Lobbying Influence Mapping Example: Decision-making process in the Czech Republic

Agenda Homework from March 8: Find examples of organizations in your countries and explain on them principals of fundraising. Decision-making process in Czech republic and lobbying Our guest: ing. Zbyněk Kozel, general manager of Eko-Kom

Decision-making process in CR Legislative process Bills Bills are introduced in the Chamber of Deputies by a single deputy, a group of deputies, the Senate, the government or regional councils. Adoption of bills by the Parliament Proposed legislation must pass through first, second and third reading in the Chamber of Deputies. In the first reading, if the bill is not rejected as a whole, it is referred for consideration to the relevant committees. In the second reading individual amendments to the bill are proposed, which can then be passed in the third reading. At the end of the third reading the bill is passed by the Chamber of Deputies as a whole.

Decision-making process in CR President After the bill has been debated by the Senate or repeatedly passed by the Chamber of Deputies, it is then sent to the President of the Republic for signing. It is the president’s right to reject the bill, in which case it is referred back to the Chamber of Deputies, which again requires 101 votes to outvote the presidential veto. Some bills can thus be considered by the Chamber of Deputies three times. Ministry regulations, government orders A law may authorise a ministry or the government to issue a legal enactment regulating a clearly defined domain. Such legal enactment is called regulation („vyhláška“) or government order („nařízení vlády“) and it is passed neither by the Parliament, nor by the President. It is published in the Collection of Laws.

Czech constitution Constitutional draft bills or changes to the Czech Republic’s constitution represent a special category and as such are required to be passed by both Chambers. The approval of three fifths of all the Deputies and three fifth of the present Senators is needed. Where constitutional and election laws are concerned, the Chamber of Deputies cannot outvote the Senate’s veto.