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Strasbourg, 21 June 2002
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CDL (2002) 95
English only
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW
(VENICE COMMISSION)
CONSTITUTION
OF THE RERPUBLIKA SRPSKA
AS
OF 26 SEPTEMBER 2001
CONSTITUTION OF
REPUBLIKA SRPSKA
(as of Wednesday,
September 26, 2001)
Preamble (as
amended by Amendments XXVI and LIV):
- Starting from
the natural, inalienable and untransferable right of the Serb people to
self-determination on the basis of which that people, as any other free and
sovereign people, independently decides on its political and State status and
secures its economic, social and cultural development;
- Respecting the
centuries-long struggle of the Serb people for freedom and State independence;
- Expressing the
determination of the Serb people to its democratic State based on social
justice, the rule of law, respect for human dignity, freedom and equality;
- Desiring to
provide the general welfare and economic development through the protection of
private property and the promotion of a market economy;
- Recognizing
the natural and democratic right, will and determination of the Serb people
from Republika Srpska to link its State completely and tightly with other
States of the Serb people;
- Having in mind
the readiness of the Serb people to pledge for peace and friendly relations
between peoples and States;
the National
Assembly of Republika Srpska passes
CONSTITUTION
OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA
I.
BASIC PROVISIONS
Article 1
Article 1 has
been replaced by Amendment XLIV, reading as follows:
“Republika
Srpska shall be the State of Serb people and of all its citizens”.
Article 2
Paragraph 1 of
Article 2 has been replaced by Amendment XLV, reading as follows:
“The territory
of the Republic shall be unique, indivisible and inalienable”.
Paragraph 2 of
Article 2 has been replaced by Amendment LV, reading as follows:
“The Agreement
on the change of the borders between Republika Srpska and the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina may be taken out for the confirmation by way of a
referendum in the Republic”.
Article 3
Article 3 has
been replaced by Item 1 of Amendment LVI, reading as follows:
“All State
functions and powers shall belong to the Republic, with exception of those
which were by the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina explicitly transferred
to its institutions”.
Article 4
Article 4 has
been replaced by Item 2 of Amendment LVI, reading as follows:
“The Republic
may, according to the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, establish
special parallel relations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its
member republics”.
Article 5
The
constitutional arrangement of the Republic shall be based upon the following:
- guarantee and
protection of human freedoms and rights in accordance with international
standards;
- assurance of
national equality;
- social
justice;
- market economy
- multi-party
political system;
- parliamentary
democracy and division of authority;
- free
elections;
- local
self-government;
- protection of
the rights of ethnic groups and other minorities.
Article 6
Paragraph 1 of
Article 6 has been replaced by Amendment XLVII, reading as follows:
“Citizens of the
Republic shall have citizenship of Republika Srpska”.
Article 6 has
been supplemented by Amendment XXX, reading as follows:
“The citizen of
the Republic may not be deprived of the citizenship, exiled or extradited”.
Article 7
The Serbian
language of iekavian and ekavian dialect and the Cyrillic alphabet shall be in
official use in the Republic, while the Latin alphabet shall be used as
specified by the law.
In regions inhabited
by groups speaking other languages, their languages and alphabet shall also be
in official use, as specified by law.
Article 8
The Republic
shall have the flag, the coat-of-arms and the anthem.
The flag, the
coat-of-arms and the wording of the national anthem shall be determined by
constitutional law.
Article 9
The capital of
the Republic shall be Sarajevo.
II.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Article 10
Citizens of the
Republic shall be equal in their freedoms, rights and duties; they shall be
equal before the law and they shall enjoy equal legal protection irrespective
of their race, sex, language, national origin, religion, social origin, birth,
education, property status, political and other beliefs, social status and
other personal attributes.
Article 11
Human life shall
be inviolable.
Death penalty
may be pronounced exclusively for capital crimes.
Article 12
Freedom and
personal safety of man are inviolable.
No one may be
deprived of his liberty or restricted in it, save for the case and according to
the procedure as specified by law.
Article 13
Human dignity,
physical and spiritual integrity, personal privacy, personal and family life
shall be inviolable.
Article 14
No one may be
subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Any extortion of
confession or statement shall be forbidden and punishable.
