The Great National Assembly (, MAN) was the supreme body of state power of communist Romania (known as the Romanian People's Republic between 1948 and 1965, and the Socialist Republic of Romania thereafter). In imitation of the Soviet model, per the principle of unified power, the Great National Assembly was the only branch of government in communist Romania and all state organs were subservient to it. After the overthrow of Communism in Romania in December 1989, the Great National Assembly was dissolved by decree of the National Salvation Front (FSN) and eventually replaced by the bicameral parliament, made up of the Assembly of Deputies (later known as the Chamber of Deputies) and the Senate.

The Great National Assembly was elected every four years, and each individual member represented 60,000 citizens.

Powers

The MAN had the power to, among other things, amend the constitution and appoint and depose the Supreme Commander of the Romanian People's Army. The resolutions required a simple majority to be passed through.Richard Staar, Communist Regimes in Eastern Europe (4th revised edition, 1984), Hoover Institution, Stanford University. pg. 193-194

The Assembly convened twice a year for ordinary sessions and for extraordinary sessions as many times as required by the State Council or by at least one third of the members of the Assembly. It elected its own chairmen and four deputies to preside each session. On paper, it was the highest level of state power in Romania, and all other state organs were subordinate to it. In practice, like all other Communist legislatures, it did little more than give legal sanction to decisions already made by the Romanian Communist Party (PCR).

Formally, the MAN gained in power over time. The 1948 Constitution (article 39) granted it just eight powers;1948 Constitution of Romania the 1952 Constitution (article 24), 10;1952 Constitution of Romania the 1965 Constitution (article 43), 24.

Voters were presented with a single slate of candidates from an alliance dominated by the PCR—known as the People's Democratic Front from 1947 to 1968, the Socialist Unity Front from 1968 to 1980, and the Front of Socialist Unity and Democracy from 1980 to 1989. Since no one could run for office without Front approval, the Front—and through it, the PCR—effectively predetermined the composition of the Assembly.

When the Assembly was not in session, some of its powers were exercised by the State Council (which the Constitution defined as the MAN in permanent session), such as setting guidelines for the law and supervising the local councils. It could also issue governmental regulations in lieu of law. If such regulation was not approved by the MAN at its next session, it was considered revoked. However, under the principles of democratic centralism, such approval was merely a formality. Combined with the MAN's infrequent sessions, this meant that State Council decisions de facto had the force of law. In emergencies, the State Council assumed the MAN's powers to control the budget and economic plan, appoint and dismiss ministers and justices of the Supreme Court, mobilize the armed forces and declare war.

1980 elections

According to the official results of the 9 March 1980 election, which elected 369 deputies, 99.99% of the registered voters cast their votes. Of them, 98.52% approved the Front list, 1.48% voted against and just 44 votes were declared invalid.

192 seats of the Assembly were occupied by women and 47 seats belonged to national minorities (mainly Hungarians and Germans).

Presidents of the Great National Assembly

The "lower house" numbering continues from the numbering of presidents of the old Assembly of Deputies (1862–1948).

+ Great National Assembly presidents Lowerhousenumber Name Portrait Lifespan Took office Left office Party Duration 411Gheorghe Apostol1913–20107 April 194811 June 1948 PMR 422Constantin Agiu1891–196111 June 194827 December 1948 PMR 433Constantin Pârvulescu1895–199227 December 19485 July 1949 PMR 444Dumitru Petrescu1906–19695 July 194928 December 1949 PMR 455Alexandru Drăghici1913–199328 December 194926 January 1950 PMR (44)(4)Dumitru Petrescu1906–196926 January 195029 May 1950 PMR 466Constantin Doncea1904–197329 May 19506 September 1950 PMR (41)(1)Gheorghe Apostol1913–20106 September 19505 April 1951 PMR 477Ion Vincze1910–19965 April 195126 March 1952 PMR (41)(1)Gheorghe Apostol1913–201026 March 19526 June 1952 PMR 488Gheorghe Stoica1900–19762 June 195230 November 1952 PMR (43)(3)Constantin Pârvulescu1895–199223 January 19535 March 1961 PMR 499Ştefan Voitec1900–198420 March 196128 March 1974 PMR/PCR 5010Miron Constantinescu1917–197428 March 197418 July 1974 PCR 5111Nicolae Giosan1921–199026 July 197412 December 1989 PCR

References