National Assembly (Armenia)

National Assembly
Type
Type	Unicameral
Leadership
Speaker	Galust Sahakyan, Republican Since 29 April 2014
Structure
Seats	131
Political groups	Government:      Republican Party (70) Opposition and others      Prosperous Armenia (33)      ANC (7)      Rule of Law (5)      ARF (5)      Heritage (4)      Non-partisans (7)
Elections
Voting system	90 by Party list PR 41 by constituencies
Last election	6 May 2012
Next election	2017
Meeting place
National Assembly Building 19 Baghramyan Yerevan, 0095 Republic of Armenia
Website
National Assembly of Armenia

Aerial view of the building and premises

The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia (Armenian: Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Ազգային ժողով, Hayastani Hanrapetyut'yan Azgayin zhoghov or simply Ազգային ժողով, ԱԺ Azgayin Zhoghov, AZh), also informally referred to as the Parliament of Armenia (խորհրդարան, khorhrdaran) is the legislative branch of the government of Armenia.

Overview

The National Assembly is a unicameral body. It comprises 131 members, elected for five-year terms: 41 members in single-seat constituencies and 90 by proportional representation. The proportional-representation seats in the National Assembly are assigned on a party-list basis amongst those parties that receive at least 5% of the total of the number of the votes. The current speaker of the National Assembly is Galust Sahakyan.

History

In Armenian history, national or secular assemblies were convened even in ancient times, but those differed a lot from what we know today. They were convened for adopting decisions on serious and decisive issues faced by the nation, as well as aiming to adopt rules regulating social relations. This is of course, very far from essential parliamentarianism, which is considered to be permanently processing representative legislator elected by people, but it includes its primary components, the alderman, deciding the people’s destiny, debating issues and adopted by voting critical decisions and rules for the nation and organizing constituent activity and set up relations according to them.

In Armenian history the concept of parliamentary governance was born at the end of 18th century. SH. Shahamiryan in the work “Vorogayt Pararts” (1773, Madras) for the first time formulated the main provisions on constitutional republic and parliamentary order.

The parliament of the first Republic of Armenia, declared on May 28 1918, was convened on August 1. A government was established, mainly from Dashnaktsakans. H. Kajaznuni was appointed as Prime Minister. In hard historical-political times, the Republic of Armenia, existing only two and a half years, was a country governed by parliamentary principles. The parliament was one chambered and had standing committees and a council of elders. The Government of the Republic was accountable to the legislative body - Parliament.

Four political factions formulated parliament - Armenian Revolutionary Federation(ARF), Social -Democratic Hnchakyan Party(SDP), Social Revolutionaries and People’s Party of Armenian. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation was a governing party, with a parliamentary plurality, while the others were in opposition. The Armenian Parliament, during its existence, adopted more than 1000 laws and legal documents, having power of law related to the inner and foreign policy of the Republic.

In 1920 Soviet orders were established in Armenia and the authorities of the Supreme Council of the ASSR were defined by the ASSR Constitution. The Supreme Council of the ASSR was competent to solve, by the USSR and ASSR constitution, all the issues reserved for the ASSR authority. It was elected for a five year term and consisted of one chamber of 340 Parliament Members who were elected by electoral districts, having equal population. The activity order of the ASSR Supreme Council and its bodies was defined by the rules of the procedures of the ASSR Supreme Council and ASSR other laws. The ASSR Supreme Council appointed the president of the ASSR Ministers Council.

The Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia began its work on July 20, 1990 and completed on May 15, 1995. 1169 decisions and 185 laws were adopted during that term, 104 of which were “basic” laws and 81 on making amendments and agenda to the laws in function. International 148 treaties were ratified.

After the adoption of constitution in 1995 the Supreme Council was renamed The National Assembly of Armenia and in 2012 the fifth convocation of the National Assembly was elected with 131 deputies (90 proportional and 41 majoritarian electoral system). Six parliamentary factions were created in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia of the fifth convocation: "Republican Party of Armenia" faction (69 Parliament Members,) "Prosperous Armenia" faction (37 Parliament Members,) "Armenian National Congress" faction (7 Parliament Member,) "Rule of Law" faction (6 Parliament Members,) "Armenian Revolutionary Federation" faction (5 Parliament Members,) "Heritage" faction (5 Parliament Members.) 2 Deputies were not included in those factions.

