Representatives of the people: elected for 4 years
The National Assembly is composed of 90 deputies who are citizens of the Republic of Slovenia. Compared to other parliaments the number of deputies is rather small, however the number is commensurate with Slovenia's population (approximately 2 million).
Deputies are elected at general elections on the basis of equal, direct and secret voting. They are representatives of all the people and are not bound by any instructions. Elections to the National Assembly are called by the President of the Republic. Unless interrupted by early elections, the term of office of a deputy lasts four years. Any citizen who has reached the age of 18 and has appropriate legal capacity can be elected deputy of the National Assembly.
The office of deputy is performed on a professional basis; for such reason, deputies may not hold other offices or carry out other activities which by law are not compatible with the office of deputy. A deputy may not be a member of the National Council, may not hold office in local community bodies on a professional basis, and may not perform profit-making activities which by law are incompatible with holding public office.
If a deputy is elected President of the Government or appointed minister of state, or state secretary, during the time he holds such office he may not perform the office of deputy. In such case, the office of deputy is performed by a substitute deputy, i.e. the next unelected candidate on the same list of candidates from which the original deputy was elected.
The citizens of the Republic of Slovenia elect their representatives, i.e. decide on the composition of the National Assembly, by universal, equal, direct and secret voting. The National Assembly is composed of 90 deputies, including the deputies of the Italian and Hungarian national communities. Elected deputies are organised in deputy groups. They perform their duties at plenary sessions and meetings of the working bodies.
The work of the National Assembly is directed by the President who is elected at the first session of the National Assembly by a majority vote of all deputies. Vice-Presidents (3 at most) assist the President of the National Assembly in his work, while a special role in deciding on the work at the National Assembly is played by the Council of the President of the National Assembly.