It shall be
forbidden to conduct medical and other scientific experiments upon any person
without his or her consent.
Article 15
Unlawful
deprivation of liberty shall be punishable.
Deprivation of
liberty may only last as long as there are legal conditions for it.
A person
reasonably suspected of having committed an offence may be arrested and
detained only when it is necessary for the purpose of the conduct of criminal proceedings
or for reasons of the safety of people.
Detention shall
be determined by a decision of the Court, and only as an exception, under the
conditions stipulated by law, by a decision of another organ authorised by law
and not later than up to three days.
The person
detained has to be presented the decision explained in writing at the moment of
detention. The person detained has the right to appeal against the decision.
Article 16
Everyone shall
be entitled to the equal protection of his rights in the proceedings before the
court and other State bodies and organisation.
Everyone shall
be guaranteed the right to appeal or other legal remedy against the decision
concerning his right or interest determined by law.
Article 17
Everyone shall
be entitled to a compensation for the damage inflicted on him by unlawful or
irregular work of an official or a State agency or a body vested with public
powers.
A person
convicted unjustifiably or deprived of his liberty unlawfully or with no
grounds shall have the right to rehabilitation, compensation for damage, a
public apology and other rights determined by law.
Article 18
A person charged
with a criminal offence shall be guaranteed a fair trial.
A person charged
with a criminal offence has to be informed of the cause of accusation within
the shortest period prescribed by law.
No proceedings
before the court may be conducted in the absence of the accused person.
Proceedings
before the court may be conducted against an accused person who is inaccessible
to the court only in cases determined by law.
Article 19
The right to
defence shall be guaranteed.
The right to the
free choice of a defence attorney and free communication with him shall be
guaranteed.
The defence
attorney may not be held responsible for actions undertaken in the process of
defence.
Article 20
No one may be
sentenced for any act which did not constitute a criminal offence under law at
the time when it was committed. Nor may the penalty be imposed which was not
prescribed by law for such an act.
No one may be
held guilty for a criminal offence until proved so by a final decision of the
court.
Article 21
Citizens shall
be guaranteed freedom of movement, residence and staying on the territory of
the Republic, and the freedom to leave and return on the territory.
Freedom of
movement may be restricted by law only if necessary for the purpose of the
conduct of criminal proceedings or for reasons of the protection, safety and
health of people.
No restrictions
may be introduced for political reasons.
Article 22
In Article 22
the words: “and of Yugoslavia” (Item 4 of Amendment LVII) have been
deleted:
Freedom and
secrecy of correspondence and other forms of communication shall be inviolable.
Exception from
the principle of inviolability of freedom and secrecy of correspondence and
other forms of communication may only be prescribed by law, subject to a court
decision, if it is indispensable for the purpose of the conduct of criminal
proceedings or for reasons of the safety of the Republic.
Article 23
Protection of
secrecy of personal data shall be guaranteed. Collection, processing and the
purpose of the use of personal data shall be regulated by law.
The use of
personal data contrary to the determined purpose of their collection shall be
prohibited.
Citizens shall
be entitled to demand and receive all data on them contained in acts of State
bodies and other official registers.
Article 24
Homes shall be
inviolable.
On the basis of
a court warrant as prescribed by law may an official person enter a home or
other premises without a consent from the tenant and carry out a search. The
search shall be carried out in the presence of two witnesses.
Subject to
conditions spelled out by law, an official person may without a court warrant
enter a home or other premises and carry out a search, if this is indispensable
to apprehend an offender or to save persons and property.
Article 25
Freedom of
thought and orientation, conscience and conviction, as well as of public
expression of opinion shall be guaranteed.
Article 26
Freedom of press
and other media of communication shall be guaranteed.
In Paragraph 1,
Article 26 the word “independent” has been replaced by the word “newspaper”
(Amendment XLIII ).
Free
establishment of newspaper and publishing houses, publishing of newspapers and
public information by other media in accordance with law shall be guaranteed.
Censorship of
press and other public information media shall be forbidden.
Public
information media shall be obliged to inform the public on time, truthfully and
impartially.
The right to
correction of incorrect information shall be guaranteed to anyone whose right
or legally determined interest has been violated, as well as the right to a
compensation for damage arising therefrom.