The first session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia of the fifth convocation was convened on May 31, 2012. Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan was elected President of the National Assembly, Mr. E. Sharmazanov and Ms. H. Naghdalyan were elected Vice-Presidents. 12 Chairs for the Standing Committees were also elected.

By the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia on April 13, 2014 Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan was appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. Mr. Galust Sahakyan was appointed President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on April 29, 2014.

Structure

The first convocation of The National Assembly of Armenia used to have 190 deputies, but this number was reduced to 131 for the second convocation and remains constant till now. Only political parties which overcome the barrier of 5% get seats in the Parliament. The number of those parties reached to 6 in the fifth convocation of the National Assembly of Armenia. The seats are divided as follows: “Republican Party of Armenia” (70 deputies), “Prosperous Armenia” (33 deputies), “Armenian National Congress” (7 deputies), “Rule of Law” (5 deputies), “Armenian Revolutionary Federation” (5 deputies), “Heritage” (4 deputies). After elections factions by the names of each party that got more than 5 % of the votes are created. There are also 6 deputies that do not belong to any party and 1 deputy that belongs to the “Free Democrats” party.

According to the article 73 of the constitution not more than twelve standing committees may be in the National Assembly to review the draft legal acts and provide conclusion for the Parliament. The rules of the procedure of the standing committee are approved by the decision of the committee itself. Each of the committees has one administrative assistant and three experts. Sub-committees and working groups may be established by a standing committee by electing their heads and defining their tasks and procedure of activities.

According to the same article of the constitution ad-hoc committees are established for the preliminary discussion of the draft laws and providing conclusions on different issues, events and facts to the National Assembly. Unlike the standing committees, tasks and procedure of action of the ad-hoc committee is defined by the National Assembly. The ad-hoc returning committee (The Returning Committee). This committee is set up by the resolution of the national assembly at the first four day of each regular session. The decisions of the committee are adopted by the majority vote of its members. The function of this committee is to organize voting by secret ballot and submit the results to the National Assembly, register the deputies and count the votes.

According to the rules of procedure of the National Assembly the Ethics Committee is established upon the recommendation of the factions at the first four-day sitting of the first session of the National Assembly, as well as of each regular session, and functions until the formation of the next ethics committee of the National Assembly of the same convocation. This committee:

a) submits a conclusion to the National Assembly on the violation by a Deputy of the requirements of Paragraph 1 of Article 65 of the Constitution;

b) decides on the issue of violation by a Deputy of the rules of ethics foreseen by Paragraph 2 of Article 6.1 of the law of procedure of the National Assembly;

c) Decides on the failure by a Deputy to meet the requirement of Paragraph 3 of Article 6.2. of the law of procedure of the National Assembly on making a statement on conflict of interest;

d) Submits a conclusion to the Deputy on deeming the work indicated by him/her compatible with Article 24 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Public Service;

e) Submits a conclusion to a Deputy on the need to make a statement on conflict of interest on an issue indicated by him/her in the manner prescribed by Paragraph 3 of Article 6.2. of the law of procedure of the National Assembly.

Another committee is a Lead Committee which is set up by the chairperson of the National Assembly from the standing and ad-hoc committees. The representative of this committee makes a report on the decisions of the committee during the sitting of the National Assembly.

