National Council (Monaco)

History

The Monégasque Revolution of 1910 was a series of confrontations by the subjects of Monaco against their ruler, Prince Albert I. On 28 March 1910, Prince Albert I agreed to hold elections by universal suffrage for a parliament. This led to the end of absolute monarchy with the promulgation of the Constitution of Monaco on 7 January 1911. Elections were held for 12 members, with Prince Albert I retaining the right to appoint parliament's president. The inaugural meeting of the new parliament was on 3 May 1911.

The constitution was overhauled in 1962, which gave the National Council more power (including to elect the president of the chamber) and increased its membership to 18. Further changes were made to the constitution in 2002, further increasing the responsibility of the National Council and increasing its membership to 24.

Description

The body is composed of twenty-four members, who are elected from lists by universal suffrage. Of those, 16 seats are assigned from a majority list and 8 seats are filled proportionally from lists that obtain more than 5% of the votes. Councillors serve for five-year terms, and though it may act independently of the Prince when debating legislation or the State Budget, the Prince shares mutual power between himself and the National Council. He may dissolve it at any time, provided that new elections be held within three months. To be eligible to vote, people must be at least 25 years old and hold citizenship.

The Council meets at least twice per year to vote on the country's budget and bills proposed by the prince's government. Ordinances (executive orders) are debated in the Council of Government, and once approved, must be submitted to the Prince within eighty days for his signature, which makes them legally enforceable. If he does not express opposition within ten days of submission, they become valid.

Presidents

References

References

1. (1 January 1911). "Events that made the history of 1910 – what they were, where they happened and the chief actors in them; crash of absolutism and the growth of republican ideas". [[The New York Times]].
2. "Monégasque citizens demand end to absolute monarchy (Monégasque Revolution), 1910". Global Nonviolent Action Database.
3. (8 January 1911). "Monaco gets constitution; Prince Albert proclaims it as gift to his 1,200 subjects". [[The New York Times]].
4. "Histoire du Conseil National". National Council - Principality of Monaco.
5. (4 February 2023). "Monaco goes to the polls: explore the principality's unique political system". [[Euronews]].
6. link. (18 June 2013)
7. link. (18 June 2013)
8. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130618131415/http://www.conseil-national.mc/presidence.php?ancienPres=2&idcat=19 Jean Marsan en Conseil National]
9. link. (18 June 2013)
10. link. (18 June 2013)
11. link. (18 June 2013)
12. link. (18 June 2013)
13. link. (18 June 2013)
14. link. (18 June 2013)
15. link. (18 June 2013)
16. link. (18 June 2013)
17. link. (18 June 2013)
18. link. (18 June 2013)
19. link. (18 June 2013)
20. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130618131116/http://www.conseil-national.mc/presidence.php?ancienPres=10&idcat=19 Stéphane Valeri en Conseil National]
21. link. (18 June 2013)
22. link. (16 April 2013)
23. (27 April 2016). "Monaco élit son nouveau président du Conseil national, Christophe Steiner". Nice Matin.
24. (22 February 2018). "Stéphane Valeri élu président du Conseil national". Nice Matin.
25. Incari, Sarah. (7 October 2022). "Brigitte Boccone-Pagès becomes first female President of the National Council".
26. Carpenter, Elsa. (8 April 2024). "Thomas Brezzo, the new President of the Conseil National de Monaco, pledges an era of "dynamism"".