History
Main article: History of Slovenia
As it is believed the Slavic ancestors of the present-day Slovenians settled in the area in the 6th century. In the 7th century the Slavic Duchy of Carantania, the first Slovenian state and one of the first Slavic, was formed. In 745, Karantania loses its independence and becomes a tantamount part of the Frankish empire, many Slavs are gradually converted to Christianity.
Around 1000, the Freising manuscripts are written, representing the first written document in Slovenian and the first ever Slavic dialect written in Latin script. During the 14th century, most of Slovenia's regions pass to the possession of the Habsburgs, which later form the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with Slovenians inhabiting all or most of the provinces of Carniola, Gorizia, and Gradisca, and parts of the provinces of Istria and Styria.
In 1848 a strong programme for the United Slovenia appeared in the so called of Spring of nations within Austria-Hungary.
With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1918, the Slovenians join the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later in 1929 renamed to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. After Yugoslavia was re-created at the end of World War II, Slovenia joined the Federal Peoples' Republic of Yugoslavia, officially declared on November 29 1945. Present-day Slovenia was formed on June 25, 1991 with its independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Slovenia will join both the European Union and NATO in 2004.
See also: Timeline of Slovenian history
Politics
Main article: Politics of Slovenia
The Slovenian head of state is the president, who is elected by popular vote every 5 years. In his task as head of the executive branch, the president is aided by the prime minister and the council of ministers or cabinet, which are elected by parliament.
The bicameral Slovenian parliament consists of the National Assembly or Državni zbor, and the Državni svet or National Council. The National Assembly has 90 seats, which are partially filled with directly elected representatives, and partially with proportinally elected representatives. The National Council has 22 seats, and is made up of representatives of social, economic, professional and local interest groups. Parliamentary elections are held every four years.
Municipalities
Main article: Municipalities of Slovenia
Slovenia is divided into 147 municipalities (občine, singular - občina), of which 11 have urban status (marked with *).