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Act on the Association of Citizens

83/1990 Zb. · 2026-02-04

Only the Slovak text is authentic.

Translated: 98 %

The translation was produced by artificial intelligence. It is unofficial and a lawyer has not checked it yet. Only the Slovak text is authentic.

83
ACT
on the Association of Citizens
The Federal Assembly of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic has passed the following Act:
Introductory provisions
§ 1 AI
(1) Citizens have the right to associate freely.
(2) No permission of a state authority is required to exercise this right.
(3) This Act does not apply to the association of citizens
a) in political parties and political movements,
b) for gainful activity or to ensure the proper exercise of certain professions,
c) in churches and religious societies,
d) for the exercise of hunting rights.
§ 2 AI
(1) Citizens may establish societies, associations, unions, movements, clubs and other civic associations, as well as trade unions (hereinafter referred to as "associations") and associate in them.
(2) Legal entities may also be members of associations.
(3) Associations are legal entities. State authorities may interfere with their status and activities only within the limits of the law.
(4) The scope of powers of trade union organizations associating members of the National Security Corps and correctional educational corps in asserting and protecting their social interests shall be established by a special law.
§ 3 AI
(1) No one may be forced to associate, to be a member of associations, or to participate in their activities. Everyone is free to leave an association.
(2) No one may suffer any civic detriment for associating, being a member of an association, participating in its activities or supporting it, or staying outside it.
(3) The rights and obligations of a member of an association are regulated by the articles of association.
§ 4 AI
Associations are not permitted
a) whose goal is to deny or restrict the personal, political or other rights of citizens because of their nationality, sex, race, origin, political or other conviction, religion and social status, to incite hatred and intolerance on these grounds, to support violence or otherwise violate the constitution and laws;
b) which pursue the achievement of their goals in ways that are contrary to the constitution and laws;
c) armed or with armed units; associations whose members hold or use firearms for sports purposes are not considered as such.
§ 5 AI
Associations may not perform the function of state authorities unless a special law provides otherwise. They may not direct state authorities and impose obligations on citizens who are not their members.
Registration and establishment of associations
§ 6 AI
(1) An association is established by registration.
(2) A proposal for registration may be submitted by at least three citizens, at least one of whom must be over 18 years of age (hereinafter referred to as the "preparatory committee"). The proposal shall be signed by the members of the preparatory committee, stating their first names and surnames, birth numbers, and places of residence. They shall also state which member over 18 years of age is the authorized representative entitled to act on their behalf. The proposal for registration must contain data on the statutory body of the association or members of the statutory body of the association to the extent of first name, surname, permanent residence address, date of birth, and birth number. They shall attach the articles of association in two copies to the proposal, which must state:
a) name of the association,
b) seat,
c) purpose of its activities,
d) bodies of the association, method of their appointment, designation of bodies and officials authorized to act on behalf of the association,
e) provisions on organizational units, if they are established and if they act in their own name,
f) principles of financial management.
(3) Until the entry of the first statutory body into the register of non-governmental non-profit organizations, the authorized representative of the preparatory committee, who must have permanent or temporary residence in the Slovak Republic, shall act on behalf of the association.
(4) The name of the association must not be derogatory, offensive, or confusingly similar to the name of a public authority or the name of a legal entity that is already active in the territory of the Slovak Republic.
§ 7 AI
(1) The proposal for registration shall be submitted to the district office located in the seat of the region competent according to the seat of the association (hereinafter referred to as the "registration authority").
(2) If the proposal does not meet the requirements under (or if the data in it are incomplete or inaccurate), the registration authority shall notify the preparatory committee thereof within 15 days of receipt of the proposal, provided that until these defects are eliminated, the registration procedure shall not commence.
(3) The registration procedure shall commence on the day when the registration authority receives a proposal that does not contain the defects referred to in paragraph 2.
§ 8 AI
(1) The registration authority shall refuse registration if it appears from the submitted articles of association that
a) it is an organization referred to in ,
b) the articles of association are not in compliance with ,
