Pravomoci

Pravomoci (singular pravomoc) is a Czech and Slovak term for the legal authority or competence to perform actions and make binding decisions. It denotes the formal powers granted to a person or body by law, such as a constitution, statute, or regulation. The term is closely related to, but distinct from, kompetence; while pravomoc refers to the power to decide and act, kompetence describes the scope of tasks a body is authorized to perform.

In constitutional and administrative law, pravomoci define how state power is distributed among organs of government—legislative, executive, and judicial—and among central and local authorities. They determine who can enact laws, sign agreements, adjudicate disputes, issue permits, or impose penalties. Powers may be exclusive to a specific organ, shared in a system of checks and balances, or delegated for a particular task by law; delegation, however, remains subject to legal controls and can be withdrawn.

Examples of common pravomoci include the legislature’s authority to enact laws and approve the budget, the executive’s authority to implement laws and manage public administration, and the judiciary’s authority to interpret and apply laws. Local authorities also have pravomoci to administer zoning, public services, and local taxation within statutory limits. In international contexts, pravomoci describe the competences allocated to supranational institutions and to member states, clarifying which entities may act in areas such as trade, security, or environmental regulation.

Pravomoci can be defined, restricted, or reallocated by constitutional provisions, statutes, or judicial decisions, and may be reviewed to ensure compliance with the rule of law.