Prague Castle - President of the Czech Republic

The Act on the State Decorations of the CSFR

Of October 2, 1990
Act No. 404/1990 Coll.

The Federal Assembly of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic has approved Act:

Section 1

(1) State decorations of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (hereinafter referred to only as "decorations") awarded or conferred upon are an expression of recognition on the part of the state of eminent contributions to the building of a free democratic society, professional accomplishments, distinguished service to the defence of the country, heroism and other exceptional deeds.

(2) Decorations come in two forms: orders and medals.

(3) Decorations are awarded or conferred upon to individuals; on an exceptional basis they may be awarded or conferred upon to military troops keeping a flag.

Section 2

The White Lion Order is the highest decoration of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic; it is awarded to citizens of other countries to recognize outstanding accomplishments contributing to the welfare of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic.

Section 3

The Tomas Garrigue Masaryk Order is hereby established to recognize eminent contributions to the development of democracy and human rights.

Section 4

The Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order is hereby established to recognize eminent contributions to the defence and security of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic.

Section 5

The Medal for Heroism is hereby established to recognize deeds performed by individuals at the risk of their own lives with the view of saving other human lives or substantial material values.

Section 6

The Medal of Merit is hereby established to recognize meritorious service to the state and municipal welfare.

Section 7

The particulars on the awarding and conferring decorations referred to in Sections 2 to 6 are laid down in their respective Statutes which form part of this Act.

Section 8

The right to award, confer or withdraw decorations shall rest with the President of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic.

Section 9

Proposals for the award, conferment or withdrawing decorations may be submitted to the President of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic by the presidiums of legislative bodies, the Government of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Slovak Republic.

Section 10

The presentation of decorations awarded or conferred by the President of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic may be performed by a person whom the President has designated to do so.

Section 11

The decoration holder shall receive the insignia of the decoration and a certificate on the award or conferment. When a decoration is awarded or conferred in memoriam, the survivors of the person who has been awarded or conferred upon shall receive a certificate of award or conferment of a decoration.

Section 12

(1) No one but the decoration holder shall be entitled to wear the insignia or the decoration.

(2) Return of the Order insignia is provided by the Statutes of the respective Order.

Section 13

Who has misused or worn unauthorized a decoration or who has made or wears unauthorized an imitation of the decoration will commit a minor offence which may be sanctioned with a penalty up to a value of CZK 10,000.¹)

Section 14

The Government of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic may establish through its Decree medals for members of the armed forces and brigades.

Section 15

The orders, medals and other decorations shall be worn in the following order of precedence:
(a) Tomas Garrigue Masaryk Order and Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order in the order of precedence according to time of conferment;
(b) Orders of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic;
(c) Czechoslovak Orders the conferment of which has been terminated;
(d) foreign Orders in the order of precedence in which they have been conferred upon;
(e) Medal for Heroism;
(f) Medal of Merit;
(g) other Czechoslovak decorations; and
(h) other foreign decorations in that order of precedence in which they have been conferred upon or awarded.

Section 16

Beginning from the effective date of this Act no material benefits or other benefits associated with award or conferment of decorations, honorary titles or other similar acknowledgements may be acknowledged, paid or provided.

Section 17

Cancelled have been as follows:

