Politika is the Czech word for politics.

Politik is the word for politician, which is of the masculine gender.  Although, men prevail in Czech politics, grammar provides female politicians with their own ending: politcka.  Unless they are independent, politicians are members of political parties.  The word for party is strana, and it features in most names of parties represented in the Czech Parliament.

The parliament in the Czech Republic has two houses.  The lower house is poslanecka snemovna - or the chamber of  deputies - and the upper house is senat or the Senate.

The Czech language distinguishes male and female members of parliament.  He is poslanec and his female colleague is poslankyne.  A senator, senator a senatorka - that is either male or female - has to be over 40 to be eligible, whereas poslanec a poslankyne have to be over 21 years of age. 

The government or vlada (coming from the word vlad-nout or to govern) currently has 17 members.  It is headed by predseda vlady or prime minister.  The Czech word for minister sounds almost the same as in English: ministr - only it is spelled without the "e". A woman minister is ministrynd.  At the moment, there are two ministrynd'  in the Czech cabinet.

Prague Castle, which is probably the most famous image of Prague, is the seat of the country's President.  This word, too, sounds almost the same in English and in Czech: prezident.  Because his office is at the Castle, which in Czech is Hrad, sometimes this word alone can stand for the president and his political opinions.  The expression prvni dama is a literal translation of the English term the first lady.

- Pavla Horakova
Radio Prague

CZECH PRESIDENT

The current President of the Czech Republic is Vaclav Klaus.  He is the head of state and he took office in March 7, 2003. The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from the Civic Democratic Party is Mirek Topolanek.  The two leading positions are connected well with each other because several significant political issues can only be brought into effect by the signatures of both men.

President Klaus however, has the power to act independently in many important areas regarding the Czech Republic.  The President's most powerful action is the veto, in which he can return a bill back to parliament.  On the other hand, a veto may be overidden by parliment, but the president's choice not to sign key legislation works as a test on the strength of the legislature. The Czech President also is the sole decision maker when it comes to designating people to high office positions.  Although, the president's accountabliity is shared with the Chamber of Deputies when choosing the President and Vice President  of the Supreme Control  Office, which is the area that works with the national budget.
The specific assigned presidential position is fulfilled following an indirect election by the Parliament of the Czech Republic.

Election Terms 

The term of office of a Czech President is five years. Political candidates pursuing for office must be forty years of age and could not have been elected twice consecutively.  Therefore, subsequently the only term boundary is that no candidate can be elected twice consecutively, a person hypothetically could gain the presidency more than twice.

Heraldry

The position of president brings with it symbolic representation, brought about through laws passed by the parliament. The flag of the president for instance is the strongest symbol regarding the president in office.  The official motto of the Czech Republic and the flag is " Pravda Vitezi" ("Truth prevails").