labor. The National Council is the successor of the latter two chambers, and is similarly geared toward the representation of local, economic, and occupational interests.

Competences

Most of the National Council's powers are advisory in nature. It may: The Council also possesses a single non-advisory power, the suspensive veto: it may by majority vote suspend any new law within seven days of its passage. Laws suspended by a Council veto can be reconfirmed by the National Assembly, but an absolute majority of the chamber is required on second passage. Laws pertaining solely to the state budget are exempt from the veto, and the Council cannot veto the same law a second time.

Presidents of the National Council