Electoral System

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The NA is elected for five-year terms and the elections are held by proportional and majoritarian systems. 56 deputies are elected by proportional system from among the number of candidates nominated for deputy by lists from one multi-mandate constituency, covering the entire territory of the Republic. 75 deputies are elected by majoritarian system - one deputy from one constituency. Every citizen is entitled to one vote at the multi-mandate constituency, and one vote at the single-mandate constituency. A citizen can be nominated exclusively by one list and exclusively at one majoritarian constituency. Requirements for a Candidate for Deputy are the following: anyone who has attained the age of 25 years, has been a citizen of the Republic of Armenia for the last five years, has been a permanently residing in the Republic of Armenia for the last five years and has the right to vote, can be elected a Deputy. However, Members of the Constitutional Court, judges, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, the Mayor of Yerevan, Deputy Mayor, Governors, Deputy Governors, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and National Security, employees of tax inspection and customs department, employees of the prosecutor's office, the military, and the insurance agents (employees of the social security) cannot be nominated as candidates for deputy to the National Assembly by majoritarian system. The above-mentioned persons can be registered as candidates for the deputy of the National Assembly after they resign from the positions they are holding. Also, Members of the Constitutional Court, judges, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and National Security, employees of tax inspection and customs department, employees of the prosecutor's office, and the military cannot be nominated as candidates for deputy to the National Assembly by proportional system. The above-mentioned persons can be registered as candidates for the deputy of the National Assembly by proportional system after they resign from the position they are holding. For conducting the National Assembly majoritarian elections 75 constituencies are formed on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, which shall meet the following requirements: Equal number of voters shall be included in the constituencies; up to 15 per cent difference of the number of voters is allowed; constituencies form a unified territory; it is not allowed to include precincts without common borders in one constituency. constituencies are formed and numbered by the Central Electoral Commission, on the basis of the number of voters registered in their regions, which is provided by the Governors. The data is submitted according to the communities, at least 95 days prior to the day of elections. Also, The Central Electoral Commission establishes and publishes the numbered list of the single-mandate constituencies and their scheme, at least 90 days prior to the day of elections. During the extraordinary elections constituencies do not undergo changes.

Nomination and Registration of Candidates for Deputies

The Right to Nominate a Candidate for Deputy

Parties and party alliances have the right to nominate candidates for deputies to the National Assembly by proportional system. Party alliances can be set up in the event if at least two parties form a pre-electoral union. In the period of elections, parties, within a party alliance, cannot join other party alliances. The decision on joining a party alliance is made by the permanently functioning body of the party. The party alliance is registered in the Central Electoral Commission not later than within three days after the submission of the decision of the permanently functioning body of the parties. Lists of the party alliances are compiled from the separate lists presented by the each of the parties within the alliance. The order of the candidates in the party lists of the alliance is decided during the joint consultations of the parties within the alliance. In the event of withdrawal of a party from the party alliance the names of candidates submitted by those parties is withdrawn from the party alliance list. Parties registered in the Republic of Armenia, in accordance with the procedure in Article 104, and the citizens, in accordance with Article 105 of the Electoral Code have the right to nominate candidates for deputies of the National Assembly by majoritarian system.

Nomination for Candidates for Deputies by Proportional and Majoritarian Systems

Parties present application to the Central Electoral Commission on running in elections of the National Assembly by proportional system, upon the decision of their permanently functioning body. Each party has the right to nominate only one list of candidates for deputies. The party within a party alliance has no right to nominate a separate candidates' list on its own behalf. Women shall make at least five per cent of the candidates in the electoral lists presented by a party for the elections to the National Assembly by proportional system. Non-partisan representatives can also be included in the electoral lists presented by a party, by proportional system.

The application of a party on running in the elections of the National Assembly shall include: 

1.party charter (in the event of the party alliance - the charters of al the parties in the alliance), the document on naming the alliance; 2. decision of the permanently functioning body of the party on the nomination of candidates for deputies to the National Assembly by the proportional system, the list of the candidates, which includes - by consecutive numbers - the family name, first name, date of birth, passport number, place of registered residence, place of work and position (occupation) of nominated candidates; 3.receipt on the payment of the electoral deposit in the amount of 2,500 times the minimum salary; 4.references, that the candidates nominated by party lists have been a citizen of the Republic of Armenia within the last five years; 5.references, that the candidates nominated by party lists have been permanently residing in the Republic of Armenia for the last five years; 6. written statement of the candidates nominated by party lists of their consent for being declaration about his/her private property and his/her and his/her family members' income for the last one year; 7. separate party lists presented by the parties within the alliance. For the registration with the Central Electoral Commission the permanently functioning body of a party submits the data of up to three plenipotentiary representatives (family name, first name, date of birth, place of work and position (occupation). The Central Electoral Commission makes sure of the validity of the submitted documents decides to issue official papers for the support of nomination (in the amount requested) to the party, in the person of its plenipotentiary representatives registered in the Central Electoral Commission. The Central Electoral Commission establishes the procedure for the allocation of the official papers of support. If a party within an alliance has refused to be registered, its representatives shall be withdrawn from the general list. The sum of the electoral deposit of the party that has received mandates in the National Assembly by proportional system is returned; the electoral deposit of the parties that have not received mandates - is transferred to the state budget. A party list is considered as nominated, if at least 30,000 citizens have supported its nomination and expressed their will by signing the official papers for the support of nomination. The procedure for collecting signatures in the official papers for the support of nomination of parties, which have submitted application on participation in the elections of the National Assembly by proportional system, and the verification of validity is carried out according to the procedure set forth in Articles 69-70 of the Electoral Code of RA. In the event of recognizing the elections as invalid, the sum of the electoral deposit is returned. Then, in the process of Registration of Party Lists, running in the Elections of the National Assembly by Proportional System a party list is considered as registered, if the party submits all required documents within the determined dates and in compliance with the procedure determined by the Electoral Code of RA. and if at least 30,000 valid signatures are available in the official papers for the support of its nomination. In case of objections around the registration of party list, a voting will be set. If there are no objections, the list is considered registered. The registration of the party list may be rejected following the decision, taken by two thirds of the total number of the members of the commission. The session of the commission discussing the issue of registration of the party list, can be attended by the plenipotentiary representative of the party. However, the Central Electoral commission can make Denial in Registration or Recognition as Invalid of a Party List and the Candidate on it if, However, the Central Electoral commission can make Denial in Registration or Recognition as Invalid of a Party List and the Candidate on it if, 1.The number of valid signatures for the support of the nomination of the party is less than 30,000. 2.Documents submitted for registration are falsified. The Central Electoral Commission denies the registration of a citizen in the party list, if

