The Bulgarian Legal System and Legal Research

Aleksandar Aleksandrov is a Managing Associate at the law firm Komarevski, Dimitrov & partners. He holds an LLM from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ochridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria. Aleksandar Aleksandrov mostly focuses on energy, public procurements, spatial planning, construction, and the environment. He has been recognized by IFLR1000 as a Rising Star Lawyer in Project Development.

1. Introduction

The process of formation of the contemporary legal system of Bulgaria started with the liberation of the country from Ottoman political domination in 1878. It is marked by the adoption of the first Bulgarian constitution – the Turnovo Constitution signed on 16 April 1879, a founding document upholding the most progressive and democratic principles dominating in Europe in the nineteenth century.

The modern Bulgarian legal system is influenced by two very important factors: the democratization and liberalization of the country’s economy, which started after the fall of the Communist regime in 1989, on the one hand, and the integration of Bulgaria into the EU, on the other. In the years preceding Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union, its legal system evolved through a profound and strictly monitored alteration to achieve coherence with the acquis communautaire. The country is a member state of the EU as of January 1, 2007. After the accession of the country, the common EU legislation became an integral part of Bulgaria’s legal system.

For more information, please see the European Union’s website.

2. Sources of Law

A typical representative of the Romano-Germanic legal family, the Bulgarian legal system recognizes the Acts of Parliament as a main source of law. The Bulgarian jurisprudence does not regard the judicial precedent as a source of law. Nevertheless, apart from the direct sources, the legal doctrine also refers to the so-called indirect sources (or “subsidiary” sources) of law such as case law (the practice of the courts), the legal doctrine, the legal customs, moral rules, and equity (“justice”). In addition, two types of decisions of the Constitutional Court (refer to 2.3. below) are a source of law (but they cannot be regarded as case law). In terms of direct sources of law, which also include acquis communautaire, the Bulgarian legal system is based on a strictly defined hierarchy of the sources of law as follows below:

2.1. EU Law

EU Law is a separate and independent legal order which constantly interacts with the national legislation of the member states. Some authors even consider it a unique system of legal norms, since it possesses some specific features which characterize EU Law as a supranational legal order. The main characteristics of EU Law are the following: a) its supremacy over the internal legal provisions of the legislation of the member states (including their Constitutional provisions) which contradict it; b) its direct effect, e. g. EU regulations directly embed legal rights and liabilities for its addressees and therefore the national parliaments of the EU countries do not have to go through legal procedure for ratification of EU regulations. Because of the above, it should be stated herein that EU Law has paramount importance in terms of depicting the hierarchy of the sources of Bulgarian law (see also two very important decisions of ECJ: Van Gend en Loos decision from February 5th, 1963, and the Costa vs. Enel from July 15th, 1964).

2.2. The Constitution

The Bulgarian Constitution, effective as of July 13, 1991, is a supreme internal legislative act. The Constitution provides for the basic rights of the citizens as well as stipulates the form of the state government and structure, functions, and collaboration between the branches of government, etc.[1]

Amendments to the Constitution may be adopted through a majority of three-quarters of the National Assembly (the single-chamber Parliament); some of the major constitutional provisions may only be amended by a Grand National Assembly (refer to 4.1. below). The Constitution has been amended six times so far, never by a Grand National Assembly.

2.3. Decisions of the Constitutional Court

According to art. 149, para. 1, p. 1 of the Constitution: “The Constitutional Court gives compulsory interpretations of the Constitution”. Among other powers, the Constitutional Court is also entitled to declare provisions contained in an Act of Parliament anti-constitutional. Those two types of decisions of the Constitutional Court are a very important source of law in the Bulgarian legal system. (For details about the Constitutional Court please refer to Section 3.4. or see the Court’s website).

2.4. International Treaties

According to Art. 5, para. 4 of the Constitution: “International treaties, ratified in compliance with the constitutional procedure, published and entered into force for the Republic of Bulgaria are part of the domestic law of the country and have supremacy over those provisions of the domestic law which contradict them”. This rule has been applied consistently by Bulgarian courts. Concerning the above, it should be noted, however, that the EU has the legal capacity to be a party to international treaties with third countries and international organizations. These international treaties are an important part of the EU legal order and therefore their provisions are binding for the member states.

2.5. Acts of Parliament and Codifications

The main sources of law, apart from the EU laws are the Acts of Parliament.[2] Legislative initiatives are vested in any Member of Parliament, as well as in the Council of Ministers (refer to 3.2.1. below). Annual budget bills can be drafted only by the Council of Ministers.

