This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija), based on research produced by GlobaLex at NYU Law School and the Library of Congress. Under Slovenia's Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has no legal status.
Country Background
Slovenia is located at the crossroads of south-central Europe, and the terrain is dominated by the Julian Alps. It is bounded by Italy, Hungary, Austria, and Croatia. The capital of Slovenia is Ljubljana. The official language is Slovenian. However, Italian and Hungarian are official languages in various local municipalities where the immigrant population of Italians and Hungarians are high. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 2 million, with the highest population density around the capital. Slovenia is a predominantly Christian country, with about 58% of the population Roman Catholic.
Constitution & Legal Structure
Slovenia is referred to as a parliamentary republic, and it endorses the parliamentary system of democracy. Slovenia left Yugoslavia in 1991 after 88% of voters passed the referendum. This resulted in a brief 10-day war with Yugoslavia that ended with the Brijuni Agreement and Slovenia's independence. The Slovenian Constitution was ratified shortly afterward that same year. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. According to the Constitution, Slovenia has an “incomplete bicameral system,” meaning that the upper chamber (the National Council) does not have equal competences with the lower chamber (the National Assembly) but only supervises the work of the lower chamber. Slovenia is a member state of the European Union.
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no constitutional status in Slovenia.
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Slovenia.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
Slovenia has no official school of Islamic law.
Sources of Law for Legal Research
Official Publications
Unofficial Databases
References:
For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].