Czech Civil Service Exam key terms

A legal norm adopted by a three-fifths majority of all deputies and senators, standing above ordinary statutes. It amends the Constitution or supplements the constitutional order, and ordinary legislation must conform to it.

Constitutional Act No. 1/1993 Sb., the basic law establishing the Czech Republic as a democratic state governed by the rule of law, defining state power, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, and the separation of powers.

Constitutional Act No. 2/1993 Sb. cataloguing fundamental rights and freedoms. It binds all state bodies and is directly enforceable, with courts providing protection against unlawful interference.

The Constitutional Court seated in Brno. It reviews the conformity of statutes and treaties with the constitutional order, decides constitutional complaints by individuals, and adjudicates disputes over the dissolution of political parties or the scope of competences.

The principle that public authority may act only on the basis of and within limits set by law, that law is publicly accessible and prospective, and that independent courts review state action. Article 1 of the Constitution anchors it.

Administrative bodies may decide or intervene only where statutory authority exists, and must follow prescribed forms and limits. Any act outside that authority is unlawful and subject to judicial or supervisory correction.

The constitutional allocation of legislative power to Parliament, executive power to the President and Government, and judicial power to courts, each acting as a check on the others rather than concentrating authority in one institution.

The Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Parliament with 200 members elected for four years by proportional representation. It adopts statutes, approves the state budget and can pass a vote of no confidence in the Government.

The Senate, the upper chamber with 81 senators elected for six years in single-member districts, one third renewed every two years. It reviews bills, may return them to the Chamber and consents to certain appointments.

The Government, the supreme executive body. It is appointed by the President, must obtain the confidence of the Chamber of Deputies, and issues government regulations (nařízení vlády) to implement statutes.

The activity of state bodies and self-governing units in managing public affairs, exercised either as state administration by central and regional state offices or as self-government by municipalities and regions.

The right of municipalities and regions to manage their own affairs independently within statutory limits, through elected councils, without direct instruction from the state but under state supervision of legality.

Public administration performed on behalf of the state by ministries, central offices, and deconcentrated regional authorities, and also by municipalities and regions where they exercise delegated competence.

The performance of state administration by a self-governing body under statutory authority. In this sphere the municipality or region acts as a state administrative authority and is bound by instructions from superior state bodies.

The basic territorial self-governing unit, with a population, a defined territory and its own elected assembly (zastupitelstvo). It issues generally binding ordinances in both independent and delegated competence.

A higher territorial self-governing unit, of which there are fourteen. It has its own elected assembly, exercises independent self-government and performs delegated state administration for its territory.

Act No. 500/2004 Sb., the general procedural statute for administrative bodies. It governs commencement of proceedings, evidence, decisions, remedies and enforcement, unless a special statute provides otherwise.

An individual administrative act issued in proceedings that establishes, changes or abolishes rights or duties of a named person. It must contain the statutory requisites: parties, decision, reasoning and instruction on remedies.

The ordinary remedy against an administrative decision, filed with the deciding authority within fifteen days, which must be forwarded to the superior authority for review of legality and factual correctness.

Judicial review of administrative decisions by regional courts and the Supreme Administrative Court, protecting individuals against unlawful acts of public administration. It is subsidiary to available administrative remedies.

The Supreme Administrative Court in Brno, which hears cassation complaints against regional court judgments in administrative matters and decides electoral disputes, competence disputes and dissolution of political parties.

The statutory regime governing civil servants in administrative offices under Act No. 234/2014 Sb., covering appointment, service relationship, duties, evaluation and remuneration of state employees.

The legal bond between a civil servant and the state, created by appointment to a service position. It defines rights and duties of both parties and terminates by statutory grounds such as resignation or dismissal.

A person appointed to a service position in a state administrative office who performs public administration tasks, must meet statutory qualification requirements and is bound by a code of ethics.

A situation where a public official's private interest could improperly influence official decisions. Officials must disclose such interests and refrain from deciding where they or close persons are affected.

Abuse of entrusted public power for private gain, including bribery, nepotism and trading in influence. Czech criminal law penalises accepting and giving bribes and related offences by public officials.

An act defined by the Criminal Code (Act No. 40/2009 Sb.) as unlawful, culpable and socially harmful beyond a statutory threshold. Public officials face aggravated liability for offences committed in office.

The rule that conduct is punishable only if a statute in force at the time of the act declared it criminal, and penalties may be imposed only within statutory limits. Retroactive criminal liability is prohibited.

Every person is presumed innocent until a final conviction by a court. Doubt must be resolved in favour of the accused, and public authorities must not treat suspects as guilty before judgment.

The central annual financial plan of the state, adopted as a statute, setting budgeted revenues and expenditures. It funds state offices, transfers and contributions and is subject to audit by the Supreme Audit Office.

The Supreme Audit Office, an independent constitutional body that audits the management of state property and funds and reports to Parliament. It cannot impose sanctions but publishes audit findings.

Contracts for goods, services or works awarded by public bodies under Act No. 134/2016 Sb., which requires transparency, equal treatment and competitive procedures above statutory thresholds.

A request by a national court to the Court of Justice of the European Union for interpretation of EU law needed to decide a case. National courts of last instance are generally obliged to refer.

The principle that EU law prevails over conflicting national law, and national authorities must set aside incompatible provisions. It is a cornerstone of membership, developed by the Court of Justice.

The capacity of a sufficiently clear and unconditional EU provision to be invoked directly before national authorities. Regulations always have direct effect; directives may do so against the state where transposition is lacking or faulty.

The right to equal treatment and protection against discrimination on grounds such as sex, race, age, disability, religion or sexual orientation, guaranteed by the Charter and the Anti-Discrimination Act.

A neutral rule or practice that puts persons of a protected characteristic at a particular disadvantage, unless objectively justified by a legitimate aim and proportionate means. Intent is irrelevant.

The Public Defender of Rights, an independent body that investigates complaints about unlawful or maladministrative conduct by public authorities and also monitors discrimination and the right to information.

Regulation (EU) 2016/679 governing the processing of personal data, setting principles such as lawfulness, purpose limitation and minimisation, and granting data subjects rights of access, rectification and erasure.

The body that determines the purposes and means of processing personal data and bears legal responsibility for compliance, including security, records and responding to data subject requests.

The Czech supervisory authority for data protection, which handles complaints, issues guidance, imposes fines and cooperates with other EU supervisory authorities through the consistency mechanism.

A verified digital identity used to access online public services, typically through the national identity card with chip or the NIA portal, enabling authenticated electronic communication with authorities.

Online public services delivered by state and self-governing bodies, governed by the Digital Rights Charter and the eGovernment Act, designed to be accessible, secure and user-friendly for citizens and businesses.