Наверх

Supreme State Council

The highest authority of the UnionState is the Supreme State Council. The Council is made up of the Presidents, Prime Ministers and the heads of the chambers of the Parliaments of the Republic of Belarus and of the Russian Federation. In addition, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, the Speakers of the two Parliaments and the President of the Court of the UnionState also participate in the meetings of the Supreme State Council.

Main Tasks of the SupremeState Council:

  1. Determination of the most important issues related to the development of the UnionState;
  2. Within the scope of its authority, the formation of the governing bodies of the UnionState, including sectoral and functional ones;
  3. Calling elections to the House of Representatives of the Union Parliament;
  4. Approval of the budget of the UnionState as adopted by the Union Parliament and approval of the annual reports on its implementation;
  5. Approval of the international treaties of the UnionState as ratified by the Parliament;
  6. Approval of the national symbols of the UnionState;
  7. Establishment of the location of the bodies of the UnionState;
  8. Hearing the annual report of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers on the implementation of adopted decisions.

The Supreme State Council also performs other functions assigned to its authority by the Treaty on the Creation of a UnionState or referred to it by the member states. The Supreme State Council issues those decrees, resolutions and directives which are within its authority. Acts of the Supreme State Council have to be passed on a unanimous basis by the member states. An act cannot not be deemed adopted, if one of the member states votes against it. Voting at the meetings of the Supreme State Council is carried out in the name of each member state by its President or his proxy.

The Chairman of the Supreme State Council is one of the heads of the member states, elected on a rotating basis, unless otherwise agreed. Currently the functions of the Chairman of the Supreme State Council are being carried out by the President of the Republic of Belarus, А.G. Lukashenko. He has held this position since 2000.

The Chairman of the SupremeState Council:

  1. Arranges the work of the Supreme State Council, presides over its meetings and signs the acts adopted by the Supreme State Council and the laws of the UnionState;
  2. Presents the State of the Union address to the Parliament, indicating the major areas for development of the Union;
  3. Holds international negotiations on behalf of the Supreme State Council and signs international treaties in the name of the UnionState. He also represents the UnionState in relations with foreign states and international organisations;
  4. Ensures control over the implementation of the present Treaty and resolutions adopted by the Supreme State Council;
  5. Issues instructions, within his authority, to the Council of Ministers of the UnionState;
  6. Performs other functions on behalf of the Supreme State Council.