The country of Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe and is bordered with three other countries, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and also has a tiny piece of border that touches an entry point into the Adriatic Sea. The country has a complex history but it first formed as Bosnia and Herzegovina from the breakup of Yugoslavia. Afterwards, due to tensions between three ethnic groups that make up a majority of the population, the mostly Muslim Bosniaks (largest ethnic group), mostly Orthodox Serbs (2nd largest) and the mostly Catholic Croats (3rd largest), a war broke-out known as the Bosnian War.
The war consisted widely with the Serbs, within what is called Republika Srpska who fought for their own state against Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose army were mostly Bosniaks and the Croats also fought against the Bosniaks for their own state, called Herzeg-Bosnia. Srpska would be backed by the country of Serbia with supplies while Herzeg-Bosnia was backed by Croatia, but later the Bosniaks and Croats would work together to fight against the Serbs of Republika Srpska, after a NATO led agreement called the Washington Agreement created the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, NATO also used its forces to help the newly formed federation fight Republika Srpska, leading to Bosnia and Herzegovina as it stands today.
The outcome of the war lead to the country being governed by a very unique system that consists of a rotating three-member presidency and widespread autonomy and local government set-forth by the Dayton Agreement. For example, Republika Srpska still exists today within Bosnia and Herzegovina as a separate entity from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is allowed significant autonomy and self-governance. The District of Brcko is also a special case, administered by both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, but the district itself self-governs, similar to the districts within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina which are allowed self-governance within the federal system.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital city is Sarajevo, located in the country’s central east. The city is widely known for the assassination event of Arch-Duke Ferdinand when the city was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, seen as a major spark of the First World War. The currency is the Convertible Mark and the largest religion is Islam, but again due to the three ethnic groups, Orthodox and Catholic Christians also make up a large part of religion in the country. The country has three main languages, Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. The country’s population is estimated to reach 3,835,586 by July 2020 according to estimates from the CIA World Factbook.
Government Type
As stated, due to the outcome of the Bosnian War and the three large ethnic groups that make-up the nation, the country has a very unique government system. The country is split into what is known as two entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina which includes districts that can self-govern and Republika Srpska, an autonomous entity within the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowed its own constitution and self-governance and also has its own President. As well as the previously mentioned Brcko District that can self-govern but is administered by both entities jointly.
The way the country is governed was established by the Dayton Agreement and it uses a system that guarantees the three main ethnic groups fair representation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but this federal government is limited on powers, while local self-governing districts have much power to determine their paths. A High Representative exists with powers to ensure the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, this Representative is not a citizen of the country and often a citizen from the EU or US.
Multiple parties are allowed including within ethnic groups.
Executive Government
The Executive Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is the federal government, is led by a Council of Presidents and a Prime Minister, the Presidency is a joint Head of State and the Prime Minister is Head of Government.
The Presidency is a rotating three-member one, rotating to a new chair of the presidency council every 8-months, with each of the three members elected by the three main ethnic groups, one representing each group. The Presidency is accountable to parliament. The three-members of the Presidency work together and using powers among them, these powers include…
A member of the Presidency can declare that a Presidency Decision is destructive to the entity from which he is from/one of the three ethnic groups, if this happens then the decision is either referred to the parliament of Republika Srpska or to the Bosniak or Croat delegates of the upper house, House of Peoples, within Bosnia and Herzegovina, depending on what ethnic group it refers to. If the declaration is confirmed by a two-thirds vote of these people, then the Presidency Decision will not take effect.
The Presidency for whatever reason can suggest dissolving the upper house, House of Peoples, which must be confirmed by the House of People’s itself, confirmation requires a majority of at least two of the ethnic groups. The House of People’s can also simply vote to dissolve itself, without the Presidency suggesting it.
Conducting foreign policy, appointing ambassadors and other international representatives, no more of two-thirds from within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, negotiating and denouncing treaties and ratifying them with consent of the parliament.
Executing decisions made by the parliamentary assembly, proposes an annual budget to the parliamentary assembly suggested by the Council of Ministers.
The Presidency consults with the President of the European Court of Human Rights to select three of the nine judges of the Constitutional Court. Those selected cannot be citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina or citizens of neighboring states.
