A small consideration on perspectives of regional reform of the Senate

After the Senate-elections in November 2000 was again opened a discussion about the future of the Czech second chamber. But on the political agenda is today not a question of its abolition, but a question of the Senate’s reform. The main reform topic is a reconstitution of the Senate in relations with new regional assemblies; it was already a part of parliamentary debates in time of the new Constituents creation in 1992. The chambers of territorial representation represent the biggest group among the world’s bicameral parliaments. The aspects of regional character regard as creation as powers of the second chamber. The Czech parliamentarians stand before the very important decision, whether and why reforming the Senate, and if they decide about the change of its basic conception, how will be a face and role of the new chamber. There is not only one alternative to contemporary stand: the Senate can represent as regional as local or social interests. The risk of ill-considered reform is a danger of instability of Czech political and constitutional system.