Belarusian People’s Congress
The 1st Belarusian People's Congress was held in 1996. The following sessions of this crucial government body were held every five years in 2001, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2021.
According to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus that was amended and supplemented at the national referendum on 27 February 2022, the Belarusian People's Congress has become a constitutional body. The responsibilities, the order of formation, and the activities of the Belarusian People's Congress are specified in Chapter 31 of the Constitution and the law.
The first meeting of the Belarusian People’s Congress – in the new constitutional format – took place in Minsk on 24-25 April under the motto “Time has chosen us!”
The Belarusian People's Congress is the highest representative body of people's power of the Republic of Belarus, which determines the strategic areas of development of society and the state, ensures the inviolability of the constitutional system, the continuity of generations, and civil accord.
The delegates of the Belarusian People's Congress include:
- President of the Republic of Belarus;
- President of the Republic of Belarus, who has ceased to exercise his powers (expiration of the term of office, early resignation);
- representatives of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches;
- representatives of local Councils of Deputies;
- representatives of civil society.
Delegates from local Councils of Deputies and civil society are elected from each oblast and the city of Minsk in the manner determined by law.
The maximum number of delegates of the Belarusian People's Congress is 1,200 people.
The term of office of the Belarusian People's Congress is five years.
The meetings of the Belarusian People's Congress are held at least once a year.
The Belarusian People’s Congress is empowered to approve the main guidelines of the domestic and foreign policy, the military doctrine, the national security concept; to approve the social and economic development programs of the Republic of Belarus; to receive the Prime Minister’s report on the implementation of the social and economic development programs of the Republic of Belarus. The Belarusian People’s Congress has the right of legislative initiative.
The resolutions of the Belarusian People’s Congress are mandatory for execution and can revoke the legal acts, other resolutions of government bodies and officials that contradict the interests of national security, except for the acts of courts.
