Estonia

The Estonian Parliament

Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Unicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Oversight

Data on parliament’s oversight role and activities

Oversight tools

Parliament has the power to summon members of the government
Yes
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Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, Articles 139 – 140
Parliament has the power to summon senior government officials
Yes
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Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, Article 22
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments Key government appointments include, for example, ambassadors or the head of the central bank.
No
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Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
0
Number of written questions asked, per year
90 (2020)
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Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
84 (2020)
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Parliament has power to carry out inquiries
Yes
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, Article 20.
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
38 (2020)
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Head of State and/or Government

Head of State and/or Government
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government Some parliaments elect the Head of Government or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Parliament approves a nomination for the Head of Government
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, Article 65, point 5;
Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, Articles 131 – 132.

The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia (in English):
https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/530102013003/consolide

Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act (in English): http://www.riigikogu.ee/public/Riigikogu/Dokumendid/RK_kodu-_ja_tookorra_seadus_EN_-_muudetud_2013.pdf
The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State Some parliaments designate the Head of State or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Other (please specify)
Notes
The President is elected by the Riigikogu or by the Electoral College. (If the President is not selected in the third round of voting in the Riigikogu, the Electoral College is convened by the Speaker of the Riigikogu within one month to select the President.)
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, Article 65 point 3 and article 79.

Impeachment and confidence motions

Procedure for parliament
There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution There is a procedure to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; The Head of State; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
Not applicable (there is no procedure)
Impeachment Role
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
The whole Government
The Head of Government
Individual members of the Executive
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, Article 65 point 13;
Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, Articles 133 – 138.
Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted In some countries, the adoption of a motion of no confidence in the Government automatically leads to the dissolution of Parliament in certain countries. In other cases, a new government can be formed.
No