c) it is an unlawful association (),
d) the objectives of the association are contrary to the requirements specified in .
(2) The registration authority shall decide on the refusal of registration within 15 days from the date of commencement of the procedure. It shall deliver the decision to the authorized representative of the preparatory committee.3) No appeal shall lie against the decision on refusal of registration.
§ 9 AI
(1) Unless the registration authority finds grounds for refusal of registration, it shall carry out the registration within 15 days of the commencement of the procedure and, within this period, send one copy of the articles of association to the authorized representative of the preparatory committee, indicating the date of registration, which is the date of dispatch. No administrative decision is issued on registration.
(2) The provision of data to the register of legal entities, entrepreneurs and public authorities, and the assignment of an organization identification number to an association and its organizational unit are regulated by a special regulation.
§ 9a AI
(1) A trade union organization and an employers' organization shall become a legal entity on the day following the day when the proposal for its registration in the records was delivered to the competent registration authority ().
(2) Provisions of , and shall apply mutatis mutandis to the recording of a trade union organization and an employers' organization; provisions of , , and shall not apply to trade union organizations and employers' organizations.
§ 11 AI
(1) If an amendment to the articles of association of an association is approved, the association is obliged to send a written notification of the amendment to the registration authority within 15 days of its approval; two copies of the wording of the amendment to the articles of association shall be attached to the notification. When changing data on the statutory body or a member of the statutory body, the association shall submit to the registration authority documents certifying the facts for recording the data on the statutory body or a member of the statutory body. The notification of the change of data on the statutory body or a member of the statutory body must be signed by the statutory body or by such number of members of the statutory body as required according to the registered articles of association, and by the newly elected statutory body or newly elected members of the statutory body; the authenticity of signatures must be officially verified. The signature of a statutory body or a member of a statutory body entered in the register who has died or been declared dead is not required. If a statutory body or a member of a statutory body entered in the register refuses to sign the notification and the resolution of the association on the change of the statutory body or a member of the statutory body, their signature may be replaced by a declaration of three members of the association; their signatures must be officially verified and shall replace the signature of the statutory body or member of the statutory body.
(2) If an amendment to the articles of association is not in compliance with the provisions of and or if the stated data are incomplete or inaccurate or if there are grounds for refusal of registration under , the registration authority shall immediately notify the association thereof. The association is obliged to eliminate these defects within 60 days from the date of receipt of this notice and to inform the registration authority within a further 10 days. If it fails to do so, the registration authority shall dissolve the association; no appeal shall lie against the decision of the registration authority.
(3) If there is no reason to proceed under paragraph 2, the registration authority shall, within 15 days of receipt of the notice under paragraph 1, send to the association one copy of the amendment to the articles of association, marking thereon that it takes note of the amendment.
§ 11a AI
Organizational units of the association
(1) The statutory body of the association is obliged to notify the registration authority within 15 days of the establishment of an organizational unit of the association acting in its own name, and of any change in data on the organizational unit acting in its own name. The notification of the establishment of an organizational unit of the association must contain the name, seat address, organization identification number if assigned, purpose of activity, first name, surname, permanent residence address, date of birth and birth number of the natural person authorized to act on behalf of the organizational unit. The statutory body of the association is obliged to notify the registration authority within 15 days of the termination of an organizational unit of the association and the reason for its termination. Documents certifying the facts for entry of these data must be attached to the notification according to the first and third sentences.
