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| The '''First Republic''' was designed to have a weak '''president''' and a more powerful bicameral legislature. The '''National Assembly''' was composed of a '''Chamber of Deputies''' with 300 members and a '''Senate''' with 150 members. Both were elected by proportional representation. 10 parties regularly had some share of the votes, creating particular difficulty in establishing stable governments. Masaryk was able to centralize the power of the ''Hrad'' (castle, referring to [[Czechia/Prague|Prague]] Castle that is the president's official residence) in his 17 year term while 10 [[Czechia/PrimeMinisters|prime ministers]] came and went. |
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| The second republic, for all intents and purposes, is tied to the presidency of [[Czechia/EmilHacha|Hácha]]. | The '''Second Republic''', for all intents and purposes, is tied to the presidency of [[Czechia/EmilHacha|Hácha]]. Structurally, the Second Republic was identical to the First. |
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| The Third Republic had a unicameral legislature. The '''Constituent National Assembly''' was elected by proportional representation. Importantly though, the '''National Front''' coalition effectively held all seats. The [[Czechia/EdvardBenes#Second_Bene.2BAWE_Government|Košice Program]] had established limited multi-party democracy. | The '''Third Republic''' had a unicameral legislature. The '''Constituent National Assembly''' was elected by proportional representation. Importantly though, the '''National Front''' coalition effectively held all seats. The [[Czechia/EdvardBenes#Second_Bene.2BAWE_Government|Košice Program]] had established limited multi-party democracy. |
Czech Democratization
A history of Czech democratization.
Contents
First Czechoslovak Republic
During World War 1, the Austro-Hungarian politician Masaryk lobbied Wilson for independence. In 1918, the Allied Powers recognized him as the effective head of state for an incoming independent Czechoslovakia. He was elected in actuality that November.
The First Republic was designed to have a weak president and a more powerful bicameral legislature. The National Assembly was composed of a Chamber of Deputies with 300 members and a Senate with 150 members. Both were elected by proportional representation. 10 parties regularly had some share of the votes, creating particular difficulty in establishing stable governments. Masaryk was able to centralize the power of the Hrad (castle, referring to Prague Castle that is the president's official residence) in his 17 year term while 10 prime ministers came and went.
Second Czechoslovak Republic
The Second Republic, for all intents and purposes, is tied to the presidency of Hácha. Structurally, the Second Republic was identical to the First.
The Munich Betrayal established Czechoslovakia as a de facto German client state. Accordingly, the Communist Party was banned, Jews were blacklisted from political and educational positions, and Jewish-owned firms were seized.
The First Vienna Award further partitioned the country, with Carpathian Ruthenia being seized by Horthy.
Government in Exile
Beneš declared himself the president of Czechoslovakia in exile. He leverage the Czechoslovak intelligence community to maintain recognition as such from the Allies.
Third Czechoslovak Republic
The Third Republic had a unicameral legislature. The Constituent National Assembly was elected by proportional representation. Importantly though, the National Front coalition effectively held all seats. The Košice Program had established limited multi-party democracy.
Socialist Czechoslovak Republic
Briefly known as the Fourth Czechoslovak Republic, the Socialist Czechoslovak Republic was a Soviet satellite state.
Non-Communist ministers of the National Front coalition resigned in February 1948, leaving the Communists in full control. Elections in March and the Ninth-of-May Constitution they produced cemented this.
Czech and Slovak Federative Republic