| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Sobranie / Assembly of the Republic |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| NATURE |
| Nature of the mandate |
· Free representation (Art. 62 (3) of the Constitution of 17.11.1991, as amended up to and including 06.01.1992) |
| Start of the mandate |
· When the mandates are validated (Art. 20 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, see Validation of mandates) |
| Validation of mandates |
· Validation by the Assembly (Art. 63 (1) of the Constitution)
· Procedure (Art. 5 to 11 of the Temporary Regulations of the Assembly of the Socialistic Republic of Macedonia)
|
| End of the mandate |
· On the day when the newly elected Parliament meets (for early dissolution, see Art. 63 (5) of the Constitution)
|
| Can MPs resign? |
Yes |
· Yes, of their own free will (Art. 65 (1) of the Constitution)
· Procedure (Art. 65 (2) of the Constitution): the representative submits his resignation in person at a session of the Assembly.
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the resignation does not need to be accepted
|
| Can MPs lose their mandate? |
Yes |
(a) No revocation before expiry of mandate (Art. 62 (4) of the Constitution)
(b) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter (Art. 65 (4) of the Constitution):
- Commission of a criminal offence making the person unfit to perform the office of a representative
- Absence from the Assembly for longer than 6 months for no justifiable reason
- General procedure: decision of the Assembly by a two-thirds majority vote of all representatives
(c) Loss of mandate by judicial decision: sentence for criminal offence for which a prison sentence of at least five years is prescribed (Art. 65 (3) of the Constitution)
|
| STATUS OF MEMBERS |
| Rank in hierarchy |
· Within Parliament:
1. The President
2. The Vice-Presidents
3. The Chairmen of permanent and temporary working bodies
4. The Co-ordinators of parliamentary groups
5. The other MPs
|
| Indemnities, facilities and services |
· Diplomatic passport (Law on Travel Documents of the Citizens of the Republic of Macedonia)
· Basic salary (Art. 64 (6) of the Constitution, Law on Salaries and Other Indemnities of the Representatives in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia and Other Elected and Appointed Officials in the Republic of Macedonia): MKD 18.977, if chosen
+ Representative Allowance: MKD 5.360 per month
· The basic salary is not tax exempt. The Representative Allowance is taxed with personal income tax, but exempt from contributions.
· Pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat/assistants (see also Art. 62 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia): Service of the Assembly; cabinet for the President and Vice-Presidents; technical secretaries for the Co-ordinators of parliamentary groups and for the parliamentary groups
(c) Official housing for the representatives who receive a salary in the Assembly
(d) Official cars of the Assembly, for official duties and for the President and the Vice-Presidents
(e) Travel and transport: free railway and bus transport
|
| Obligation to declare personal assets |
No |
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability |
· The concept does exist (Art. 64 (1) and (2) of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
· No derogations are foreseen.
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins.
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability |
· The concept does exist (Art. 64 (1) and (3) of the Constitution).
· It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences with the exception of minor offences (infringements) and protects MPs only from arrest and from being held in preventive custody. See also Loss of mandate - (b), and (c).
· Derogations: when caught in flagrante delicto, committing a criminal offence for which a prison sentence of at least five years is prescribed, a representative can be detained.
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate. Since it does not cover judicial proceedings in general, it does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 64 (3) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the Assembly, on recommendation of the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Issues of Mandate and Immunity
- Procedure (Art. 64 (4) of the Constitution).
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions.
· Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members.
|
| EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE |
| Training |
· There is no training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs.
· Handbooks of parliamentary procedure:
- Temporary Regulations of the Assembly of the Socialistic Republic of Macedonia
- Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia
|
| Participation in the work of the Parliament |
· It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, meetings of working bodies and other meetings (Art. 26 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia). For leave of absence, see Art. 28 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia.
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation (Art. 65 (4) of the Constitution): loss of mandate
· Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the Assembly
|
| Discipline |
· The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Art. 108 to 111 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia.
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Warning (Art. 109 and 110 (1) and (3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia)
- Order to cease speaking (Art. 109 and 110 (2) and (3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia)
- Adjournment of the sitting (Art. 111 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia)
· Specific cases:
- MPs cannot be accused of offending or insulting Parliament.
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties (Art. 108 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia): the President
· Procedure (Art. 109 to 111 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia)
|
| Code (rules) of conduct |
· This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system.
|
| Relations between MPs and pressure group |
· There are no legal provisions in this field.
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Mandate module
