State Council of Estonia - Definition

Riigikogu is the name of the national parliament of Estonia.

The first elections to the Riigikogu took place in 1920. Until the year 1938 there were five more elections to the Riigikogu, but on the basis of different constitutions. In 1920-1923 were a close list, since 1926 up to 1934 was a optional open list choice. The basis of election was always a proportional representation. The elections were on regional basis, without any threshold.

1938. was used the-first-past-the-post system.

Since 1922 the sessions of the Riigikogu have taken place in the Toompea Castle, where one wing was rebuilt into the Riigikogu building.

In 1992, when Estonia had regained its independence before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the elections to the Riigikogu according to the Constitution adopted in the summer of 1992 took place. According to constitution Riigikogu has 101 memebers, election system is proportional representation. The present Riigikogu was elected on March 2, 2003. The main diffrences to pure PR system is 5% national threshold, and modified d'Hondti formula (divisor is powered to 0,9). Modification makes more unproportionality than usual d'Hondt.

Links

Riigikogu's website in English version  (http://www.riigikogu.ee/?lang=en)
Riiigkogu's election law in English  (http://www.riigikogu.ee/?id=11726)