1.Restrictions set forth by the Code extend onto him/her; 2.Documents submitted for his/her registration are falsified Central Electoral Commission denies the registration of a citizen in the party list by at least two/third vote of the total number of its members. In case of denial of registration of a party list, the sum of electoral deposit is paid back.

Central Electoral Commission declares the registration of the party list invalid, if the following facts are disclosed after the registration: 

1) restrictions set forth by the Code extend onto the party list; 2) documents submitted for registration are falsified. Central Electoral Commission declares the registration of a candidate in the party list invalid, if the following facts are disclosed after the registration: 1) restrictions set forth by the Code extend onto the candidate; 2) documents submitted for the registration of the candidate are falsified. In the above-mentioned cases, candidate is taken out of the party list.

If registration of party list is declared invalid, electoral deposit as well as all means of pre-electoral fund are transferred to the state budget. Central Electoral Commission may declare the registration of the party list or a candidate in the party list invalid by at least two/third vote of the total number of its members. The decision of Central Electoral Commission on the denial or recognition as invalid of the registration of party list or a person in it may be appealed to Court within three days after it has been taken.  Based on the verdict of Court on recognizing unlawful the decision on the denial or recognition as invalid of registration of the party list and a citizen in it, the party list or the citizen in it shall be recognized registered or re-registered. 

If an application on self-withdrawal has been submitted, the requirement under point eight of Article 18 of the Electoral Code has been violated or the requirement under point 7 of Article 25 of this Code has been violated the registration of a party list shall be recognized as out of force. A party can submit an application on self-withdrawal to the Central Electoral Commission not later than ten days prior to voting. Based on the application on self-withdrawal the registration of the party list is recognized out of force and its electoral deposit, as well as the means left in the pre-election fund are transferred to the state budget. In the event of recognizing the registration of a party list as out of force under point eight of Article 18 and point seven of Article 25, party's electoral deposit and the means left in the pre-election fund are transferred to the state budget. Also if the candidate has submitted an application on self-withdrawal, has died, the requirement under point eight of Article 18 of the Electoral Code has been violated or the requirement under point seven of Article 25 of this Code has been violated, the registration of the candidate on a party list is recognized as out of force. Parties registered in the Republic of Armenia have the right to nominate candidates for the National Assembly Deputies by majoritarian system. They have the right to nominate one candidate at each constituency. The nomination of candidates by majoritarian system is carried out by the decision of permanently functioning body of the party by secret vote. A party can nominate as a candidate also a person, who is not a party member. However, candidates can also be nominated by citizens by majoritarian system. At least fifty citizens of the Republic of Armenia who have the right to vote can form an initiative group for the nomination of candidates for the National Assembly deputy by majoritarian system. The initiative group applies in writing to the Regional Electoral Commission with a request for registration, for which, apart from the application, submits the decision of the meeting of the initiative group for the nomination of the candidate for the deputy of the National Assembly, as well as data, in accordance with Article 67 of the Electoral Code, on the two plenipotentiary representatives of the initiative group, in the manner prescribed by the law. The decision of the meeting of the initiative group shall contain the family names, first names, dates of birth, identification documents numbers, place of residence, address and signatures of the members of the initiative group. After submitting the necessary documents to the Regional Electoral Commission, authorized proxies of candidates will be given 2 official papers for support of the nomination of candidate, in compliance with the procedure determined by the Code. The decision of the permanently functioning body of the party and the application (decision) of the initiative group on the nomination of the candidate for the deputy of the National Assembly by majoritarian system shall include the constituency number and the following data on the nominated candidate. Firstly, it must include, family name and first name of the candidate, then year, month and date of birth, place of work and position (occupation), party affiliation, declaration about his/her private property and his/her and his/her family members' income for the last one year as well as passport number. Together with the submission to the Regional Electoral Commission of the decisions of the permanently functioning body of the party and of the initiative group on the nomination of the candidate for the deputy of the National Assembly by the majority system, the written statement of the nominated candidate on his/her willingness to be registered in the given constituency shall be submitted.