Each member of the Presidency has civilian authority over armed forces, the constitution forbids using these armed forces against the Entities or to intrude on them without permission. The Presidency selects a Standing Committee on Military Matters that they are also members of. It coordinates the activities of the armed forces.
Parliamentary Assembly and Entities can choose to assign the Presidency more powers.
The Prime Minister, also called the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, is appointed by the Presidency after parliamentary elections and confirmed by the lower house of parliament.
The Prime Minister nominates the Council of Ministers ministerial positions which is then approved by the House of Representatives, lower house of parliament, the Council cannot be made up of more than two-thirds from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Deputy Ministers must also be nominated, which are not of the same constituent people as their Minister counterpart, the Deputy Ministers are also confirmed by the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers will resign if there is a successful vote of no-confidence against them by parliament.
The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers manages and implements governing policy and is accountable to the Parliament and Presidency.
Legislative Government
Legislative government is made up by a bicameral federal parliament that overlooks its districts and the Republika Srpska entity and joint-administered Brcko District. It is an upper and lower house that is elected in a way that represents the three main ethnic groups equally, as agreed by in the Dayton Agreement and is enshrined into the country’s constitution.
The House of Peoples is the upper house of parliaments and includes 15 designated members that equally represent the three ethnic groups.
The House of Representatives is the lower house and includes 42 members elected by the people and that gives fair representation to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.
Both houses/chambers are overlooked by a rotating chairmanship, consisting of three chairmen and three deputy chairmen, one for each ethnic group (Bosniak, Serb, Croat), elected from among themselves. The chairmen will regulate debate and make sure parliamentary rules are executed and followed. They will also strive to solve matters that crop up between the ethnic member groups in relation to legislation by forming commissions. These kinds of problems can crop up for example if at least one-third of an ethnic group voted against a legislation that still received a majority overall. Members can also declare a piece or section of legislation as destructive of a vital interest of one or more of the ethnic groups, where a commission will once again attempt to solve, if it is unable to do so the matter is referred to the Constitutional Court which will make a decision.
Both houses of parliament must vote through legislation with a majority of votes for it to be fully passed and considered for law. Both houses can introduce legislation and amend legislation.
Both houses also approve a budget for the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and also vote to ratify treaties.
Constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote in parliament to agree.
The House of Representatives also select four judges for the Constitutional Court.
Note that Republika Srpska has its own unicameral autonomous parliament, one equal house, of which its members are directly elected by its own people. This parliament has vast powers to decide the autonomous entities own laws and direction.
This assembly also selects two judges for the Constitutional Court that presides over the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.
Electoral System
Parliamentary elections are held every 4-years to elect the members of the Federal parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Peoples and House of Representatives, for the House of Peoples, 5 members are Bosniak and 5 members are Croat, they are appointed by the upper house, House of Peoples itself, 5 specifically by the Bosniak delegates and 5 specifically by the Croat delegates, the final 5 members are appointed by the Republika Srpska autonomous parliament.
The lower house, House of Representatives, is elected by the people, 28 members are elected from within the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina while the remaining 14 members are elected from within Republika Srpska. 30 Members are elected from multi-seat electoral districts by a proportional representation system, the electoral districts population dictates how many seats it has (from three-seven) and the remaining 12 members are elected on a nation-wide basis also by proportional representation, members are from party lists.
The Prime Minister is appointed by the Presidency based on the outcome of the election on who they think commands the confidence of the federal parliament, since no one party ever has a majority due to the set-up, the House of Representatives, lower house of federal parliament, will then vote to confirm the appointment.
The three members of the Presidency are elected every 4-years. One is elected by the people within Republika Srpska, a Serb, and the other two are elected in the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one Bosniak and one Croat. The elected member with the highest vote count will be the first to take the Chair of the Presidency, that rotates every 8-months between its three members. Election is by popular vote, with the Bosniak and Croat with the highest votes being elected within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Serb with the highest vote in Republika Srpska being elected. Elected members are restricted to two consecutive terms, but can run again after a 4-year period has passed.
Voters must be a citizen and be at least 18-years-old to vote, though those employed can vote from 16-years-old. Voting is not compulsory.
That is one heck of a governing system! I always like these more unique ones that can spice up this Government System series from time to time. Up next will be the government system of Botswana!
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