National Council (Monaco)

The National Council (French: Conseil National) is the parliament of the Principality of Monaco. It is a unicameral legislature composed of 24 members, elected by proportional representation for a five-year term.

The Council's primary function is to debate and vote on laws, including the national budget. However, legislative initiative rests solely with the Prince. Laws passed by the National Council must be sanctioned by the Prince within a specified timeframe to become effective. If the Prince does not sanction a law, it can be sent back to the Council for reconsideration.

While the National Council does not initiate legislation, it holds significant power regarding the government's accountability. It can express a lack of confidence in the government (the Council of Government) through a vote of no confidence. If a vote of no confidence is successful, the Prince can either dismiss the Council of Government or dissolve the National Council and call for new elections.

The electoral system in Monaco involves a mixed system designed to ensure representation of both majority and minority viewpoints. A proportion of seats are filled through a majority system, while the remaining seats are allocated proportionally based on the overall vote share.

The National Council meets in the Monaco City Hall (Mairie). The president of the National Council presides over its sessions and is elected from among the members.