Public finance, state budget and management of public resources
State budget
Act No. 218/2000 Sb., on budgetary rules, governs the state budget, state funds and state guarantees. The Ministry of Finance prepares the budget; the Government submits it to the Chamber of Deputies, which approves it by law. The Senate may discuss it but cannot amend it. The budget year is the calendar year. The state final account (státní závěrečný účet) is approved by the Chamber. Budgetary principles include unity, universality, transparency and efficiency.
Fiscal responsibility
Act No. 23/2017 Sb., on fiscal responsibility, sets debt brakes and establishes the National Fiscal Council (Národní rozpočtová rada). The Act links domestic rules to the EU fiscal framework, including the Stability and Growth Pact and the excessive deficit procedure. The Ministry of Finance publishes fiscal notifications and debt data.
Public procurement and state property
Act No. 134/2016 Sb., on public procurement, governs contracts for supplies, services and works. Thresholds determine the procedure; above-threshold contracts follow EU rules. The contracting authority must publish the call, evaluate according to published criteria and publish the contract. Act No. 219/2000 Sb. governs property of the Czech Republic. The Supreme Audit Office (Nejvyšší kontrolní úřad, Act No. 166/1993 Sb.) audits the management of public funds.
Worked example
A ministry plans an IT purchase for 5 million CZK. Reasoning: first classify the contract and check the threshold. If above the relevant threshold, it must use a corresponding procedure and publish the call. It must evaluate against predetermined criteria and publish the contract. Splitting the contract to avoid thresholds is prohibited.
Traps
Do not say the Senate approves the state budget; only the Chamber does. Do not confuse the state budget with the state final account. Do not ignore the distinction between independent and delegated competence when a municipality spends money. Do not assume the lowest price is always the evaluation criterion; the criteria must be published.