Meet the Czech Republic

Česká republika

The Czech Republic is a country in Central Europe. The people who live there speak Czech. It borders Slovakia (whose people speak Slovak), Poland (whose people speak Polish), Germany (whose people speak German), and Austria (whose people speak German).

The United States borders 2 countries. What are they and what languages do their citizens speak?

FACT:The capital of the Czech Republic is Prague (präg, prāg). Prague is also one of the oldest cities in Europe. There are 1,200,000 people living in that city today.

Do you know the name of an old city in the United States? What is the oldest city in your state?

FACT:The President of the Czech Republic is Václav Klaus. He is elected by the Parliament at a joint meeting of both the chambers. The Prime Minister is Mirek Topolanek. The Prime Minister is the supreme executive of the government and is appointed to the position by the President.

How does someone get to be the President of the United States? Who is the Prime Minister for the United States?

FACT:According to the Constitution of the Czech Republic, the legislature is represented by Parliament. It consists of two chambers, the lower (Chamber of Deputies) and the upper (Senate). Mandates in both chambers are assigned through a free, confidential and equal rote by citizens in elections.

How does this type of government compare to the governmental structure of the United States?

FACT:At one time, the Czech Republic was part of a larger country called Czechoslovakia. On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia became two countries: the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

How long ago did the United States to become an independent country? From what country did the United States gain its independence?

FACT:In the Czech Republic, if you go shopping, you need to have Ceská koruna (Czech Crowns) or Euros to buy stuff.

Czech crowns can be divided into 100 smaller units called halér (hallers). Can the United States dollar be divided into 100 smaller units? What are they called?

FACT:In the Czech Republic, farmers grow wheat, rye, corn, potatoes, barley, hops, grapes, vegetables, and sugar beets. They also raise cattle, pigs, and chickens.

What do you think people in the Czech Republic eat? How does it compare with what we eat?

 

Czech National Anthem: Kde Domov Můj

(Where is My Home)

The Czech Republic has a national anthem. The words on the left are Czech. The English translation is on the right.

Kde domov můj? Where is my home?
Kde domov můj? Where is my home?
Voda hučí po lučinách, Waters flow through the meadows,
bory šumí po skalinách pines cover cliffs and rocks,
v sadě skví se jara květ, in gardens spring blossoms,
zemský ráj to na pohled, an earthly paradise in view,
a to je ta krásná země, it is a beautiful land,
země česká, domov můj Czech land, home of mine
země česká, domov můj Czech land, home of mine