Some major branches of the legal system are codified, even though codes (enacted by the Parliament) have no higher standing than but are equal to the Acts of Parliament. The major codes having the ranking of an Act of Parliament currently in force in Bulgaria are:

• Administrative Procedure Code 2006 (dealing with the procedures for the issuance and appeal of administrative acts and, among others, for the procedures for indemnification of private parties who have suffered damages from administrative instruments, acts, or omission to act);
• Civil Procedure Code (hereinafter referred to as CPC), effective as of March 1, 2008 (dealing with all civil proceedings in court, with enforcement of judgments, with injunctions, among others; it also contains the law on evidence in civil matters). The main advantages and purposes of the new procedural statute are to improve, facilitate, and speed up the work of the judges, bailiffs, and other public officers and bodies involved in civil proceedings. Another major objective of the legislator is the adoption of new specific procedures for the resolution of commercial and class actions, as well as the improvement of the rules on summoning and notifying the parties using electronic addresses and electronic documents.
• Tax and Social Insurance Procedure Code 2005 (dealing with procedures for the issue of tax assessments and social security levies assessments, their appeal and enforcement, among others);
• Insurance Code 2015 (codifying all matters relevant to the taking up and pursuit of the business of insurance and reinsurance, including in the EU context);
• The Social Insurance Code 1999 as amended many times (regulating the so-called three tiers of social insurance: obligatory state-run; obligatory private-run; and optional private-run; also regulating the matters relevant to the taking up and pursuit of the business of a pension insurance fund and a fund manager);
• International Private Law Code 2005 (a codification of most of the conflicts of law rules in Bulgarian civil and business law);
• Labor Code 1986 as amended many times (the paramount piece of legislation concerning employment law);
• Maritime Code 1970 as amended many times (dealing with the bulk of matters in maritime law, including contracts, vessel registrations, and flags);
• Criminal Code 1968 has been amended many times (dealing exclusively with all matters falling within substantive criminal law).
• Criminal Procedure Code 2006 (dealing exclusively with all mattes falling within criminal procedure law, including the law of evidence);
• Family Code 2009 (dealing exclusively with all legal aspects of civil marriage, divorce, origin, lineage, among others, but not inheritance);
• Election Code 2014 (dealing exclusively with the active and passive right to vote, election campaigns and their financing, rights and obligations of candidates, rights and obligations of media during election campaigns, etc).

2.6. Delegated Legislation

Constitution provides for and several Acts of Parliament delegate to the Council of Ministers, the Ministers separately, to other public bodies and/or officers the issuance of decrees, regulations, ordinances, and instructions and thus the detailed regulation of specific areas of economic or social activity.

If such subordinate statutory instruments contravene an Act of Parliament or the Constitution they can be appealed before (and possibly revoked by) the Supreme Administrative Court (refer below).

2.7. The Practice of the Courts

The judgments issued by Bulgarian courts in individual proceedings have no universal applicability, i.e. they are binding on the parties involved. Thus, court judgments are not case law. Even individual court judgments may have very significant practical value and are thus often of interest to practitioners and are cited in other legal proceedings. They remain, however, even in identical factual settings only arguments in another, independent trial.

At the same time, three types of court decisions are of such significant importance as to impact the enforcement of laws and other acts. Firstly, those judgments of the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) by which it abrogates statutory instruments that conflict with an Act of Parliament or the Constitution (refer to 2.3. above). Secondly, each of the Civil, Commercial, or Criminal Colleges (each consisting of the justices belonging to the respective College) of the Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) can issue Interpretative Decisions, which are binding on other courts and the executive branch of the government. Such are issued where the respective college finds that an interpretation of an Act of Parliament or a statutory instrument is needed (because of the lower courts issuing flawed judgments by misinterpreting such Acts or instruments, or because of dissenting judgments of different courts on similar cases). Thirdly and similarly, the justices in the Supreme Administrative Court can issue Interpretative Decrees, which are binding on the Judiciary and the Executive Branch of the Government (including the local authorities) as well as on all public bodies which are entrusted with the right to make delegated legislation (e.g. the Central Bank).[3] The latter two classes of decrees are dealt with in the Judicature Act 2007 and the Administrative Procedure Code (APC) and are traditional for the Bulgarian legal system.

