| National Assembly | |
| Native Name: | Sapha Heng Xat |
| House Type: | Unicameral |
| Leader1 Type: | President |
| Leader1: | Xaysomphone Phomvihane |
| Voting System1: | Bloc voting |
| Election1: | 22 March 2021 |
| Party1: | LPRP |
| Members: | 164 |
| Term Length: | 5 years |
| Last Election1: | 21 February 2021 |
| Structure1: | Laos Assemblée nationale 2021.svg |
| Structure1 Res: | 250px |
| Political Groups1: | Lao Front for National Development (164)
|
| Meeting Place: | New National Assembly Building, Vientiane, Laos |
The National Assembly (Lao: ສະພາແຫ່ງຊາດ|translit=Sapha Heng Xat) is the highest power organisation of Laos. It is the only branch of government in Laos, and per the principle of unified power, all state organs are subservient to it. The National Assembly meets in Vientiane.
Laos is a one-party state, with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as the sole legal party in the country.[1] Most of the National Assembly's actions simply rubber stamp the party's decisions.[1] Efforts have been made to increase the capacity of its members, aiming to strengthen their legislative, oversight, and representational capacities.[2]
The National Assembly was established in its current form by the Lao Constitution of 1991,[3] replacing the Supreme People's Assembly (the latter also formerly known as the Supreme People's Council). After the December 1997 elections, the number of seats were increased to 99, a new structure was announced and Samane Vignaket was elected as its president.
The last elections were held on 21 February 2021. The Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) took 158 seats in the enlarged 164-member National Assembly while the six remaining seats went to independents.[4]
In 2017, construction started on a new National Assembly building, gifted by Vietnam.[5] The construction was completed in 2021.[6]
Parliamentary committees of the National Assembly currently include:[7]
See main article: 2021 Laotian parliamentary election.