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Legislative Branch
According to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia the legislative power in the Republic shall be vested in the National Assembly. The right to legislative initiative in the National Assembly shall belong to the Deputies and the Government.
The National Assembly shall consist of one hundred and thirty one deputies. Any person having attained the age of twenty five, having been a citizen of the Republic of Armenia for the preceding five years, having permanently resided in the Republic for the preceding five years, and having the right to vote, may be elected a Deputy.
After Armenia had been granted independence September 21, 1991 at the national referendum, it was until 1995, when the main legislative body in the country was the Supreme Counsel of the Republic of Armenia, formed in 1990.
The first elections to the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia were held July 5th, 1995. The 5% barrier prescribed by law was overcome by 5 parties in the following order: the “Republic” Union (50%, 20 deputes), “Shamiram” (20%, 8 deputes), Communist Party of Armenia (15%, 6 deputes), National Democratic Union (7,5%, 3 deputes), National Self-Identification (7,5%, 3 deputes).
The third parliamentary elections took place May 25, 2005 (out of 131 deputes 75 were elected on proportional electoral system and 56 – on majoritarian). The parties that won in the elections (5) and a bloc formed the following factions: “The Republican Party of Armenia” (23 deputes), “Rule of Law - Orinats Yerkir” (12 deputes), “Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun” (11 deputes), “Justice” (14 deputes), “National Unity” (9 deputes). The National Assembly also saw the appearance of the “People’s Deputy” deputy group (16 deputes).
Further regroupings led to reinforcement of the “Republican Party of Armenia”. By the end of the year 2005 the faction distribution was the following: “Republican Party of Armenia” (29,77%, 39 deputes), “Orinats Yerkir” (15,26%, 20 deputes), “Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun” (8,39%, 11 deputes), “Justice” (10,68%, 14 deputes), “National Union” (5,34%, 7 deputes), “United Labor Party” (4,58%, 6 deputes), the “People’s Deputy” deputy group (12,21%, 16 deputes). 18 deputes did not adhere to any faction or deputy group (13,74%).
Presently, the President of the National Assembly is Hovik Abrahamyan (since September 29, 2008), member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) faction.
After the Constitution had been amended through the referendum November 27, 2005, the position of the National Assembly had reinforced.
The Activity of the National Assembly
The powers of the National Assembly are defined by the Constitution.
Upon the recommendation of the President of Republic the National Assembly shall:
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declare amnesty;
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ratify, suspend or denounce the international treaties of the Republic of Armenia;
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resolve on declaring war and proclaiming peace. In the event when convening a sitting of the National Assembly is impossible, the President of Republic shall solve the issue of declaring war.
The National Assembly shall, upon the recommendation of the Government, approve the administrative territorial division of the Republic.
The National Assembly shall adopt the state budget upon its submission by the Government.
The National Assembly may express no confidence in the Government by a majority vote of the total number of the Deputies. The draft resolution on expressing no confidence in the Government may be submitted by the President of the Republic or by at least one third of the total number of the Deputies. During martial law or state of emergency no such draft resolution may be presented.
The order of the dissolution of the National Assembly
The President of the Republic shall dissolve the National Assembly if the National Assembly does not give an approval to the program of the Government two times in succession within two months.
The President of Republic may also dissolve the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the National Assembly or the Prime Minister in the following cases:
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If the National Assembly fails within three months to resolve on the draft law deemed urgent by the decision of the Government or;
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If in the course of a regular session no sittings of the National Assembly are convened for more than three months or
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If in the course of a regular session the National Assembly fails for more than three months to adopt a resolution on issues under debate.
The National Assembly may not be dissolved during the of state of martial law and state of emergency as well as in the event a motion on impeaching the President of Republic is put forward. In the course of martial law or state of emergency elections to the National Assembly may not be held and the term of office of the National Assembly shall be extended until the opening of the first session of the newly elected National Assembly following the end of the martial law and state of emergency. In this case the election to the National
Assembly shall be held no sooner, than fifty and no later than sixty days after the state of emergency or martial law is abolished.
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