According to Interpretative Decision No 1 of 19.02.2010 of SCC, a court decision, which is consistent with a rendered interpretative decision or a decision under Art. 291 of the Civil Procedure Code for unifying the court practice, is not appealable before SCC. Thus, SCC’s decisions under Art. 291 of the Civil Procedure Code is of significant importance for unifying the court practice on disputable questions of law.

2.8. The Legal Custom

This is a subsidiary source of law the main characteristics of which are: a continuous implementation by many persons and its “opinion necessitatis” i.e. the common understanding of its binding force. It is not uncommon in business relations.

2.9. Moral Principles and Equity

The legal doctrine regards morality and equity as subsidiary sources of law, which are applicable in case of normative gaps.

3. Institutions

3.1. The Legislative Branch

According to Art. 1, para. 1 of the Constitution, Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic, with the legislative branch taking supremacy. The National Assembly exercises the legislative power as well as the right to parliamentary control. A very important prerogative of the Parliament is to elect the Prime Minister and its cabinet. The mandate of the National Assembly is four years, and it consists of 240 directly elected members.

A Grand National Assembly consists of 400 directly elected members. The Grand National Assembly is exclusively entitled to exercise the following powers: to adopt a new Constitution; to resolve the matter concerning a change of the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, and to ratify any international treaties providing for any such changes; to resolve on the matters concerning changes in the form of state governance (parliamentary republic), the structure of State (unitary state and not a federal state); and to amend and supplement certain other major constitutional provisions.

For more information, please see the Parliament’s website.

3.2. The Executive Branch

3.2.1. The Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers or the Government is the main body of the executive power, headed by the Prime Minister. The Government conducts the internal and foreign policy of the State, secures public order and cares for national security, exercises control over the public administration and the military forces, and has legislative initiative. The Prime Minister is typically nominated by the largest parliamentary group, after which the President hands him a mandate for the formation of the cabinet.

The Government consists of Ministers who would normally be in charge of a Ministry. The number and names of Ministries change over time, sometimes even within the mandate of a single National Assembly. Ministries take charge of the respective sectors of economic or social life.

• Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria, 1194 Sofia, 1 Dondukov Blvd., Central Switchboard: (+359 2) 940 29 99
• Government Information Service, Phone. (+359 2) 940 2770 Fax. (+359 2) 981 3719
• Prime Minister Website, Address: 1000 Sofia 1, Dondukov Blvd., Phone: (+359 2) 940 29 99; Email: primeminister@government.bg
• Education, E-mail Address: press_mon@mon.bg, Address: 1000 Sofia 2A Dondukov Blvd., Phone: (+359 2) 9217799, Fax: (+359 2) 988 24 85
• Agriculture and Food Supply, E-mail Address: mail@mzh.government.bg, Address: 1040 Sofia, 55 Hristo Botev Blvd., Phone: (+359 2) 985 11 383
• Culture, E-mail Address: delovodstvo@mc.government.bg, Address: 1000 Sofia, 17 Alexander Stamboliiski Blvd., Phone: (+359 2) 94 00 900, Fax: (+359 2) 981 81 45
• Defense E-mail Address: minister@mod.bg, Address: 1000 Sofia, 3, Dyakon Ignatii Str. Phone: (+359 2 ) 922 09 22, Fax: (+359 2) 987 96 93
• Economy and industry, E-mail Address: e-docs@mi.government.bg, Address: 1000 Sofia, 8, Slavianska Str., Phone: (+359 2) 940 7001, Fax: (+359 2) 987 2190; (+359 2) 981 9970
• Energy, E-mail Address: e-energy@me.government.bg, Address: 1000 Sofia, 8, Triaditsa Str., Phone: (+359 2) 926 3152, Fax: (+359 2) 980 7630;
• Environment and Waters, E-mail Address: edno_gishe@moew.government.bg, Address: 1000 Sofia, 22 Knyaghinya Maria Luiza Blvd., Phone: (+359 2) 940 6000
• Finance, E-mail Address: feedback@minfin.bg, Address: 1000 Sofia 102 Rakovski Str., Phone: (+359 2) 9859 1, Fax: (+359 2) 980 6863
• Foreign Affairs, E-mail Address: info@mfa.bg, Address: 1113 Sofia 2 Al. Zhendov Str., Phone: (02) 948 2999
• Health, E-mail Address: presscenter@mh.government.bg, Address: 1000 Sofia5 Sveta Nedelia Sq., Phone: (+359 2) 930-11-07; (+359 2) 930 11 18; (+359 2) 930 11 19
• Interior, E-mail Address: priemna@mvr.bg, Address: 1000 Sofia 29, 6th September Str., Phone: (+359 2) 9825000, Fax: (+359 2) 987 79 67
• Justice, E-mail Address: priemna@justice.government.bg, Address: 1040 Sofia 1 Slavianska Str., Phone: (+359 2) 92 37 555
• Labor and Social Policy, E-mail Address: mlsp@mlsp.government.bg Address: 1051 Sofia, 2 Triaditsa Str., Phone:(+359 2) 8119 443, Fax: (+359 2) 988 4405
• Regional Development and Public Works, E-mail Address: press@mrrb.government.bg, Address: 1202 Sofia, 17-19 Cyril and Methodius Str., Phone: (+359 2) 9405 900, Fax: (+359 2) 987 2517
• Transport Communications, E-mail Address: mail@mtc.government.bg, Address: 1000 Sofia, 9 Dyakon Ignatii Str., Phone: (+359 2) 9409 771, Fax: (+359 2) 988 5094
• Youth and Sport, E-mail Address: question@mpes.government.bg, Address: 1040 Sofia, 75 Vasil Levski Blvd., Phone: (+359 2) 9300 555
• e-Government, E-mail Address: mail@egov.government.bg, Address: 6 General Yosif V. Gurko Str., Sofia 1000, Phone: +359 (2) 949 20 40
• Innovation and Growth, E-mail Address: docs@mig.government.bg, Address: 12 Knyaz Aleksandar I Str., Sofia Center, Sofia 1000, Phone: +359 2 940 7635
• Tourism, E-mail Address: edoc@tourism.government.bg, Address:1 Saborna Str., Sofia 1000, Phone: +359 2 904 6809

