Overview

The National Assembly is the unicameral legislative body of the Republic of Armenia. It is the primary institution charged with making national laws, ratifying international agreements, approving the state budget and providing parliamentary oversight of the executive. The chamber is composed of deputies who represent political parties and electoral lists and who serve fixed terms.

Composition and electoral system

The Assembly is currently made up of 131 members who are elected for four-year terms. Deputies are chosen under the electoral rules established by Armenian law, which emphasize party representation through list-based voting and include provisions intended to ensure a functioning multi-party parliament. Elected deputies form parliamentary factions and participate in standing committees that handle specific policy areas.

Powers and functions

The National Assembly performs several core functions essential to a parliamentary democracy. Among its responsibilities are:

  • Drafting, debating and adopting legislation and constitutional amendments;
  • Approving the national budget and fiscal measures;
  • Ratifying international treaties and overseeing foreign-policy implementation;
  • Electing or approving senior officials and exercising confidence or no-confidence powers over the government;
  • Conducting oversight of ministries, agencies and public institutions through hearings and inquiries.

History and development

The modern National Assembly developed after Armenia regained independence in 1991, replacing Soviet-era representative institutions. A new constitution established a permanent parliamentary structure in the 1990s, and later constitutional reforms adjusted the balance between parliamentary and presidential powers. Reforms in the 2010s shifted Armenia toward a parliamentary system, changing how the executive and legislature interact.

Seat and notable facts

The Assembly meets in the capital, Yerevan; the location of its plenary chamber is often identified by its geographic coordinates. Over time the legislature has served as the principal arena for political debate, coalition-building and the peaceful transfer of power, reflecting Armenia’s evolving democratic institutions.