Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the bicameral legislative institution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the two political entities within the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is commonly known as the Federal Parliament and operates under the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The institution was created in the political and constitutional arrangements that followed the Washington Agreement of March 1994. That agreement established the framework for the Federation during the Bosnian War. In the spring of 1994, a Constitutional Assembly of the Federation was convened, and on 24 June 1994 it adopted and proclaimed the Federation's constitution. The federal parliament emerged as the legislature of this new entity-level political structure. The Parliament consists of two chambers with different representative functions. The House of Representatives, known in Bosnian and Serbian as the Predstavnički dom and in Croatian as the Zastupnički dom, has 98 members. Its members are elected for four-year terms through proportional representation. The House of Peoples, or Dom naroda, has 80 delegates. Its composition provides representation for the Federation's constituent nations and other communities: 23 delegates are assigned to each constituent nation, while 11 delegates represent minorities. Delegates to the House of Peoples are appointed by the cantonal legislatures. The two-chamber structure reflects the Federation's constitutional design and its division of authority between the federal level and the cantons. Among the Parliament's constitutional responsibilities are electing the federal president and vice-presidents; requesting that the Constitutional Court consider the removal of the president or vice-presidents; ratifying the Federal Government by majority vote; and adopting laws within the responsibilities assigned to the federal government. Federal legislation takes effect in accordance with the constitution and applicable publication requirements, including promulgation in the Official Gazette. The Parliament also adopts the federal budget, establishes taxation and other forms of public financing, and may authorize the use of military force by the Federation in accordance with international law. It can grant cantons authority to conclude agreements with foreign states and international organizations, subject to the relevant role of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina and exceptions established by law. Its constitutional mandate also includes other responsibilities assigned to it by the Federation's constitutional framework. As an entity-level legislature, the Federal Parliament is distinct from the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which operates at the state level. Its work concerns the constitutional powers and public administration of the Federation, while its chamber structure is intended to combine population-based representation through the House of Representatives with constituent-group and minority representation through the House of Peoples.

The Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was established as part of the institutional settlement created by the Washington Agreement in March 1994. The agreement was reached during the Bosnian War and provided the political basis for forming the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Federation became one of the two entities composing Bosnia and Herzegovina, and required its own constitutional and legislative institutions. Implementation took place during the spring of 1994, when a Constitutional Assembly of the Federation was convened. On 24 June 1994, the assembly adopted and proclaimed the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. That constitutional framework established the Federal Parliament as a bicameral legislature, with a House of Representatives and a House of Peoples. The arrangement combined proportional, population-based electoral representation with institutional representation of constituent nations and minorities. The House of Representatives has 98 members elected for four-year terms by proportional representation. The House of Peoples has 80 delegates. Its allocation includes 23 delegates from each constituent nation of the Federation and 11 delegates representing minorities, with delegates appointed by the cantonal legislatures. This structure gives the cantonal level a direct role in forming one of the federal chamber's components. The constitution defines the Parliament's principal responsibilities. It elects the federal president and vice-presidents, may request the Constitutional Court to dismiss them, and ratifies the Federal Government by majority vote. It adopts laws concerning matters assigned to the federal government, with legislation taking effect according to the constitution and applicable publication procedures. The Parliament also adopts the federal budget and legislation concerning taxes and other financing mechanisms. Its constitutional authority extends to the authorization of any use of military force by the Federation, provided that such action is consistent with international law. The Parliament may also authorize cantons to enter agreements with states and international organizations, subject to the role of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina and statutory exceptions. In addition, it performs other responsibilities assigned to it by the Federation's constitutional order. The Federal Parliament therefore occupies an entity-level position within Bosnia and Herzegovina's multi-level political system. It is separate from the country's state-level Parliamentary Assembly and from the legislative bodies of the Federation's cantons. Its institutional history is closely connected to the constitutional formation of the Federation in 1994, while its continuing mandate derives from the Federation's constitution.

• 1994

  Washington Agreement establishes the Federation framework

  [1]Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovinaen.wikipedia.org

  The Washington Agreement of March 1994 created the political framework for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War and provided the basis for its federal legislative institutions.

• 1994

  Constitutional Assembly convened

  [1]Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovinaen.wikipedia.org

  During the spring of 1994, a Constitutional Assembly of the Federation was convened to establish the entity's constitutional order.

• 1994

  Federation constitution proclaimed

  [1]Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovinaen.wikipedia.org

  On 24 June 1994, the Constitutional Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, providing the constitutional basis for the Federal Parliament.

A constitutional, bicameral legislative institution responsible for lawmaking, budgeting, government ratification, and other federal powers within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• 1994

  Creation of the Federal Parliament under the Federation constitutionOther

  Background

  The Washington Agreement and the subsequent constitutional process required a legislative institution for the newly formed Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  Action taken

  The Constitutional Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Federation constitution on 24 June 1994, establishing the constitutional framework for a bicameral Federal Parliament.

  Aftermath

  The Parliament became the Federation's legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives and the House of Peoples, with powers defined by the Federation constitution.

  Source

1. 1Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovinaen.wikipedia.org