Article 27
Freedom of
scientific, cultural and artistic creativity shall be guaranteed.
Protection of
moral and property rights deriving from scientific, cultural, artistic and
other intellectual creative creativity shall be guaranteed.
Article 28
Freedom of
religion shall be guaranteed.
Religious
communities shall be equal before the law and shall be free to perform
religious affairs and services. They may open religious schools and perform
religious education in all schools at all levels of education; they may engage
in economic and other activities, receive gifts, establish legacies and manage
them, in conformity with law.
The Serbian
Orthodox Church shall be the church of the Serb people and other people of
Orthodox religion.
The State shall
materially support the Orthodox church and it shall co-operate with it in all
fields and, in particular, in preserving, cherishing and developing cultural,
traditional and other spiritual values.
Article 29
A citizen who
has reached the age of eighteen years shall have the right to vote and to be
elected.
The right of
suffrage shall be universal and equal, elections shall be direct and by secret
ballot.
Article 29 has
been amended by Item 5 of Amendment LVII, reading as follows:
“A person shall
acquire the right of suffrage, subject to Article 29, after having resided in a
certain place for the period determined by law.”
Article 30
Citizens shall
have right to peaceful assembly and public protest.
Freedom of
association shall be restricted by law only for the purpose of protection of
the safety of persons and property.
Article 31
Freedom of
political organisation and activities in conformity with law shall be
guaranteed.
Political
organisation and activities threatening democracy, jeopardising integrity of
the Republic and violating constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights and
inciting national, racial or religious hatred and intolerance shall be
prohibited.
Article 32
Citizens shall
have the right to publicly express their opinion on the work of State agencies
and other bodies, to submit petitions, complaints and proposals to them and to
receive answers thereto.
No one may be
held responsible or suffer other adverse consequences because of the public
expression of his opinion on the work of State agencies or his statements
publicly presented in a complaint, petition and proposal, unless thus
committing a criminal offence.
Article 33
Citizens shall
have the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs and have access to
public service under equal conditions.
Article 34
Citizens shall
be guaranteed freedom of profession of national affiliation and culture and the
right to use their language and alphabet.
No one shall be
obliged to declare national affiliation.
Paragraph 3 of
Article 34 has been deleted on the basis of Item 6 of Amendment LVII.
Article 35
Everyone shall
have the right to a healthy environment. Everyone shall be bound, in accordance
with law and within his possibilities, to protect and improve the environment.
Article 36
The family,
mother and child shall enjoy special protection.
Marriage and
legal relations in marriage and family shall be regulated by law.
Everyone shall
have the right to decide freely to have children.
Parents shall
have the right and duty to take care of the upbringing and education of their
children.
Children shall
be bound to take care of their parents needing help.
Children born
out of wedlock shall have the same rights and duties as those born in wedlock.
Minors who are
parentally neglected and persons unable to look after themselves and the
protection of their rights and interests shall enjoy special protection.
Article 37
Everyone shall
be entitled to health care.
The right to
health care shall be guaranteed in conformity with law.
Children,
pregnant women and elderly persons shall be entitled to health care financed
out of the public funds, while other persons shall enjoy such a care under the
conditions spelled out in a law.
Article 38
Everyone shall
be entitled to education under equal conditions.
Primary
schooling shall be compulsory and free.
Everyone shall
have access, under the same conditions, to secondary and higher education.
In Paragraph 4
of Article 38 the words “teaching institutions” have been deleted (Item 2 of
Amendment XLIII).
Citizens may
open private schools under conditions specified by law.
Article 39
Everyone shall
have the right to work and to freedom of work.
Forced labour
shall be prohibited.
Everyone shall
be free to choose his vocation and occupation and all work places and duties
shall be accessible to everyone under the same conditions.
Employment may
be terminated contrary to the will of employed persons in the manner and under
conditions specified by law and collective agreements.
Every employed
person shall have the right to remuneration in accordance with law and collective
agreements.
Article 40
Employed persons
shall be entitled to limited working hours, daily and weekly rest and annual
holiday and leave with pay, in accordance with law and collective agreements.
