Only registered churches and religious organizations have the explicit right to conduct public worship services. There are no significant restrictions on freedom of assembly. Slovakia is a multiparty state, and there are some 90 political parties and movements. No party has been banned. The court system consists of local and regional courts with the Supreme Court as the highest court of appeals except for constitutional questions, which are considered by the Constitutional Court.
Most judges rule fairly and impartially, though the judicial system is overburdened.
From 1993 to early 1998, the Constitutional Court disqualified 13 acts adopted by parliament and two government regulations. The judiciary is constitutionally independent of other branches of government at all levels. There have been reports of corruption at lower courts and among prosecutors. The Hungarian and Roma minorities have faced discrimination, leading to criticism by the EU and international organizations. The new government has vowed to improve minority rights.