The National Assembly in 1945-1948

The thesis deals with the circumstances under which the National Assembly in Czechoslovakia was renewed and under which it functioned till 1948. It points to the general development in the years 1945-1948, the constitutional situation in Czechoslovakia, the professional composition of the National Assembly and the legal status of its members. The study also shows how the expectations towards the Parliament changed after the 2nd World War. The thesis explains what a role the parliament played under the circumstances of a so called People's Democracy. After the liberation of Czechoslovakia a special political regime was established. Its merits lied in the institution ofNational Assembly. This assembly comprised of all political parties that had been permitted to function in Czechoslovakia. There was a special feature of this regime - there were no opposition and no coalition in a common political sense. All permitted politi cal parties composed the government. In the light ofthat it makes no sense to talk about a parliamentary majority and minority. The thesis investigates the extent to which these extraordinary circumstances marked the parliamentary activities. It argues that though the Parliament was expected to be a reliable partner of a govemment, a part of deputies did not accept this passive role. They..