Employed persons
shall have the right to safety at work, in accordance with law.
Young people,
mothers and disabled persons shall be entitled to special protection at work.
Article 41
Freedom of
forming trade unions and organisation and activities related to them shall be
guaranteed.
Article 42
Employed persons
shall have the right to strike under conditions specified by law.
Article 43
The right of
employed persons and of members of their families to social security and social
insurance shall be regulated by law and collective agreements.
The right to
relief during temporary unemployment shall be guaranteed, under conditions
specified by law.
Citizens who are
partially disabled shall be guaranteed the training for a suitable job and are
provided conditions for their employment, in accordance with law.
The Republic
shall ensure the assistance and social security to citizens incapable to work
and unprovided-for.
Article 44
Aliens shall
have the human rights and freedoms determined by the Constitution and other
rights specified by law and international agreements.
Foreign citizens
and Stateless persons may be granted asylum in Republika Srpska if prosecuted
for the participation in movements for social and national emancipation,
supporting democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms or for the freedom
of scientific and artistic creativity.
Article 45
Everyone shall
be bound to abide by the Constitution and law.
Everyone shall
be bound to perform conscientiously and responsibly the public function
assigned to him.
Article 46
Everyone shall
be bound to assist a person in danger and to take part in elimination of
general danger.
Article 47
Article 47 has
been deleted on the basis of Item 7 of Amendment LVII.
Article 48
The rights and
freedoms guaranteed by this Constitution may not be denied or restricted.
Paragraph 2 of
Article 48 has been deleted on the basis of Item 8 of Amendment LVII.
The court
protection of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by this Constitution shall be
ensured.
Everyone
violating the human rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed by this
Constitution shall be held personally responsible for it and may not be
justified by having obeyed somebody’s order to that effect.
Article 49
Freedoms and
rights shall be exercised, and duties fulfilled directly pursuant to the
Constitution, unless the Constitution provides that conditions for exercising
particular freedoms and rights are spelled out by law.
The manner of
exercising particular rights and freedoms may be determined by law only when it
is necessary for their exercise.
Paragraph 3 of Article
49 has been replaced by Item 3 of Amendment XXXV.
The Chapter on
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms has been supplemented by Items 1 through
3 of Amendment LVII, reading as follows:
“In the case
there are differences between the provisions on rights and freedoms of the
Constitution of Republika Srpska and those of the Constitution of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, the provisions which are more favourable for the individual shall
be applied.
The provisions
of Articles 10, 21, 30, 32, 33, 34, 38 and 43 of the Constitution on rights and
freedoms of citizens shall be considered the provisions on human rights and
fundamental freedoms and shall apply to all, not only to citizens.
The provisions
of Articles 13, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28 and 30 of the Constitution on rights and
freedoms shall be exercised in conformity with related provisions of Articles 8
through 11 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms.”
III.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ORDER
Article 50
The economic and
social order shall be based on the equality of all forms of ownership and free
enterprise, the independence of enterprises and other forms of organisation on
management and appropriation of profit and free movement of goods, labour and
capital in the Republic as a single economic territory.
Article 51
Through measures
of economic and social policy the Republic shall stimulate the economic
development and the increase of social welfare of citizens.
Article 52
Free enterprise
may exceptionally be restricted by law for the purposes of protecting the
interest of the Republic, the human environment, health and security of people.
Monopolies shall
be forbidden.
Article 53
The Republic
shall ensure consumers protection.
Article 54
All forms of
ownership shall enjoy the equal protection of law.
Article 55
The right to
inheritance shall be guaranteed in accordance with law.
Article 56
The right to
ownership may be restricted or taken away by law against fair indemnity.
Article 56 has
been supplemented by Item 1 of Amendment XXXI, reading as follows:
“During the
state of war, the imminent war threat or the state of emergency, law may
restrict the disposal of or define a special method of the use of a part of
assets belonging to legal and natural persons.”
Article 57
Article 57 has
been replaced by Amendment XLVIII, reading as follows:
“Foreign persons
may acquire the right to property and the rights through the investment of
capital in accordance with law.
Property and
other rights of a foreign investor acquired through the capital invested may
not be lessened or denied by law nor by any other legal act.