  1. Act No. 62/1962 Coll., on Conferring Decorations,
  2. Governmental Decree No. 10/1961 Coll., on Awarding the Czechoslovak White Lion, Order
  3. Act No. 152/1976 Coll., on Establishment of the Friendship Order,
  4. Governmental Decree No. 34/1959 Coll., on Awarding the Honorary Title "Hero of the Socialist Work",
  5. Governmental Decree No. 82/1960 Coll., on Amendment to the Governmental Decree No. 34/1959 Coll., on Awarding the Honorary Title "Hero of the Socialist Work",
  6. Governmental Decree No. 14/1953 Coll., on Establishment of "The Order for Building Socialist Country",
  7. Governmental Decree No. 5/1955 Coll., on Klement Gottwald Order - for Building Socialist Country",
  8. Governmental Decree No. 30/1951 Coll., on Establishment of Orders and Decorations and of the Provision of the Honorary Title "Hero of Work", as amended by the Decree No. 41/1951 Coll. and the Act No. 38/1977 Coll.,
  9. Governmental Decree No. 34/1949 Coll., on Establishment of "The Order of the October 25, 1948",
  10. Legal Measure No. 9/1973 Coll., on "The Order of the Victorious February",
  11. Governmental Decree No. 24/1955 Coll., on Establishment of the Statutes of Orders "Order of the Red Flag of Work", "Order of the Red Star of Work" and Decorations "For Loyalty at Work" and "For Self-sacrifice at Work",
  12. Decree of the Prime Minister No. 26/1955 Coll., on Declaration of the Statutes of Orders "Order of the Red Flag of Work", "Order of the Red Star of Work" and Decorations "For Loyalty at Work" and "For Self-sacrifice at Work",
  13. Act No. 56/1963, on National Artists,
  14. Governmental Decree No. 55/1953 Coll., on Merited Artists,
  15. Governmental Decree No. 73/1953 Coll., on Decorations and Honorary Titles to Teachers and Other School Staff and the Statutes of the Decoration "Jan Amos Komensky Medal" forming part hereof,
  16. Governmental Decree No. 47/1954 Coll., on Awarding Decorations and Honorary Titles to Physicians and other Medical Staff and the Statutes of the Decoration "Jan Evangelista Purkyne Medal" forming part hereof,
  17. Section 1, section 2 subsection 1, section 3, section 6 subsections 1 and 2, section 7 part of the clause in front of the semicolon, section 8 subsections 1 and 3, sections 9 and 10 of the Governmental Decree No. 82/1958 Coll., on Honorary Awards in Physical Training,
  18. Governmental Decree No. 6/1955 Coll., on the Provision of Awarding the Title "Hero of the Czechoslovak Republic" and on Establishment of the Orders "The Red Flag Order", "The Red Star Order", "Medal of Merit in Defence of Country" and "Medal for Service to Country",
  19. Governmental Decree No. 52/1958 Coll., on Modification of and Amendment to the Statutes of ""The Red Flag Order", "The Red Star Order", "Medal of Merit in Defence of Country" and "Medal for Service to Country",
  20. Act No. 162/1969 Coll., on "Decoration of Merit for People's Militia",
  21. Legal Measure No. 16/1970 Coll., on Establishment of "The Medal for the Strengthening of Friendship in Arms",
  22. Legal Measure No. 15/1978 Coll., on Establishment of the Honorary Title "Pilot-Cosmonaut of the CSSR",
  23. Act No. 22/1975 Coll., on Awarding the Czechoslovak Newspaper Prize,
  24. Act No. 153/1976 Coll., on Establishment of the "Medal for Devoted Work for Socialism",
  25. Governmental Decree No. 68/1959 Coll., on Awarding Honorary Titles "Merited Member of the National Theatre", "Merited Member of the National Theatre in Prague" and "Merited Worker of the National Theatre",
  26. Act of the Slovak National Council No. 10/1964 Coll., on Awarding Honorary Titles "Merited Member of the Slovak National Theatre" and "Merited Worker of the Slovak National Theatre",
  27. Governmental Decree No. 159/1964 Coll., on Awarding Honorary Titles "Merited Member of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra" and "Merited Worker of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra",
  28. Act of the Slovak National Council No. 136/1965 Coll., on Awarding Honorary Titles "Merited Member of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra" and "Merited Worker of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra",
  29. Governmental Decree No. 99/1968 Coll., on Awarding Honorary Title "Merited Military Pilot of the CSSR",
  30. Governmental Decree No. 153/1968 Coll., on Awarding Honorary Titles "Merited University Professor",
  31. Governmental Decree of the Slovak Socialist Republic No. 82/1970 Coll., on Honorary Titles "Merited Worker of Culture" and "Exemplary Worker of Culture",
  32. Governmental Decree of the Czech Socialist Republic No. 25/1971 Coll., on Honorary Titles ""Merited Worker of Culture" and "Exemplary Worker of Culture",
  33. Governmental Decree of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic No. 61/1971 Coll., on the Honorary Badge "For Protecting of Borders of Czechoslovakia", as amended by the Decree of CSSR No. 6/1972 Coll.
  34. Governmental Decree of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic No. 52/1976 Coll., on Awarding Honorary Titles "Merited Inventor" and "Merited Innovator",
  35. Governmental Decree of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic No. 79/1976 Coll., on Establishment of the "Medal of Merit in Protection of Borders of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic",
  36. Governmental Decree of the Slovak Socialist Republic No. 80/1978 Coll., on Establishment of the "Honorary Acknowledgement of Merit for Development of School System",
  37. Governmental Decree of the Czech Socialist Republic No. 76/1982 Coll., on Establishment of the "Honorary Acknowledgement of Merit for Development of School System",
  38. Governmental Decree of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic No. 109/1988 Coll., on Establishment of the "Medal of Merit for Czechoslovak People's Army",
  39. Governmental Decree No. 265/1948 Coll., on Decorations of Merits in Building the State and for Excellent Work Achievements,
  40. Governmental Decree No. 30/1949 Coll., on Supplementing the Regulations Applicable to Certain Decorations.

Section 18

No Orders, Medals or other similar Awards in accordance with the existing legal provisions may be awarded or conferred from the effective date of this Act; this shall not affect the right to wear insignia of these Orders, Medals or other similar Awards.

Section 19

This Act shall enter into force on October 15, 1990.

 

Havel m. p.
Dubcek m. p.
Calfa m. p.

1) Section 2 subsection 1 of the Act of the Czech National Council No. 200/1990 Coll., on offences; section 2 subsection 1 of the Act of the Slovak National Council No. 372/1990 Coll., on offences.