3.2.2. The President

The President is the Head of State and is directly elected by popular vote for a term of five years. He can hold no more than two consecutive terms of office. The President is entrusted primarily with representative functions, but also with some important executive prerogatives such as vetoing Acts of Parliament, concluding some of the international treaties specified by law; affording asylum; exercising the right of pardon, etc. (see also art. 98 of the Constitution). A Vice-President, elected with the President normally assists with specific matters, e.g. the granting of Bulgarian citizenship.

3.3. The Judicial Branch

The Bulgarian Judiciary is independent of the other branches of government (art. 117, para. 2 of the Constitution). The Judiciary is composed of three separate systems of law-enforcing or law-protecting authorities: the system of the courts; the system of the public prosecution and the system of the investigation offices (preliminary investigation).

The Supreme Judicial Council is the administrative body running the Judiciary. It is composed of 25 members, lawyers of high repute, of whom 11 are elected within the Judiciary, 11 by the National Assembly, and three are members by law: these are the presidents of SCC, of SAC, and the Chief Prosecutor. According to art. 129, para. 1 of the Constitution: “Judges, public prosecutors and investigating magistrates are appointed, promoted, reduced in rank, moved and discharged from office by the Supreme Judicial Council.”

For more information, please refer to the following websites:

• Supreme Administrative CourtSupreme Court of Cassation
• Supreme Judicial Council

3.3.1. The Courts

As a matter of principle, the legal procedure in Bulgaria is a three-instance one, although there are many exceptions to this rule. The system of the courts is decentralized, i.e. courts of various ranks are distributed throughout the country. Only SCC and SAC are based in the capital city, Sofia.

3.3.2. The Public Prosecution

The structure of the Public Prosecution follows that of the courts. Public prosecutors act for the State in criminal cases and defend the public interest in many administrative and civil cases.

3.3.3. The Investigation Offices

Preliminary investigation magistrates carry out preliminary investigation proceedings in criminal cases. In that, they cooperate with the Police (which are organized under the Ministry of the Interior) and other specialized agencies.

3.4. The Constitutional Court

Among others, the Constitutional Court provides binding interpretations of the Constitution, rules on the constitutionality of the laws and other acts passed by the National Assembly and the acts of the President, and determines if laws and international agreements (before their ratification) comply with the Constitution. The Constitutional Court consists of 12 judges. One-third of the constitutional judges are elected by the National Assembly, one-third are appointed by the President, and one-third are elected at a general meeting of the justices of the SCC and of the SAC. The judges of the Constitutional Court shall be elected or appointed for a period of nine years and shall not be eligible for re-election or re-appointment. The judges of the Constitutional Court shall be lawyers of high professional and moral integrity and with at least fifteen years of professional experience. The Constitutional Court may be approached at the initiative of at least one-fifth of the members of the National Assembly, of the President, of the Council of Ministers, of the Supreme Court of Cassation, of the Supreme Administrative Court, of the Prosecutor General. The Ombudsman may approach the Constitutional Court with a request to declare unconstitutional a law that infringes human rights and freedoms.