Foreign persons
shall be guaranteed to conduct economic or any other activities and rights
arising from business transfers under the conditions which cannot be changed to
his detriment.
Foreign
investors shall be guaranteed to take freely the profit and the invested
capital out of the Republic.
The
establishment of private enterprises by foreign persons concerning certain
activities and fields may exceptionally be restricted by law when required by
the general social interest.
Article 58
Property rights
and obligations relating to socially-owned resources and the conditions of
transforming the resources into other forms of ownership shall be regulated by
law.
Paragraph 2 of
Article 58 has been replaced by Item 2 of Amendment XXXI, reading as follows:
Socially- or
State-owned property may as a rule be alienated only according to the market
criteria.
Article 59
Natural
resources, urban construction sites, real estate and property of particular
economic, cultural and historical significance determined by law to be of
general interest, shall be State-owned.
Certain goods of
general interest may also be privately owned under the conditions determined by
law.
Under the conditions
determined by law, the right of use may be instituted on property of general
interest as well as on urban construction sites.
The use and
exploitation of property of special cultural, scientific, artistic or
historical significance, or significant for the protection of nature or the
environment, may be restricted against a full compensation to the owner.
The protection,
use, improvement and management of the property of general interest, as well as
the payment of compensation for the use of property of general interest and
urban construction sites shall be regulated by law.
Article 60
Natural and
legal entities shall exercise their ownership rights to real estate according
to its nature and purpose and in accordance with law.
The ownership of
farming land shall be guaranteed, while the framework of ownership of forests
and forest land shall be specified by law.
Article 61
The Republic
shall guarantee to citizens a minimum of social security and it shall provide
for functioning of public services, in accordance with law.
Public services
shall be financed through funds and budgets, in accordance with law.
Article 62
The Republic and
municipalities shall establish public revenues and expenditures by means of a
budget.
Budget resources
shall be raised from taxes, fees and other levies specified by law.
Article 63
The duty to pay
taxes and other levies shall be universal and it shall be defined in accordance
with taxpayer’s income bracket.
Article 64
The Republic
shall protect and encourage the following:
- the rational
use of natural resources with the view of protecting and improving the quality
of life and protecting and reviving the environment to the general benefit;
- conservation
and enrichment of historical, cultural and artistic wealth;
- scientific
research;
- economising of
all kinds, in particular the one pertaining to economic activities and the
purchase of apartments;
- co-operative
societies and general co-operation;
- crafts;
- physical
culture and sports.
Article 65
Employees shall
have the right to participate in the company management in accordance with law.
The citizens’
influence on the management of State-owned funds and property shall be
specified by law.
IV.
RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE REPUBLIC
Article 66
The rights and
duties of the Republic shall be exercised by the republican bodies specified by
the Constitution.
Human rights and
freedoms, the equality before the law, the independence and the equal status of
enterprises and other organisations, the constitutional status and the rights
of local self-government units shall be the basis and the measurement for
powers and responsibilities of republican bodies.
Article 67
Within the
rights and duties of the Republic laid out by the Constitution, the republican
bodies shall formulate the policy, enact and enforce laws, other regulations
and general acts and carry out the protection of the constitutionality and
legality.
The bodies and
organisations in municipalities may be assigned the enforcement of laws and
other regulations and general acts from within the framework of the rights and
duties of the Republic.
The
responsibility for the enforcement of laws, other regulations and general acts
shall be regulated by law.
Article 68
Article 68 has
been replaced by Amendment XXXII, reading as follows:
“The Republic
shall regulate and ensure:
1. integrity,
constitutional order and territorial unity of the Republic;
In Sub-item 1 of
Amendment XXXII the words: “sovereignty, independence” have been replaced by
the words: “integrity, constitutional order” (Item 1 of Amendment LVIII).
2. defence and
security;
3. measures in
case of the state of, imminent threat of war and the state of emergency;
4. constitutionality
and legality;
5. implementation
and protection of human rights and freedoms;
6. property and
obligation relations and protection of all forms of property, legal status of
enterprises and other organisations, their associations and chambers, economic
relations with foreign countries, which have not been transferred to
institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, market and planning;
In Sub-item 6 of
Amendment XXXII after the words: “economic relations with foreign countries”
the words: “which have not been transferred to institutions of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, market and planning” (Item 2 of Amendment LVIII) have been added.
