The Political System of Hungary

Institutions

What is a political system

A political system is a complete set of institutions (interest groups, political groups, parties, trade unions, lobby groups), the groups), relationships between those institutions and the political norms and rules that govern their functions (constitution, election law).

What is an institution?
an organization founded and united for a specific purpose a custom that for a long time has been an important feature of some group or society; "the institution of marriage"; "the institution of slavery"; "he had become an institution in the theater

Most important political institutions in the Hungarian political system

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Government Parliament President Constitutional Court Ombudsman Municipalities (local government) Political parties

The Government
How do you become Prime Minister?
First step: you are the candidate of the political party that gets the most votes at the elections. Second step: the President appoints you (this has been tradition since 1990) as Prime Minister* Minister* Third step: you draw up your political programme as PM (a speech in Parliament Fourth step: Parliament votes about you and your programme and elects you with a 50%+1 vote majority (194 votes).
*the President may appoint anybody s/he prefers, but this would go against tradition and Parliament could override him/her.

The Government
What do you do once you are the Prime Minister?
Step 1: You select your cabinet the Ministers in your government. (the President appoints them pure formality) Step 2: You run the country 2: you coordinate the executive branch of the political system

The Government
What do you do as a government? you are responsible for:  ensuring that the laws of the country are implemented  coordinating the ministries  controlling the functioning of the local governments  scientific and cultural development,  social care and health care systems  public order (coordination of armed forces and the police, taking action in the case of a natural disaster, etc.)  foreign policy (international contracts, representing Hungary in the EU)

The Government
When does a new government have to be formed?  After a new Parliament has been elected  If the Prime Minister dies  If the Prime Minister loses his right to vote (commits a crime, treason, etc.)  If the Prime Minister resigns  If the parliament elects a new Prime Minsister through a constructive vote of no confidence

The Government
What is a constructive vote of no confidene? confidene?
 At least 20% of the MPs say they do not want the current Prime Minister as Prime Minister anymore they submit a constructive motion of no confidence: confidence:
 No confidence, because they have no confidence in him confidence,  Constructive, because they have to name their own candidate for Constructive, Prime Minister. Minister.

 The Parliament votes

 if they accept the motion of no confidence (50%+1), then the candidate they named automatically becomes Prime Minister  If they dont, the current Prime Minister remains Prime Minister dont,

The Parliament
Roles of Parliament:  Making laws (including the Constitution)  Foreign policy: concluding the most important contracts (e.g.: contract about Hungarys accession to the EU, deciding about starting a war or concluding a peace treaty.)  Controlling the Government (questioning, motions of no confidence, accepting the budget)

The Parliament
The structure of the Parliament
1.

2.

Committees: Committees: not public, this is where proposals for laws are discussed. This is a professional forum helping legislation. The plenary session: public, this is where the session: debates are held and the laws are accepted or rejected, this is where the government can be questioned.

The Parliament
 1. 2. 3. 4.

Who can propose a law? Government President Any Member of Parliament Parliamentary Committes

The Parliament
Bills submitted in Parliament
120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Success rate of bills submitted

100% 73%

87%

0% 31% 48%

Government Committe MP President

16%

nm en

m itt

G ov er

Co m

Pr e

sid

en t

21%

The President
Elected for 5 years! Election process: Round 1: In Parliament, with a two-thirds majority (66,66%) twoRound 2: In Parliament, with a two-thirds majority (66,66%) twoRound 3: In Parliament, with a 50%+1 majority.
Result: the political parties in government are usually able to elect the President s/he is not an indepenent person and has limited legitimacy.

The President
The roles of the President: President:
  

Foreign policy (represents the country) (represents Setting the dates for elections handing out awards and medals

+ s/he can propose a bill in Parliament and appoints the Prime Minister after an election. election.

The Constitutional Court

The Constitutional Court is responsible for making sure that the constitution of Hungary is not violated by a certain law or government action. It has 15 members, elected by Parliament (two-thirds majority) for 9 years.

The Ombudsman
 

The word comes from Swedish, meaning: Swedish, meaning: representative The Ombudsman safeguards the rights of the citizens and assists them when the state make laws or steps that harm them. them. There are currently 3 Ombudsman in Hungary:
1. Ombudsman for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (-) 2. Ombudsman for National and Ethnic Minorities Rights (Ern Kllai) 3. Ombudsman for Civil Rights (Mt Szab) ACCORDING TO NEW CONSTITUTION FROM 1st JANUARY 2012 THERE IS ONLY ONE!! Commissioner For Fundamental Rights. Rights.