 In the time frame established by Article 117, parties and citizens receive official papers for the support of the nomination of the National Assembly candidates from the relevant Regional Electoral Commission. For the support of the nomination signatures of at least 500 voters of the given constituency shall be collected for the nomination of the given candidate; the signatures are collected and their validity is verified in accordance with the procedure established by Articles 69-70 of the Electoral Code.

Candidates for the deputy of the National Assembly nominated by majoritarian system are registered by the decision of the Regional Electoral Commission. At least 45 days prior to the elections to the National Assembly, parties and initiative groups submit to the Regional Electoral Commission for registration of candidates by majoritarian system the following documentation. First of all there must be at least 500 signatures of voters residing in the given constituency, confirming the nomination. Then there must be receipt on payment of the electoral deposit in the amount of 100 times the amount of the minimum salary, reference on citizenship of the Republic of Armenia for the last five years and reference on permanent residence in the Republic of Armenia during the last five years.

 The candidate submits the above-mentioned documentation to the Regional Electoral Commission by himself/herself or through a plenipotentiary representative. In the event of being elected to the National Assembly, as well as receiving more than five per cent of the votes cast, the electoral deposit is paid back. The candidate or his/her plenipotentiary representative or the plenipotentiary representative of the party, which has nominated him/her, has the right to be present at the session of the commission during the consideration of the registration of the nomination of the candidate.

The Regional Electoral Commission denies the registration of the nominated candidate, if: If the number of valid votes in the official papers for the support of the candidacy after the verification is less than 500, restrictions set forth by the Electoral Code extend onto the citizens nominated for the candidate or the documentation submitted for registration are falsified, the Regional Electoral Commission denies the registration of the nominated candidate.

In the event of an objection about the registration of the citizen nominated for the candidate, the issue is put to vote. The registration is denied with at least two-thirds vote of the total number of the members of the Central Electoral Commission. In the event of no objection - the candidate is considered as registered. In the event of the denial of the registration of the citizen nominated for the candidate, his/her electoral deposit is paid back.
 The Regional Electoral Commission recognizes the registration of the citizen nominated for the candidate as invalid, if after the registration the facts like falsification of submitted documents or restrictions under the extension onto the candidate have been revealed. Central Electoral Commission declares the registration of a candidate invalid by at least two/third vote of the total number of its members. In the event of recognizing the registration of the candidate as invalid, his/her electoral deposit and the means left in the pre-election fund are transferred to the state budget. The decision of the Regional Electoral Commission on the denial or recognizing as invalid the registration of the candidate for the deputy can be appealed to court within three days after it has been taken. Based on the judgement of the court on recognizing the decision on the denial or recognition invalid of the registration of the candidate for the deputy unlawful, he/she is recognized as registered or re-registered.

If the National Assembly candidate nominated by majoritarian system has not any more the right to vote, has submitted an application on self-withdrawal, has died, has violated the requirement under point eight of Article 18 of this Code or has violated the requirement under point seven of Article 25 of this Code the registration of the National Assembly candidate by majoritarian system is recognized as out of force. In the event of recognizing the registration of the candidate nominated for the deputy of the National Assembly by majoritarian system as out of force in the result of his/her death, the electoral deposit is transferred to his/her heirs, and the means left in the pre-election fund are transferred to the state budget. In the event of recognizing the registration of the candidate nominated for the deputy of the National Assembly by majoritarian system out of force under point eight of Article 18 and point seven of Article 25 of the Electoral Code the electoral deposit and the means left in the pre-election fund are transferred to the state budget. As well as in the cases of recognizing the registration of the candidate nominated for the deputy of the National Assembly by majoritarian system as out of force in the result of losing the voting right, the sum of the electoral deposit is paid back and the means left in the pre-election fund are transferred to the state budget.

