The Government and Political System in Slovenia

The government of Slovenia is parliamentary democracy in type based on a Constitution adopted on December 23, 1991. It is run through the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches and various Cabinet ministries for national government administration, and 58 administrative units, 12 statistical regions and 201 municipalities, for local government administration.

The Executive Branch has the President as head of state who is elected directly for a term of five years, and the Prime Minister as head of government, who is elected by the 90-member National Assembly upon the recommendation of the President.

The Legislative Branch is a bicameral legislature composed of the 90-member National Assembly directly elected for a term of four years, and the National Council of 40 members elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term to represent social, economic, professional and local interests and concerns.

The Judicial Branch consists of the Constitutional Court, which is the highest judicial body in the country empowered to review legislations to ensure consistency with the Country’s Constitution, the regular courts, and public prosecutor’s offices.

The Cabinet ministries help run the affairs of the national government. Three ministers without portfolio are also appointed by the President to oversee matters concerning regional policy, European affairs, and the Slovenes abroad.

As overseers of ministerial activities at the local level, the administrative units evaluate the legitimacy of the operations of local self-governing units in statistical regions and municipalities.  The municipality is governed by a municipal council called Supreme Body, headed by an elected mayor and a vice-mayor selected from the members of the municipal council.