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Senate of the Czech Republic

The Senate of the Czech Republic is the upper chamber of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. The Constitution vests legislative power in Parliament, which consists of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.[1] The Senate has 81 senators elected for six years, with one third elected every two years.[1]*

Origins and seat

The Constitution of the Czech Republic, dated 16 December 1992, took effect on 1 January 1993.[1][2] The first Senate elections were held in 1996. The constituent session took place on 18 December 1996 in the Main Hall of the Wallenstein Palace, and Petr Pithart was elected the first President of the Senate.[2] The Senate occupies three palaces in Malá Strana, Prague: the Wallenstein, Kolowrat and Small Fürstenberg palaces.[2]

Elections and structure

Senators are elected under a majoritarian system, while the Chamber of Deputies uses proportional representation.[1] Any citizen with the right to vote who has reached the age of 40 may be elected.[1] Under the Senate Rules of Procedure Act, the President of the Senate represents the chamber externally and the vice-presidents deputise in the order he or she sets. The Senate forms an organisational committee, a mandate and immunity committee and other committees from among its members, and may set up standing or temporary commissions.[3]

Powers

The Senate considers a bill passed by the Chamber of Deputies within 30 days. It may approve it, reject it, return it with amendments, or decline to deal with it, which has the same effect as approval.[1] When the Chamber of Deputies is dissolved, the Senate adopts legislative measures on urgent matters. These may not concern constitutional acts, the state budget, electoral law or international treaties.[1] The fifteen judges of the Constitutional Court are appointed by the President of the Republic with the Senate's consent for ten years.[1] With the consent of the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate may bring a constitutional charge against the President of the Republic before the Constitutional Court.[1] The President of the Senate is one of the seven holders of the keys to the Crown Chamber, where the Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept.[6]

September 2026

On 30 September 2026 the Senate approved a proposal on troop deployments abroad that lowers the maximum number of soldiers sent to defend NATO's eastern flank from 2,000 to 1,600.[4] Municipal elections and the first round of Senate elections were scheduled for 9 and 10 October 2026.[5]

Sources

  1. Zákony pro lidi
  2. Senát Parlamentu České republiky
  3. Zákony pro lidi
  4. ČTK / České noviny — 2026-09-30
  5. ČTK / České noviny — 2026-09-28
  6. ČTK / České noviny — 2026-09-19

* The sources are collected and the preliminary text of this entry is drafted with artificial intelligence, on the instruction of the editorial staff; the entry has not yet been verified by an editor — report a mistake.