Staff

The normative, expert, legal, organizational, documentation, analytical, informational, financial - economic and logistical aspects of the activities of the National Assembly are ensured by the staff (“Law on the procedures of the National Assembly”, chapter 15, article 111).

The aspects which are not under the responsibility of the factions and committees are implemented by the departments of the National Assembly. Those are: secretariat, legal department, economics department, public relations and media department, department of foreign relations, protocol department, information department, Human Resources Management Department, Department for Financial Economics and Accounting, Administration, Citizen and Letter Reception Division (Reception of the National Assembly), Telecommunication Systems Division, First Division, Publishing Department, Department of Internal Audit.

Operations and legal frameworks

The National Assembly is the legislative body of the Republic of Armenia. As it is stated in the article 71 of the Constitution: “The laws and resolutions of the National Assembly, save for cases set forth in the Constitution, shall be adopted by the majority of votes of the Deputies having participated in the voting provided that more than half of the total number of Deputies have voted.” The national assembly of Armenia is elected for a term of 5 years. Any person who is 25 and older, has Armenian citizenship and is living in Armenia for at least five years can be elected as a deputy. A deputy cannot be engaged in any entrepreneurial or other paid activity which is not considered as a scientific, educational and creative work according to the law on Social Service. A deputy, without the consent of the National Assembly may not be involved as an accused, detained or subjected to administrative liability through a judicial procedure and may not be arrested, unless caught in the act.

After the election, the day of which should be defined by presidential decree, according to the article 68 of the constitution of the RA. The newly elected National Assembly starts its operations on the third Thursday after the election of at least two thirds of the number of deputies. Before the Chairperson and the Vice Chairpersons of the National Assembly are elected the session is held by the oldest deputy. After deputies take an oath the session begins and the Chairperson and the Vice Chairpersons of the corresponding convocation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia are elected. The first sitting of the National Assembly is over when the newly elected Chairperson gives his speech.

According to the law on procedures of the National Assembly two regular sessions are convened during the year: from the second Monday of September to the second Thursday of December, and from the first Monday of February to the second Thursday of June.

According to the constitution of the RA the Government should within 21 days present its program to the National Assembly for approval. Though as always the rule of checks and balances works, and after the National Assembly has refused to approve the program two consecutive times the President has the right to dissolve the National Assembly. The National Assembly also adopts the state budget and oversees its implementation. If it fails to adopt the budget by the start of the year, everything is done according to the previous year’s budget. It also approves the administrative territorial division of the Republic, upon the recommendation of the Government. The Legislative body of the Republic of Armenia should also appoint 5 members of the Constitutional Court, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court from among the members of the Constitutional court, upon the recommendation of the Chairperson of the National Assembly, elect two legal scholars for the Council of Justice. It also elects the Human Rights Defender by the vote of the three-fifths of the total number of deputies. Upon the recommendation of the President of the RA the National Assembly shall appoint the chairperson of the Central Bank. It can also by the vote of the majority of its deputies and by the recommendation of the President, in cases prescribed by the law, remove the Chairman from office. The Chairman of another independent agency, the Control Chamber, is also appointed by the Parliament upon the recommendation of the President, but the same person cannot be reelected more than once. The National Assembly is the one to approve the action plan of the Control Chamber.

Library

The Library of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia was established in1991.Mainly the patrons of National Assembly library are deputies and National Assembly staff. Information is provided in oral, paper and electronic versions. When required materials are only in National Assembly Library we also serve public researchers.

Today the library collection has about 9000 items, which consists of reference books, constitutions, laws, treats, conventions, legislation of Armenian, CIS and European countries, publications of National Statistical Service, materials dealing with the functioning with society, history, politics, international relations and economics, that is to say all materials relevant to the legislature's activity.

