Belarus

Council of the Republic

Political system
Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Oversight

Oversight tools

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government
Yes

Sources:

Clause 2, Article 103, Clause 4, Article 106 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus

http://www.house.gov.by/en/constitution-of-the-republic-of-belarus-en/

Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials
Yes

Sources:

Clause 3, Article 103 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus

http://www.house.gov.by/en/constitution-of-the-republic-of-belarus-en/

Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes

Sources: Sub-clause 2, Clause 1, Article 98 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus; Ordinance of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 19 December 2001;№ 759 the Standing Committee of the Council of the Republic; Sub- clause 2, Clause 1, Article 98.

Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes
Number of written questions asked, per year
0
(2020)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
0
(2020)

Notes:

As of 2021, Senators send requests and inquiries to executive authorities, but no statistical data is kept.

Constitution, Article 103.

Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
0.0%
(2020)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries
Yes

Sources: Article 88 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus; Article 14 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus"

Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
0
(2024)

Head of State and/or Government

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Parliament approves a nomination for the Head of Government

Notes: The Prime minister shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus with the consent of the House of Representatives. The decision to this order shall be taken by the House of Representatives within two weeks since the nomination of the candidacy of the Prime minister. If the House of Representatives rejects the submitted nomination of the Prime minister twice, the President shall appoint the acting Prime minister on his own, and dissolve the House of Representatives and call new elections.

Sources: Articles 97 and 106 of the Constitution; Article 25 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus."

The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
Parliament does not play a role

Notes: The House of Representatives calls elections for the Presidency.

Sources: Articles 81 and 97 of the Constitution; Article 24 of the Law "On the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus".

Impeachment and confidence motions

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
No
Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
No information available

Impeachment procedure

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
Individual members of the Executive
Other
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment
Lower chamber
Upper chamber

Notes: The House of Representatives on the basis of the decision of the Council of the Republic and with no less than a two-thirds majority of the full composition of the House take the decision to remove the President from office.

Sources: Articles 97 and 98 of the Constitution, Article 14 of the Law "On the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus"

No confidence processes

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
The whole Government
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence
Lower chamber

Sources: Articles 94, 97, 106 of the Constitution, Articles 26, 27, 28 of the Law "On the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus"

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No