Venice Commission - Report on Bicameralism

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Albania

1.Has the country ever had a bicameral parliamentary (or congressional) system in the past? If so, in which period? Why was it decided to change into a unicameral system? Is there a public debate about changing to a bicameral system? What are the terms of the debate?

Yes. During the years of 1925 to 1928 (Albanian Republic).The main arguments for the change were related to the size and the population of the country. There were also political reasons for the control of the power.

No, there is not a significant debate about a bicameral system.

2.What is the population of the country? What is its size?

On 1 January 2022 population of Albania was 2.79 million- https://www.instat.gov.al/en/statistical-literacy/the-population-of-albania/

28 748 km²

3.What form of state and form of government has the country? Please provide details with reference to relevant constitutional provisions. a) Unitarian or federal/regional/other form of decentralization; b) Parliamentary, presidential, semi-presidential or mixed

The form of the state is ‘Republic’, according to the article one of the Constitution (1998).
Albania is a unitary state with a decentralized system; local government is elected.
Albania is a parliamentary constitutional democracy, according to the article one of the Constitution.

4.How many members are in the lower house?

140 deputies elected to four-year terms.