General legal framework: civil, labour and criminal law basics relevant to public administration
Civil law
Act No. 89/2012 Sb., the Civil Code, is built on private autonomy, good faith and protection of the weaker party. It governs legal personality, legal acts, contracts, liability for damage and unjust enrichment, property and inheritance. Public administration bodies enter into contracts and may be liable for damage caused by unlawful decisions; the State Liability Act (No. 82/1998 Sb.) is relevant. A legal act is invalid if it is contrary to law or good morals, and rights must be exercised in good faith.
Labour law
Act No. 262/2006 Sb., the Labour Code, governs employment relationships: contract, probation, working time, leave, termination, severance and occupational safety. An employment contract must be in writing. Notice must be in writing and delivered; the notice period is generally two months. Civil servants are subject to the Civil Service Act, which prevails over the Labour Code. Labour law basics also matter for public administration as an employer.
Criminal law
Act No. 40/2009 Sb., the Criminal Code, applies the principles of legality (nullum crimen sine lege), culpability and proportionality. Criminal responsibility begins at 15. Offences are divided into přečiny (minor offences, including negligent offences and intentional offences with a maximum of five years) and zločiny (intentional offences with a higher maximum). Offences relevant to public administration include abuse of authority, breach of duty, accepting and giving bribes, and obstruction of justice. Legal persons can be criminally liable under Act No. 418/2011 Sb.
Worked example
An official accepts money to speed up a permit. Reasoning: this is accepting a bribe under the Criminal Code. The official is a public official; the payment is linked to official action. The offence is a zločin if the statutory maximum exceeds five years. The official must also report the offer; failure to do so may itself be criminal.
Traps
Do not apply the Labour Code to civil servants without checking the Civil Service Act. Do not confuse přečin and zločin. Do not forget that legal persons can be criminally liable. Do not treat a civil dispute as a criminal matter simply because one party is a public body.