Domestic and Economic Policy Brief One unicameral National Assembly containing comprised of 386 members, each for a term of four years, governs Hungary, a Republic. This National Assembly then in turn votes for a President of the Republic, who has a term of five years and may run for a second (Europa 1691). However, the highest authority lies in the Council of Ministers. The National Assembly elects this body, at the recommendation of the President. Hungary has 19 counties and a state capitol for a total of twenty local bodies. Within each county there are more lower levels of government, including town, borough and town precinct (Europa 1698). The judicial system has a number of levels from district to county to the Supreme Court of Hungary. The Supreme Court judges are elected for a period of nine years, and are elected by he general voting population. There is universal suffrage for all citizens over the age of 18 (http://www.oacl.gov/cia/publications/factbook/nu/html). The National Assembly elects the Head of the Supreme Court.The last election held was on May 10th and May 24th, 1998. The results of that election are the following (results being seat held by party in the General Assembly): Hungarian Civic Party, 147 seats; Hungarian Socialist Party, 134 seats; Independent Smallholders’ and Peasants’ party, 48 seats; Alliance of Free Democrats, 24 seats; Hungarian Democratic Forum, 18 seats, Hungarian Justice and Life Party, 14 seats; and independent holds the final seat (Europa 1699). The recent election is of historical concern due to the results of the Civic party (HCP), which holds the most seats ever by a single party, and with co-operation from the Hungarian Democratic Forum (HDF) and the Independent Smallholders’ and Peasants’ Party (ISPP), they will be able to control to almost paramount extents the government. Notwithstanding, on crucial issues, such as constitutional changes, which requ...
