National Council

in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic the highest representative organs of authority in both the Czech and Slovak Republics; established by the Constitutional Law on Federalization in 1968. Each national council is elected for five years by the citizens of the respective republic by secret ballot under universal, equal, and direct suffrage. The national council is the only legislative body for the republic. The right of legislative initiative is vested in the council’s deputies and committees and the government of the republic. Sessions of the council are called at least twice a year. Between sessions, the powers of the national council, except those related to the passage of constitutional laws and the adoption of the republic budget, are exercised by an appointed presidium.