Editing Politics of Azerbaijan (section)

== Legislative branch ==
{{See also|National Assembly of Azerbaijan|List of Azerbaijan legislation}}

The [[National Assembly of Azerbaijan]]  ({{langx|az|Milli Məclis}}) is the [[legislative branch]] of government in [[Azerbaijan]]. The [[unicameral]] National Assembly consists of 125 deputies elected in single-member constituencies. 

Officially voting is free, individual and secret. Candidates may be self-nominated or nominated by political parties, their blocs or groups of voters. All citizens over 18 years of age have the right to vote, except those recognised as incapable by a court. Every citizen of at least 25 years of age may be elected with certain exceptions (i.e. dual citizenship, liabilities towards a foreign state, holding a position in the executive or judicial branches of power, remunerated activities - with certain exceptions, such as members of religious professions, incapacity confirmed by court, conviction for a serious crime or serving a sentence). The validity of election results is confirmed in respect of each candidate by the Constitutional Court, and the National Assembly is constituted upon confirmation in office of 83 deputies.<ref name="Council of Europe">{{Cite web |url=https://rm.coe.int/16806c664f |title=FOURTH EVALUATION ROUND |publisher=Council of Europe |access-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822221251/https://rm.coe.int/16806c664f |archive-date=August 22, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 

Every year, the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan holds two regular, spring and autumn, sessions. Extraordinary sessions are convened by its Speaker at the request of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan or 42 deputies of the National Assembly.<ref name="en.president.az">{{Cite web|url=http://en.president.az/azerbaijan/constitution|title=Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic - AZERBAIJAN » Constitution|website=en.president.az|access-date=2017-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527102348/http://en.president.az/azerbaijan/constitution|archive-date=May 27, 2011|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>  The meetings of the sessions of the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan are open to the public. A meeting of the session of the Milli Majlis may be closed to the public on the proposal of 83 members of parliament or the proposal of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The assembly is headed by the [[Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan|Speaker of Milli Majlis]] assisted by the First Deputy Speaker and two deputy speakers. [[Ogtay Asadov]] is the current speaker of the assembly, [[Ziyafet Asgarov]] is the First Deputy Speaker and, [[Bahar Muradova]] and Valeh Alasgarov are deputy speakers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.meclis.gov.az/?/az/content/9 |title=Milli Məclisin tərkibi. Rəhbərlik |trans-title=National Assembly. Administration |page=9 |website=meclis.gov.az |access-date=December 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217130021/http://www.meclis.gov.az/?%2Faz%2Fcontent%2F9 |archive-date=February 17, 2011 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Currently (for the term of 2015-2010) 21 women and 104 men deputies are elected in National Assembly. The National Assembly is divided into 15 Committees according to the areas they are focused.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://meclis.gov.az/?/az/content/181|title=Milli Məclis|page=181|website=meclis.gov.az|access-date=2017-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101095712/http://meclis.gov.az/?%2Faz%2Fcontent%2F181|archive-date=November 1, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Its structure also includes Chamber of Accounts, Toponymic Commission, Disciplinary Commission and Azerbaijan newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://meclis.gov.az/?/az/content/49|title=Milli Məclis|page=49|website=meclis.gov.az|access-date=2017-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101095729/http://meclis.gov.az/?%2Faz%2Fcontent%2F49|archive-date=November 1, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

A legislative initiative can be taken by an MP, the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor's Office, the NAR Supreme Council and a group of 40 thousand citizens who are eligible to vote. The [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic]]  is a constituent part of Azerbaijan with its own elected parliament (the Supreme Council) consisting of 45 deputies. Elections to the Supreme Council are regulated by the Nakhchivan Constitution.<ref name="Council of Europe"/><ref name="en.president.az"/>