4. Some Other Institutions

4.1. The Ombudsman

The Ombudsman Act 2003 created the institution of the Ombudsman which is new for the Bulgarian legal system. This Act contains the rules on his powers and duties. Interestingly, the third amendment of the Constitution (promulgated in the State Gazette[4] No 27/31.03.2006) introduced this new office in the main law of the land only “after the fact”, i.e. in 2006. The Ombudsman may intervene by the means, envisaged by law when citizens’ rights and freedoms have been violated by actions or omissions of the State and municipal authorities, and by public officers.

4.2. The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB)

Bulgaria’s Central Bank, BNB, is one of the oldest such institutions in Europe, it was established in 1879. BNB has important regulatory, monetary, and supervisory powers (above all, over banks as credit institutions). BNB is managed by a Board of Governors, with a Governor and three Deputy Governors, elected by the National Assembly, and three other Governors, appointed by the President. After election/appointment, the governors become independent from the National Assembly/The President and may be released from office only on objective grounds.

4.3. The Financial Supervision Commission

The Commission is a specialized government body for regulation and supervision of the financial services sector other than the banking sector (securities firms, issuers, insurance companies, pensions, insurance companies, and others). The Commission consists of five members, all elected by the National Assembly, including a chairman and three Deputy Chairmen. The Commission is independent from the executive branch of government and accountable for its activities to the National Assembly.

4.4. The Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC)

CPC is the specialized State authority overseeing business entities to ensure fair competition practices and pursue anti-competitive practices. It consists of seven members, including a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman, and five other members, all elected by Parliament. Similarly to BNB’s governors, the members of the Commission become independent from the National Assembly after their election. CPC authorizes state aid granting. As of 1 July 2006, the commission will hear appeals against decisions, acts, and omissions about public procurements and concessions.

4.5. The Bar

The Bulgarian legal system regards the Bar as an important institution that is entitled to protect the rights and the interests of the persons of law. Therefore, the Constitution and the Bar Act 2004 proclaim that the Bar is a free, independent, and self-regulating body.

4.6. The Bulgarian Notary Chamber

The Notary Chamber in Bulgaria is a non-government organization that aims to organize and improve the activities of the notaries public in Bulgaria.

4.7. The Court of Arbitration with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The Court of Arbitration with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry-BCCI is a 117-year-old well-regarded institution for out-of-court dispute resolution providing arbitration and, lately, other alternative dispute resolution services.

5. Bulgarian Law Schools

There are nine law schools in Bulgaria. The course of studies continues for five years, and the successful graduates obtain an LL.M. degree.

For more information, see the sites listed below.

• Faculty of Law – Sofia University “St Kliment Ochridski”, Address: 15 Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd., Sofia 1504, Phone: +359 2 9308577, Fax: +359 2 9443293, Dean: Prof. Daniel Valchev, Ph. D
• Faculty of Law – University of National and World Economy, Address: Studentski grad, Sofia 1700, Phone: +359 2 8195 682, Fax: +359 2 8195 211, Dean: Docent. Miroslav Mityov Dimitrov, Ph. D
• Department of Law – New Bulgarian University, Address: 21 Montevideo Str. Building I, room 410, Sofia 1618, Phone: +359 2 8110410, E-mail: yasska@nbu.bg, Dean: Prof. Veselin Vuchkov, Ph. D.
• Faculty of Law – Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”, Address: 24 Tzar Assen Street, Plovdiv 4000, Phone: +359 32 261 283, F Faculty ax: +359 32 261 378, E-mail: law@uni-plovdiv.bg, Dean: Docent. Daniela Doncheva, Ph. D.
• Faculty of Law Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”, Address: 84 Yanko Slavchev Str. Chaika resort, Varna 9007, Phone: +359 52 355 106, E-mail: milena.ivanova@vfu.bg, Dean: Prof. Yonko Dimitrov Kunchev, Ph. D
• Faculty of History and Law – St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Turnovo, Address: 2 Teodosiy Tarnovski Str., Sveta Gora, Veliko Tarnovo, 5003, Phone: +359 62 618318, Fax: +359 62 628023, E-mail: rector@live.uni-vt.bg, Dean: Assoc.Prof. Georgi Ivanov Mitov, Ph. D.
• Faculty of Law and History – “Neofit Rilski” South-West University – Blagoevgrad, Address: 1 Georgi Izmirliev – Makedoncheto Square, Blagoevgrad 2700, Phone: +359 73 88 66 17, Fax: +359 73 88 66 1617 E-mail: admin@law.swu.bg, Dean: Docent. Gabriela Belova, Ph. D.
• Centre for Legal Studies – Burgas Free University, Address: 62 San Stefano Street, Burgas, Phone: +359 56 900 400, E-mail: bfu@bfu.bg, Dean: Assoc. Prof. Mariya Neykova, Ph. D
• Faculty of Law – Russe University “Angel Kunchev”, Address: 8 Studentska Str., Russe 7017, Phone/ Fax: +359 82 888 740, E-mail: uf@uni-ruse.bg, Dean: Docent. Kremena Rayanova, Ph. D.