If the Library does not have a certain publication in its collections, it is possible to obtain it through interlibrary loans. The Library creates and maintains electronic database, which contains books, pamphlets, analytical descriptions from periodicals and newspapers, materials relevant to the work of Parliament, as well as materials concerning issues of future discussion. For users Library provides Internet access, photocopying. Librarians provide consultation of Library database and provide assistance with the search of information.

Building

The building of the National Assembly of Armenia was constructed during 1948-1950. It was meant to be the building of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. In 1951 the architect of the Building was awarded with the State Prize of the USSR. On May 1991, according to the decision #314 of the Council of the Ministers of the RA on “Assigning the building, formerly used by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Armenia to the Supreme Council”, the Building was assigned to the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia.

The building is built from light orange tuff, and is separated in the green environment and under the blue sky, giving her special beauty and expressiveness. The entrance of the building, with beautiful pillars on each side, is made of marble. The high, wide and bright corridors, the central and side stairs and the two elevators create a comfortable connection with the different parts and floors of the building. High quality wood and natural and artificial marble were used for the interior. The same was used also for the second subsidiary building.

The ceremony of the official opening of the reconstructed Sitting Hall of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia was held on October 22, 2010. Here every deputy has his/her place which cannot be changed. There is also a chair for the President, and a section for the Prime Minister and other ministers. The oval structure of the Sitting Hall is symbolic. It reminds of round-table debates. The choice of that structure is not by chance. From long ago the round table is considered a symbol of purposeful discussions for cooperation, as logically the interlocutors are acting not for personal struggles, but seeking a path for productive solutions of key problems.

Chairmen of the Supreme Council (1990-1995)

• Levon Ter-Petrosyan August 4, 1990-November 11, 1991
• Babken Ararktsyan December 24, 1991-July 27, 1995

Speakers of the National Assembly (1995-)

• Babken Ararktsyan July 27, 1995-February 4, 1998
• Khosrov Harutyunyan February 4, 1998-June 11, 1999
• Karen Demirchyan June 11, 1999-October 27, 1999
• Armen Khachatryan November 2, 1999-June 12, 2003
• Artur Baghdasaryan June 12, 2003-June 1, 2006
• Tigran Torosyan June 1, 2006-September 26, 2008
• Hrayr Karapetyan (acting) September 26, 2008-September 29, 2008
• Hovik Abrahamyan September 28, 2008 – November 21, 2011
• Samvel Nikoyan December 6, 2011 - May 31, 2012
• Hovik Abrahamyan May 31, 2012 – April 13, 2014
• Galust Sahakyan April 29, 2014 - present

Deputy Chairmen/Speakers

• Babken Ararktsyan 1990 - 1991
• Gagik Harutyunyan 1990 - 1991
• Ara Sahakian 1991 - 1998
• Artashes Tumanyan 1991 - 1995
• Karapet Rubinyan 1995 - 1998
• Albert Bazeyan 1998 - 1999
• Yuri Bakhshyan 1998 - 1999
• Ruben Miroyan 1999
• Gagik Aslanian 1999 - 2003
• Tigran Torosyan 1999 - 2006
• Vahan Hovanissian 2003 - 2008
• Isakhan Zakarian 2007
• Arevik Petrosyan 2007 - 2010
• Hrayr Karapetyan 2008 - 2009
• Samvel Nikoyan 2009 - 2012
• Samvel Balasanyan 2010 - 2012
• Edward Sharmazanov 2011 - Present
• Hermine Naghdalyan 2012 - Present

Last election

Summary of the 6 May 2012 Armenian National Assembly election results

Party		Party-list			Constituency		Total seats	±
		Votes	%	Seats	Seats	%
	Republican Party	664,440	44.02	40	29	70.7	69	5
	Prosperous Armenia	454,673	30.12	28	9	21.9	37	12
	ANC	106,903	7.08	7			7	7
	Rule of Law	83,123	5.51	5	1	2.4	6	3
	ARF	85,550	5.67	5			5	10
	Heritage	86,998	5.76	5			5	2
	Armenian Communist Party	15,899	1.45
	Democratic Party of Armenia	5,577	0.37
	Unified Armenians Party	2,945	0.20
	Non-partisans/Independents				2	4.8	2	4
Invalid votes		53,831	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total		1,573,053	100.00	90	41	100.0	131	—
Electorate and turnout:		2,523,101	62.35	—	—	—	—	—
Source: Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia

See also

• Politics of Armenia
• List of legislatures by country