(2) Data on the organizational unit of a civic association acting in its own name shall be entered into the register of non-governmental non-profit organizations pursuant to a special regulation. An organizational unit of an association acting in its own name, with the exception of an organizational unit of a trade union organization, comes into existence on the day of entry into the register of non-governmental non-profit organizations. Paragraph 1 shall also apply to organizational units of trade union organizations and employers' organizations registered or recorded under this Act, if according to their articles of association they act in their own name; only the name, seat, organization identification number, date of their entry in the register, first name, surname and date of birth of the natural person authorized to act on behalf of the organizational unit shall be entered for these units in the public part of the register of non-governmental non-profit organizations.
Dissolution and termination of an association
§ 12 AI
(1) An association is dissolved
a) by voluntary dissolution or merger with another association,
b) by a final decision of the registration authority on its dissolution,
c) by a final decision of a court in criminal proceedings, or
d) by a declaration of bankruptcy or rejection of a petition for declaration of bankruptcy due to lack of assets.
(2) Unless the articles of association specify the method of voluntary dissolution or merger with another association, its highest body shall decide on it. This body shall notify the termination of the association to the competent registration authority within 15 days.
(3) If the registration authority finds that the association is engaged in activity
a) which is reserved for political parties and political movements or organizations associating citizens for gainful activity or for the exercise of religion or belief in churches and religious societies ();
b) which violates the principles referred to in ;
c) which is contrary to ; it shall immediately warn it thereof and call upon it to refrain from such activity. If the association continues in this activity, the registration authority shall dissolve it. No appeal shall lie against this decision.
(4) If the registration authority finds () that an organizational unit of an association authorized to act in its own name acts in the manner specified in , it shall proceed mutatis mutandis in the manner specified therein.
§ 13 AI
(1) General provisions of Obchodného zákonníka on the dissolution and termination of commercial companies shall apply mutatis mutandis to the dissolution and termination of an association, unless this Act provides otherwise.
(2) An association shall terminate on the date of its deletion from the register of non-governmental non-profit organizations.
(3) Upon dissolution of an association pursuant to and , the liquidation shall be carried out by a liquidator appointed by the registration authority.
(4) Upon dissolution of an association pursuant to , paragraph 3 shall apply if the association does not appoint a liquidator to carry out the liquidation.
(5) The association is obliged to state its name together with an addition indicating its current legal status, in particular with the addition "in liquidation" or "in bankruptcy".
(6) The dissolution of an association also dissolves organizational units acting in their own name. An association shall not cease to exist before all organizational units acting in their own name cease to exist.
§ 16 AI
Cooperation agreements
(1) Associations may enter into cooperation agreements between themselves to achieve a specific objective or to pursue another common interest. Written form is required for the validity of the agreement.
(2) The cooperation agreement shall define the purpose of cooperation, method of implementation, rights and obligations of the participating associations, and the means contributed. The provisions of this Act apply mutatis mutandis to a union; in the case of a union of trade union organizations or a union of employers, applies mutatis mutandis.
(4) A union of participating associations, which is a legal entity, may be created by a cooperation agreement. The provisions of this Act apply mutatis mutandis to a union.
(5) A cooperation agreement may provide that the agreement loses effect by agreement of the participating associations, by achieving the purpose for which it was concluded, or by another fact specified in the agreement.
Common provisions
§ 17 AI
If meetings or other assemblies of the association are open to the public, citizens present have the duties of assembly participants. They must not interfere in the proceedings unless the chairperson decides otherwise.
§ 17a AI
An association is obliged in official relations, contractual relationships and on its website, if established, to state its name, indication of legal form if not part of the name, seat address and organization identification number. An organizational unit of an association is obliged in official relations, contractual relationships and on its website, if established, to state its name, indication that it is an organizational unit of the association if not part of the name, seat address and organization identification number.
§ 18 AI
In accordance with the objectives of their activities, associations have the right to address petitions to state authorities.
Transitional and final provisions
§ 19 AI
(1) Voluntary organizations established after September 30, 1951 or declared as voluntary organizations pursuant to Act No. 68/1951 Zb. on Voluntary Organizations and Assemblies, which have not ceased to exist, shall be considered associations already established under this Act. These organizations are only obliged to notify the ministry referred to in or of their name, seat, and articles of association by June 30, 1990.
