I talk about the government system of Bosnia & Herzegovina including the result of the Bosnian War and the two agreements that formed the current system, from executive to legislative and how elections work.

1. February 10,
2020
The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina
theweeklyrambler.com/the-government-of-bosnia-and-herzegovina/
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.
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2. 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
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3. Bosnia and Herzegovina Coat of Arms
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
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4. 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 Presidency Building. Photo by Edodeluxe from Wikimedia. License.
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
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5. 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
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6. Parliament Building. Photo by Ex13 from Wikimedia. License.
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
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7. Public Domain
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
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8. 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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