The National Assembly started to perform its duties pursuant to the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia after the second democratic elections in 1992. The National Assembly was constituted at its first session of 23 December at which the election of deputies was confirmed and the President and two Vice-Presidents were elected, while a third Vice-President was elected later on. In the following terms, the National Assembly was constituted following parliamentary elections in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, and following early parliamentary elections in 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2022. 

The current term is the ninth parliamentary term of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly meets in regular and extraordinary sessions.
Regular sessions are convened during regular annual terms of the National Assembly: during the spring term between 10 January and 15 July, and during the autumn term between 1 September and 20 December.

As a general rule, during regular annual terms the National Assembly holds regular sessions during the last week of every month. They are defined in the Work Programme.

Extraordinary sessions are convened by the President of the National Assembly at the request of at least one quarter of the deputies or of the President of the Republic no later than 15 days from the tabling of the request. An extraordinary session may be convened by the President of the National Assembly on the proposal of the Government or pursuant to a decision by the Council in the event of issues that can not be postponed and can not be placed in time on the agenda of a regular session. This applies in particular:

• if a law is proposed for adoption by the urgent procedure,
• if the decision of the National Assembly is tied to a deadline provided by the Constitution, law, or the Rules of Procedure,
• in the event of issues related to the expiry of the term of office or confirmation of the election of a deputy and to the immunity of deputies or other holders of public office, or issues concerning elections, appointments, and dismissals,
• in the event of a decision on the declaration of a state of emergency or war, and the related urgent measures and their repeal, or of a decision on the use of the defence forces.

For each session a draft agenda is drawn up by the President of the National Assembly upon consultation with the Council of the President in accordance with the work programme of the National Assembly, the decisions of the National Assembly, or the requests of the proposers of the convening of the session. The National Assembly cannot decide on issues for which the relevant materials have not been previously sent or submitted to the deputies, nor, as a general rule, on issues on which the working body responsible of the National Assembly has not taken a position.

Deputies are obliged to regularly attend sessions. The President of the Government and other ministers also attend sessions in accordance with their rights and duties as determined by the Constitution, law, and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly. The President of the National Assembly may also invite other people to attend sessions.

The work of the National Assembly is open to the public, unless issues of a confidential nature are being discussed. Furthermore, in certain cases the National Assembly may decide to discuss an issue at a closed session. In such case the National Assembly decides who, in addition to the deputies, may be present at a session or part of a session closed to the public.

The Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly define in detail the deadlines for convening a session and sending the materials to deputies and other recipients. Such deadlines may only be disregarded in the event an extraordinary session is convened.

A session of the National Assembly is chaired by the President of the National Assembly or by a Vice-President nominated by the President. Following the determination and confirmation of the agenda, the proposer of each agenda item may provide an additional explanation, or must provide an additional explanation when so decided by the National Assembly. Afterwards, the floor is given to the rapporteurs of the working bodies, the representatives of the government, the representatives of the deputy groups, and deputies in the order in which they have asked to speak. 

Prior to a session, the Council of the President of the National Assembly determines the time allotted for each individual item on the agenda and the speaking time of deputies, deputy groups, and other participants of the session.

The chairperson ensures that speakers are not disturbed while they have the floor and that the work of the session is not interrupted in some other manner. If order at sessions is violated, the chairperson may issue a warning, withdraw the floor or expel a person from the session or part of the session. When unable to maintain order through the above mentioned measures, the chairperson may suspend the session.

The National Assembly adopts valid decisions if a majority of all deputies are present at the session. When a two-thirds majority of all deputies is required in order to adopt a decision, the National Assembly adopts valid decisions if at least two-thirds of all deputies are present at the session. The National Assembly decides by a majority of votes cast by those deputies present, except where a different majority is provided by the Constitution, by law, or by its Rules of Procedure.

The course of the sessions is regulated in detail by the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly. Verbatim records are made of the sessions. Sessions may also be viewed live via webcast.

The National Assembly, as a general rule, decides by public vote. Regarding certain matters (e.g., certain elections, appointments, and dismissals), it decides by secret ballot.

Public voting is carried out by means of an electronic voting device. A record of voting results specified by names is available for every law or act that has been voted on by the deputies. When decisions are adopted by secret ballot, deputies use ballot papers which they deposit in the ballot box.

The Services of the National Assembly ensure the best possible conditions for the work of deputies and the National Assembly by providing high-quality specialized, administrative, and other activities. Their tasks also involve quick, objective and focused communication, both externally and internally. The Services of the National Assembly are headed by the Secretary General who is appointed by the National Assembly on the proposal of the Council of the President for a period until the end of the term of the National Assembly. In addition to heading the services, the Secretary General performs other tasks provided by regulations, the Rules of the Procedure and other acts of the National Assembly. In his work, the Secretary General is accountable to the National Assembly.

The Secretary General directs the work of all services of the National Assembly which are organized into the relevant divisions and sections, depending on the type of their tasks.  

Pursuant to the Constitution, in Slovenia the power is vested in the people, and citizens exercise this power directly and through elections, consistent with the principle of the separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers. The relation between the National Assembly, i.e. the legislative branch of power, and the citizens is arranged so as to enable the citizens to monitor and influence the work of the National Assembly in various ways. In addition to the elections and the openness of the work of the National Assembly, this is enabled by the right to file petitions, the popular initiative to propose amendments to the Constitution or law, and the possibility to require that a legislative referendum or a referendum on a constitutional amendment be called. The influence of citizens on the work of the deputies is also enabled through the establishment of deputy offices in their electoral units.    

National Assembly and other institutions: competences of different branches of power

In exercising the legislative power, the National Assembly is closely linked to the National Council. The relations between the National Assembly and the Government are of key importance for the implementation of adopted laws, the state budget, and long-term policy guidelines. Furthermore, the activities of the National Assembly are associated with the competences of the President of the Republic, the Constitutional Court, and other state authorities such as courts or the Human Rights Ombudsman.