Senát Parlamentu ČR: Legislativní aktér, kontrolní mechanismus, nebo politická překážka?

This thesis presents a comprehensive analysis of the constitutional and political role of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. The main objective is to assess whether the Senate functions as an effective legislative actor, a control mechanism, or an institutional obstacle within the Czech parliamentary system. The thesis combines theoretical foundations of bicameralism, institutional analysis, and comparative constitutional law with an extensive dataset and case studies spanning the period from 1996 to 2024. The primary contribution lies in the author's original data analysis of the Senate's partisan composition, legislative rejection and amendment rates, and voter turnout, demonstrating the Senate’s variable but systemically significant corrective function. The study shows that despite its limited formal powers, the Senate plays a crucial role in safeguarding constitutional balance and systemic stability, particularly during periods of political tension or lower chamber dominance. The thesis is original in its integration of empirical findings with normative debate about Senate reform and legitimacy, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of asymmetric bicameralism in post-transition democracies.