Tradition and Innovation in the Development of Parliamentary Government in Hungary

Abstract

While the Hungarian political system had not been a fully blown democracy before the advent of the communist regime, it used to have democratic traditions in the field of parliamentary institutions. The first part of the article covers the three periods that are significant from this perspective. In the second part we aim to prove that the legislature played a significant role during the transition from one-party rule to democracy. Third, we introduce the background and foundations of the new parliament in the constitutional framework together with its established structure and activities during the first year.