(2) Societies established before October 1, 1951 shall be considered associations already established under this Act, provided they have not ceased to exist. They are obliged to notify the ministry referred to in or § 11 ods. 4 of their name and seat by June 30, 1990. If they fail to do so, the ministry shall inquire whether they intend to continue their activities. If the society fails to comply with the duty under the second sentence even by December 31, 1990, it shall be presumed to have ceased to exist on that day.
(3) Data on associations () specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be notified by the ministry () to the Federal Statistical Office for registration.
(4) Associations operating under § 10 in the territory of the Slovak Republic after December 31, 1992 shall cease their activities by April 30, 1993, unless terminated earlier pursuant to .
§ 20 AI
(1) Act No. 116/1985 Zb. on the Conditions of Activity of Organizations with an International Element in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic remains unaffected.
(2) Organizations subject to Act No. 116/1985 Zb. on the Conditions of Activity of Organizations with an International Element in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, permitted before December 31, 1992 by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, and operating or having their seat in the territory of the Slovak Republic, shall be considered organizations permitted by the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic.
§ 20a AI
Transitional provisions for the amendment effective from January 1, 2019
(1) A civic association, trade union organization and employers' organization are obliged to send in writing to the ministry by June 30, 2019 current data on the statutory body or members of the statutory body to the extent of first name, surname, permanent residence address, date of birth and birth number, indicating the date of taking office, together with documents certifying the facts for entry of data on the statutory body or members of the statutory body. The notification of data on the statutory body or members of the statutory body must be signed by the statutory body or by such number of members of the statutory body as required according to the registered articles of association; the authenticity of signatures must be officially verified.
(2) A civic association, trade union organization and employers' organization that have established organizational units acting in their own name and not terminated before January 1, 2019 are obliged to send in writing to the ministry by December 31, 2019 current data on these organizational units to the extent of name, seat address, organization identification number, together with first name, surname, permanent residence address, date of birth and birth number of the natural person authorized to act on behalf of each organizational unit of the civic association, trade union organization or employers' organization, indicating the date of taking office, together with documents certifying their establishment. The entry of data shall be made by the ministry immediately after notification of full data.
(3) Proceedings commenced before January 1, 2019 shall be completed under this Act as in force until December 31, 2018.
(4) Until the register is put into operation, data shall be entered into the records kept under this Act as in force until December 31, 2018.
§ 20c AI
Transitional provision for the amendment effective from September 1, 2025
Proceedings commenced before September 1, 2025 shall be completed under this Act as in force until August 31, 2025.
§ 21 AI
Repealed
1. Act No. 68/1951 Zb. on Voluntary Organizations and Assemblies, as amended, as far as voluntary organizations are concerned;
2. Decree of the Ministry of the Interior No. 320/1951 Ú. l. (No. 348/1951 Ú. v.) on Voluntary Organizations and Assemblies as amended by Decree of the Minister of the Interior No. 158/1957 Ú. l., as far as voluntary organizations are concerned;
3. Government Decree No. 30/1939 Zb. on the Formation of Special Associations Not Subject to Applicable Regulations on Association, and on Supervision over Them;
4. § 2 zákona č. 126/1968 Zb. on Certain Transitional Measures to Strengthen Public Order;
5. § 2 ods. 8 písm. c) of Act No. 128/1970 Zb. on the Delimitation of Competence of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in Matters of Internal Order and Security;
6. § 45 ods. 1 písm. c) of Act No. 194/1988 Zb. on the Competence of Federal Central Bodies of State Administration.
§ 22 AI
This Act enters into force on May 1, 1990.
Havel v. r.
Dubček v. r.
Čalfa v. r.

Notes

1) § 8 of the Civil Code No. 40/1964 Zb. (full text No. 70/1983 Zb.).

2) Act No. 346/2018 Z. z. on the Register of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations and on amendments to certain acts.

3a) Act No. 272/2015 Z. z. on the Register of Legal Entities, Entrepreneurs and Public Authorities and on amendments to certain acts as amended by Act No. 52/2018 Z. z.

not translated 3b) § 3 ods. 2 písm. d) zákona č. 346/2018 Z. z.

4) Act No. 109/1964 Zb. Economic Code (full text No. 80/1989 Zb.).

5) Act No. 84/1990 Zb. on the Right of Assembly.

6) Act No. 85/1990 Zb. on the Right to Petition.

not translated 7) § 7 zákona č. 346/2018 Z. z.

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