How is the National Assembly of Belarus organized?

The National Assembly of Belarus is a bicameral legislature organized into two houses:12

• Council of the Republic: This upper house consists of 64 members. Most members are elected by regional councils, while a small number are appointed by the president. They serve four-year terms.12
• House of Representatives: This lower house consists of 110 members who are popularly elected to serve four-year terms.12

While the 1994 constitution originally established a separation of powers, a 1996 referendum significantly expanded presidential authority, allowing the president to rule by decree and diminishing the legislative power of the National Assembly.2