Great National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Romania

The Great National Assembly (Marea Adunare Națională; MAN) was the supreme body of state power of the Socialist Republic of Romania. The Great National Assembly was the only branch of government in Romania, and per the principle of unified power, all state organs were subservient to it. After the overthrow of Communism in Romania in December 1989, the Great National Assembly was dissolved by decree of the National Salvation Front (FSN) and eventually replaced by the bicameral parliament, made up of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Great National Assembly was elected every four years, and each individual member represented 60,000 citizens. The system was created to imitate the Soviet model.

The MAN had the power to, among other things, amend the constitution and appoint and depose the Supreme Commander of the Romanian People's Army. The resolutions required a simple majority to be passed through. The Assembly convened twice a year for ordinary sessions and for extraordinary sessions as many times as required by the State Council or by at least one third of the members of the Assembly. It elected its own chairmen and four deputies to preside each session. the 1952 Constitution (article 24), 10; the 1965 Constitution (article 43), 24. When the Assembly was not in session, some of its powers were exercised by the State Council (which the Constitution defined as the MAN in permanent session), such as setting guidelines for the law and supervising the local councils. It could also issue governmental regulations in lieu of law. If such regulation was not approved by the MAN at its next session, it was considered revoked. However, under the principles of democratic centralism, such approval was merely a formality. Combined with the MAN's infrequent sessions, this meant that State Council decisions de facto had the force of law. In emergencies, the State Council assumed the MAN's powers to control the budget and economic plan, appoint and dismiss ministers and justices of the Supreme Court, mobilize the armed forces and declare war.

According to the official results of the March 9, 1980, election, which elected 369 deputies, 99.99% of the registered voters cast their votes. Of them, 98.52% approved the Front list, 1.48% voted against and just 44 votes were declared invalid. 192 seats of the Assembly were occupied by women and 47 seats belonged to national minorities (mainly Hungarians and Germans).

The "lower house" numbering continues from the numbering of presidents of the old Assembly of Deputies (1862–1948). + Great National Assembly presidents Lowerhousenumber No. (Number) Name Portrait Lifespan Took office Left office Party 411Gheorghe Apostol1913–20107 April 194811 June 1948 PMR 422Constantin Agiu1891–196111 June 194827 December 1948 PMR 433Constantin Pârvulescu1895–199227 December 19485 July 1949 PMR 444Dumitru Petrescu1906–19695 July 194928 December 1949 PMR 455Alexandru Drăghici1913–199328 December 194926 January 1950 PMR (44)(4)Dumitru Petrescu1906–196926 January 195029 May 1950 PMR 466Constantin Doncea1904–197329 May 19506 September 1950 PMR (41)(1)Gheorghe Apostol1913–20106 September 19505 April 1951 PMR 477Ion Vincze1910–19965 April 195126 March 1952 PMR (41)(1)Gheorghe Apostol1913–201026 March 19526 June 1952 PMR 488Gheorghe Stoica1900–19762 June 195230 November 1952 PMR (43)(3)Constantin Pârvulescu1895–199223 January 19535 March 1961 PMR 499Ştefan Voitec1900–198420 March 196128 March 1974 PMR/PCR 5010Miron Constantinescu1917–197428 March 197418 July 1974 PCR 5111Nicolae Giosan1921–199026 July 197412 December 1989 PCR