Czech Socialist Republic

Česká socialistická republika Česká republika Czech Socialist Republic Czech Republic Federal subject of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1969—1990) and Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (1990—1993) ← 1969–1993 → Official flag in 1990—1992 Small coat of arms of the Czech Republic from 1992 Czech Socialist Republic within CSSR Capital Prague Government Socialist republic (1968—1989) Parliamentary republic (from 1989) Legislature Czech National Council History  - Constitutional Law of Federation 1 January 1969  - Velvet Revolution 17 November – 29 December 1989  - Independence 1 January 1993

From 1969 to 1990, the Czech Socialist Republic (Česká socialistická republika in Czech; abbreviated ČSR) was the official name of that part of Czechoslovakia that is the Czech Republic today. The name was used from 1 January 1969 to March 1990.

History

After the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968, liberalisation reforms were stopped and reverted. The only exception was the federalization of the country. The former centralist state Czechoslovakia was divided in two parts: the Czech Socialist Republic and Slovak Socialist Republic by the Constitutional Law of Federation of 28 October 1968, which went into effect on 1 January 1969. New national parliaments (the Czech National Council and the Slovak National Council) were created and the traditional parliament of Czechoslovakia was renamed the "Federal Assembly" and was divided in two chambers: the House of the people (cz:Sněmovna lidu / sk:Snemovňa ľudu) and the House of Nations (cz:Sněmovna národů / sk:Snemovňa národov). Very complicated rules of voting were put in effect.

After the fall of socialism in Czechoslovakia, the word "socialist" was dropped in the names of the two republics, i.e. the Czech Socialist Republic was renamed Czech Republic (though it was still a part of Czechoslovakia).

The complicated system of parliament voting (there were de-facto 5 different bodies each having right of veto) was kept after the fall of socialism, complicating and delaying political decisions during radical changes in economy.

Later, in 1993, the Czech Republic became an independent state (see Dissolution of Czechoslovakia).

See also

• Constitutional Law of Federation
• History of Czechoslovakia
• Slovak Socialist Republic
• Czech and Slovak Federal Republic

External links

• Constitutional Law of Federation (in Czech)