Czech Life and Institutions Exam key terms

The Czech Republic is divided into 14 self-governing regions, each with an elected regional assembly and a hetman (hejtman) as its leader. Regions handle secondary education, regional roads, hospitals and social services.

The smallest self-governing unit in Czech public administration, led by a mayor (starosta) and an elected municipal council. Municipalities manage local roads, schools and waste, and smaller ones may hold referendums on local matters.

The elected head of a Czech region's government, chosen by the regional assembly. The hejtman represents the region externally and convenes the regional council, similar to a governor in other countries.

The head of a Czech municipality, elected by the municipal council from among its members. Larger cities use the title primátor instead. The starosta signs municipal decisions and represents the town.

A Czech city with a special legal status, divided into self-governing city districts with their own mayors. Cities such as Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Plzeň hold this status, which allows delegated powers to be split among districts.

The Czech Republic's supreme law, adopted in December 1992 and effective from 1 January 1993. It defines the state as a parliamentary democracy and sets out the powers of the president, parliament, government and Constitutional Court.

The lower chamber of the Czech Parliament, with 200 members elected for four-year terms by proportional representation. It approves laws and the government, and can be dissolved by the president under constitutional conditions.

The upper chamber of the Czech Parliament, with 81 senators serving six-year terms. One third is renewed every two years by two-round majority voting in single-member districts; the Senate reviews bills and confirms Constitutional Court judges.

The Czech Constitutional Court in Brno, composed of 15 judges appointed by the president with Senate consent. It rules on the constitutionality of laws and decides complaints about violations of constitutional rights.

The Czech head of state, elected by direct popular vote since 2013 for a five-year term. The president appoints the prime minister, signs laws, is commander-in-chief and represents the country abroad.

The political and economic union the Czech Republic joined on 1 May 2004. Membership brings access to the single market, EU structural funds and free movement, while Czech law is shaped by EU directives and regulations.

The border-free travel area the Czech Republic joined in 2007. It abolished passport checks at internal land borders with neighbours such as Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland, though identity checks can be temporarily reintroduced.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which the Czech Republic joined on 12 March 1999 together with Poland and Hungary. Membership commits the country to collective defence and to spending targets on defence.

The Czech Republic is an EU member with an opt-out from the euro and still uses the koruna (CZK). Adopting the euro would require meeting convergence criteria and a political decision; no target date is set.

The Czech national currency, divided into 100 haléřů, though coins below one koruna are no longer used. The Czech National Bank sets monetary policy and is legally responsible for price stability.

The Czech central bank, based in Prague, which issues the koruna, sets interest rates and supervises the banking sector. It is independent of the government and its main stated goal is price stability.

The rate at which consumer prices rise over time, measured in the Czech Republic by the statistical office's consumer price index. High inflation erodes savings and wages and influences central bank interest-rate decisions.

Gross domestic product, the total value of goods and services produced in a country in a period. It is the standard measure of Czech economic output and is used to compare living standards across EU states.

Czech statutory health insurance, compulsory for residents and paid through health insurance companies. Employees contribute a percentage of wages, employers pay part, and the state covers children, pensioners and other groups.

The Czech health system, in which insured patients receive most care free at the point of use from contracted providers. It is funded mainly by health insurance contributions rather than general taxation.

A general practitioner who provides primary care, refers patients to specialists and issues sickness certificates. In the Czech system patients register with a praktický lékař, often called obvodní lékař.

Compulsory Czech social insurance covering pensions, sickness benefits and unemployment support. It is paid by employees and employers as a percentage of earnings and administered by the social security administration.

The Czech old-age pension, paid from the state social insurance system after reaching the statutory retirement age and required contribution years. The retirement age rises gradually and the pension has a flat and an earnings-related part.

The Czech secondary-school leaving examination, taken at the end of grammar school or secondary technical study. It includes Czech language and literature, a foreign language or mathematics, and subject exams, and is required for university entry.

A Czech academic secondary school preparing students for university, usually lasting four, six or eight years. It ends with the maturita examination and is distinct from vocational schools focused on a trade.

A Czech higher-education institution offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Public universities are self-governing and charge no tuition for standard-length study in Czech, while private institutions may charge fees.

Charles University in Prague, founded in 1348 by Emperor Charles IV, is the oldest university in Central Europe. It remains the country's largest and most prestigious higher-education institution.

Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor from 1355, who founded Charles University in 1348 and had Prague's New Town built. He is often called the father of the country and is buried in St Vitus Cathedral.

The Battle of White Mountain near Prague in 1620, where Habsburg forces defeated the Bohemian estates. It led to the loss of Bohemian independence, re-Catholicisation and the exile of Protestant nobles.

A Czech priest and reformer burned at the stake in 1415 for heresy. His teachings sparked the Hussite movement and wars, and he is remembered as a symbol of resistance to church authority.

Austria-Hungary, the empire that ruled the Czech lands from 1867 until its collapse in 1918. Czech political life sought autonomy within it, and its fall allowed the creation of Czechoslovakia.

The First Czechoslovak Republic, existing from 1918 to 1938 under President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. It was a democratic state, and its founding on 28 October 1918 is the Czech national holiday.

The first president of Czechoslovakia, in office from 1918 to 1935. A philosopher and politician, he helped found the state abroad during the First World War and is a key figure in Czech democratic tradition.

28 October, the Czech national holiday marking the creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918. It is a public holiday with commemorative events, and the state honours notable figures on the same day.

A public holiday in the Czech Republic when offices and most shops close. Czech law lists state holidays, such as 28 October and 1 January, and other significant days like Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Czech Christmas, celebrated from 24 December with a festive dinner, often of fried carp and potato salad, and gift-giving in the evening. It combines Christian tradition with customs such as cutting an apple or pouring lead.

Czech Easter, combining Christian observance with folk customs such as decorated eggs and the pomlázka, a braided whip used on Easter Monday. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays.

Permanent residence status in the Czech Republic, granted to foreigners after long legal residence or for family reasons. It gives near-equal access to work, healthcare and social benefits and does not expire like a visa.

A residence permit allowing a foreigner to stay in the Czech Republic for a defined purpose and period, such as work, study or family reunification. Applications are usually filed at a Czech embassy abroad.

The Czech foreign police, responsible for registering foreigners, checking residence permits and handling visa extensions. Foreigners must report their address and changes within set deadlines.

A Czech trade licence allowing self-employment in a listed trade. It is obtained from a trade licensing office, requires no company formation, and the holder must pay health and social insurance contributions.

An abbreviation for a self-employed person in Czech, who runs a business under a trade licence rather than through a company. OSVČ pay income tax and their own health and social insurance.

The Czech public television broadcaster, funded by licence fees and required to provide balanced news and cultural programming. Alongside Czech Radio it forms the country's public service media.

The Czech News Agency (ČTK), the national public news wire service. It supplies text, photo and video reporting to Czech media and is often the original source of domestic news.

Standard written Czech, codified by the Language Institute and used in official documents, education and formal media. It differs noticeably from colloquial spoken Czech, especially in word endings.

Colloquial Czech, the everyday spoken variety used in informal conversation in Bohemia. It differs from standard Czech in pronunciation and endings, for example -ej instead of -ý.

A classic Czech novel by Božena Němcová, published in 1855, depicting rural life and the grandmother as a moral centre. It is a staple of Czech literary education and national self-image.

A major Czech writer and playwright of the interwar First Republic, known for the play R.U.R., which introduced the word robot. His work often explores technology, democracy and ordinary people.

Prague Castle, the historic seat of Czech rulers and now of the president. It is one of the largest castle complexes in the world and contains St Vitus Cathedral and the old royal palace.

The longest river in the Czech Republic, flowing through Prague and joining the Elbe at Mělník. It is a national symbol, celebrated in Smetana's tone poem and used for hydroelectricity and recreation.

The highest Czech mountain range, on the border with Poland, containing Sněžka, the country's highest peak at 1,603 metres. It is a national park and a popular skiing and hiking destination.

A protected area in the Czech Republic where nature conservation takes priority, such as Šumava, Krkonoše and České Švýcarsko. Strict rules limit construction, logging and access in core zones.

The train, the main form of public long-distance transport in the Czech Republic, operated largely by České dráhy. Tickets are sold by distance or as discounted regional and national passes.

Městská hromadná doprava, urban public transport such as trams, buses and the metro. In Czech cities tickets are bought from machines or by app and must be validated before travel.

A motorway vignette required for cars using Czech motorways and some expressways. It is sold for fixed periods, and since 2021 electronic vignettes replace the paper sticker for most vehicles.