Belarus

Law-making

Data on parliament’s law-making role and activities

Legislative activity

Number of laws adopted by parliament, per year
59 (2021)
See historical data for this field.
Notes For some parliaments, data can not be presented on an annual basis, for example because parliamentary sessions run from April to March of the following year. In such cases, the period to which the data corresponds is specified here.
In addition to Parliament and the Executive, 23 laws were initiated by the President of the Republic of Belarus in the 2016-2019 legislature.



Article 99 of the Constitution enshrines the right of a legislative initiative to belong to "the President, deputies of the House of Representatives, the Council of the Republic, the Government as well as to citizens eligible to vote, in a number of no less than 50 thousand."
Total number of laws adopted by Parliament in the previous legislature
281 (2019)
See historical data for this field.
Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by parliament
(2019)
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Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by the government
252 (2019)
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Dates of the previous legislature
11.10.2016 to 06.12.2019
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Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation For bicameral parliaments: Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislationNot applicable; The legislation cannot be adopted unless both chambers agree; The decision of the lower chamber will take effect after a certain deadline; The decision of the upper chamber will take effect after a certain deadline; Other (please specify) For bicameral parliaments: Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation
Other (please specify)
Notes
If a draft law is rejected by the Council of the Republic, both Houses may form a conciliatory commission on a parity basis to overcome the existing disagreement. The text of the draft law agreed by the conciliatory commission shall be submitted for approval to both Houses.
If the conciliatory commission fails to pass a compromise draft law, the President or the Government on his instructions may request that the House of Representatives take a final decision. The law shall be deemed to be adopted by the House of Representatives if no less than two thirds of the full composition of the House of Representatives voted for it.
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Article 100 of the Constitution, Article 65 of the Law "On the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus"

Executive-legislative relations

Legislation adopted by parliament requires the assent of the Head of State In some countries, the Constitution foresees that legislation adopted by parliament must be signed into law by the Head of State. If so, the Head of State may, for example, have the power to veto the legislation, return it to parliament, or submit it to another body such as a constitutional court.
Yes
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Sub-clause 24, Clause 1, Article 84 and Article 100 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus; Article 60 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus”
Number of times the Head of State declined to give assent to legislation, per year
(2020)
See historical data for this field.
Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation: Not applicable; No further action is taken. The legislation is rejected; The legislation is returned to Parliament for re-examination; The legislation is referred to the Constitutional/Supreme Court;The legislation is put to a referendum; Other (please specify)
The legislation is returned to Parliament for re-examination
Not applicable. The Head of State cannot decline to give assent to legislation adopted by parliament
No
Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree: Not applicable; Parliament; Head of State; Constitutional/Supreme Court; Other (please specify)
Other (please specify)
Compare data of this field.
Notes
If the President does not agree with the text of the law, he shall return it with his objections to the House of Representatives, which shall consider the law with the President's objections within thirty days. If the law has been adopted by the House of Representatives by a majority of no less than two thirds of the full composition, it with the President's objections shall be submitted within five days to the Council of the Republic, which shall consider it for the second time within twenty days. The law shall be deemed to be adopted if it is approved by a majority of no less than two thirds of the full composition of the Council of the Republic. After the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic have overruled the President's objections, the law shall be signed by the President within five days. The law shall enter into force even if it is not signed by the President within this term.


The President's objections to certain provisions of the law, which are returned for the second vote, shall be considered in the same order. In this instance, prior to the appropriate decision of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic the law shall be signed by 


the President and enter into force except for the provisions which have been objected by 


the President.
Existence of a procedure to introduce emergency legislation
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See historical data for this field.
Not applicable. There is no procedure to introduce emergency legislation.
No