Czech Republic

I

Transport

Czech State Railways operates a railway network of some 9,513 km (5,911 mi) as of 2005. There are 127,672 km (79,332 mi) of roads in the Czech Republic. Since the end of 1992, Czech Airlines has operated as the national carrier, replacing the former Czechoslovakian airline CSA. The principal international airports are at Prague (Ruzyně), Brno (Turany), and Ostrava (Mosnov).

J

Communications

There are 103 major daily newspapers in the Czech Republic, enjoying a combined annual circulation of around 3 million in 1996. The chief national daily paper is Mláda Fronta Dnes. There are two national broadcasting services, Czech Television and Czech Radio, along with private national and regional stations. In 1997 there were some 8 million radios and 5.2 million television sets.

V

Government

The Czech Republic is a parliamentary republic, governed under a constitution adopted in December 1992 in the process of the division of the former Czechoslovakia. The government of the Czech Republic retained many of the elements of the government of Czechoslovakia. Bureaux of defence and transport, however, were added to the Czech government. In addition, the Czech National Council became the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the new bicameral legislature.

A

Executive and Legislature

A joint session of the legislature elects a president, the head of state, to a five-year term. The Czech president is commander of the armed forces, and may be elected to a second consecutive term. A Council of Ministers completes the executive branch of government. The prime minister, who is appointed by the president, recommends candidates for the Council of Ministers; the president appoints the 17 ministers from among the candidates.

The 200-member Chamber of Deputies and the 81-member Senate form the legislative branch of government. Deputies are elected to four-year terms, and senators to six-year terms, by universal adult suffrage; all Czech citizens over 18 may vote in elections. A third of the senatorial seats are contested every two years.

B

Judiciary

The Czech Republic’s legal system includes a Constitutional Court, a Supreme Court, and various trial and appellate courts. The president appoints the 15 judges of the Constitutional Court, with the consent of the Senate. Courts are grouped into four divisions: civil, criminal, commercial, and administrative (dealing with cases against state institutions). District courts handle local judicial matters. Judicial decisions are reached by panels of three judges, rather than by Anglo-Saxon jury system.