6. Bulgarian Legal Publishers and Legal Magazines

The major Bulgarian legal periodicals include:

• The Bulletins of the Supreme Court of Cassation;
• The Bulletins of the Supreme Administrative Court;
• The Informational Bulletin of the Commission on Protection of the Competition;
• Contemporary Law magazine;
• Legal Doctrine magazine;
• Commercial Law magazine;
• Juridical World magazine;
• 4 legal digests: Law and Property; Law and Labor; Law and Market; Law and Finances;
• Advocates Review.

Online information is limited but annotations can be obtained from:

• lex.bg (legal portal)
• Ciela (publisher)
• Sibi (publisher)

7. Legal Treatises

The legal treatises of prominent Bulgarian legal theorists and/or practitioners are published in the specialized legal journals, magazines, and digests mentioned above (see Section 6). Some major legal research papers on current issues concerning Bulgarian jurisprudence are published as legal manuals for students and practicing jurists. The latter are also available online at lex.bg.

Online resources about Bulgarian legal treatises are insufficient but still some data may be obtained at lex.bg. Some more important treatises of Bulgarian legal scholars are as follows:

Commercial Law:

• “Shares and Methods for Their Assignment” by Kamelia Kasabova
• “Commentary of the Commercial Act” by Ognian Gerdjikov
• “Commentary of the Public Offering of Securities Act” by Angel Kalaidjiev

Civil Law:

• “The Prosecutor in the Civil Process” by Ognian Stamboliev
• “The Notary Deed” by Zhivko Stalev
• “The Legal Grounds for the Civil Liability” by Traian Konov
• “The Law of Obligations” by Angel Kalaidjiev

Criminal Law:

• “Theoretical Fundamentals of Penal Lawmaking” by Nikola Filchev
• “The Prosecutor’s Office as a Body of the Judicial Branch in Bulgaria” by Margarita Chinova
• “The Elements of Crime” by Alexander Stoinov

Practicing lawyers typically use one out of several specialized legal software programs containing restated laws, regulations, case law, references to legal treatises, etc.

Herein we have outlined only a few of the great number of publications concerning the legal matter and many of those we have not mentioned may be of equal importance for the researchers.

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[1] The Constitution was based on the principles of contemporary constitutionalism such as national sovereignty; representative democracy, separation of powers; political pluralism; supremacy of the law; free economy; equality among the people, priority of the individual, non-discrimination, etc.

[2] The Statutes and Statutory Instruments Act (SIA) and Decree #883 on its implementation, somewhat unique Bulgarian laws, regulate the structure, preparation, promulgation, and implementation of Acts of Parliament and of statutory instruments, as well as the interpretation, abrogation, correction of factual mistakes, and the application of legal provisions by way of analogia legis and analogia juris.

[3] In addition, the various Colleges of SAC can issue Interpretative Decisions, which unlike those of the Colleges of SCC are solely guidelines to the other courts and the administration.

[4] The State Gazette (Държавен вестник) is the official publication of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria. According to the State Gazette Act, its content is divided into an official section and a non-official section. All acts of Parliament, statutory instruments, international treaties, decisions of the Constitutional Court, and those of SAC which proclaim subordinate legislation incompatible with an Act of Parliament, are published in the official section. The non-official section contains some of the individual administrative acts of ministers and heads of central and local government bodies (where publication is required by law); some notifications and announcements of ministries, other departments, academies, higher schools, and research institutes, municipalities; court subpoenas (in specific case); some court decisions, among other officially required notifications. For more information refer to the Parliament’s website.