7. banking and
tax system;
In Sub-item 7 of
Amendment XXXII, the words: “monetary”, “foreign exchange” and “customs” have
been deleted (Item 3 of Amendment LVIII).
8. main
objectives and directions of economic, scientific, technological, demographic
and social development, the development of agriculture and the village, the use
of space, politics and measures for direction of the development and
commodities;
9. control of
legality of the disposal of means of legal entities and the collection of
statistical and other data of general interest;
10.organisation,
competence and the work of State bodies;
11.public
services system;
12.work
relations, safety at work, employment, social insurance and other forms of
social care, health care, soldiers and invalid protection, child and youth
care, education, culture and cultural resources protection, physical culture;
13.environmental
protection;
14.public
information system;
15.international
co-operation, with the exception of the one transferred to institutions of Bosnia and
Herzegovina.
In Sub-item 15
of Amendment XXXII, the words: ”with the exception of the one transferred to
institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina” (Item 4 of Amendment LVIII)
have been added.
16.co-operation
with the Serb people outside of the Republic;
17.financing the
exercise of the rights and duties of the Republic;
18.other
relations relevant for the Republic, in accordance with the Constitution”.
V.
ORGANISATION OF THE REPUBLIC
Article 69
The State
government in the Republic shall be organised according to the principle of the
separation of powers.
The
constitutional and legislative powers shall be exercised by the National
Assembly.
Paragraph 3 of
Article 69 has been replaced by Amendment XXXII, reading as follows:
“The Republic is
represented and its national unity symbolised by the President of the
Republic.”
The executive
power shall be vested in the Government.
The judicial
power shall belong to the courts.
The protection
of constitutionality and legality shall be provided by the Constitutional
Court.
1. The National
Assembly
Article 70
The National
Assembly shall:
1. decide on
amending the Constitution;
2. enact laws,
other regulations and general enactments;
3. adopt a
development plan, urban plan, budget and annual balance sheet;
4. determine the
territorial organisation of the Republic;
5. call for the
republic referendum;
6. float the
public loan of the Republic and decide on contracting debts by the Republic;
7. call for the
elections for Assembly deputies and the President of the Republic;
8. elect,
appoint and dismiss the officials, in accordance with the Constitution and the
laws;
9. exert control
over the work of the Government and other bodies responsible to it, in
accordance with the Constitution and law;
10.grant
amnesty;
11.carry out
other activities in accordance with the Constitution and law.
Article 70 has
been supplemented by Amendment LIX, reading as follows:
“ National
Assembly shall:
1. elect
delegates from the Republic to the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary
Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina ;
2. ratify the
agreements concluded between the Republic and the states and international
organisations with the consent of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia
and Herzegovina”
Article 70 has
been amended by Amendments XXXV and Amendment LXI, reading as follows:
“ The National
Assembly, in accordance with law, shall declare
1. the state of
war in the case of an armed attack of the Republic
2. imminent
threat of war in case of a serious threat of war
3. state of
emergency for the Republic or a part of Republic if the security, human rights
and freedoms and normal functioning of the constitutional institutions are
threatened”
Article 70 has
also been amended by Item 3 of Amendment XXXV (see Article 81 of the
Constitution).
Article 71
Paragraph 1 of
Article 71 has been replaced by Amendment LII, reading as follows:
“The National
Assembly shall have 83 deputies”
Paragraph 2 of
Article 71 has been replaced by Item 2 of Amendment XXXVI, reading as follows:
“The electoral
laws shall establish the electoral units and the system of the distribution
/allocation of mandates ensuring that all municipalities are appropriately
represented in the National Assembly.”
Assembly
deputies shall be elected directly and by secret ballot.
The election and
the termination of mandates of Assembly deputies and the forming of electoral
units shall be determined by law.
Article 72
Assembly
deputies shall be elected for a term of four years.
Article 72 has
been supplemented by Amendment XXXIX and Amendment LX, reading as follows:
“At the proposal
of a minimum of 30 deputies, the National Assembly may shorten its mandate by a
two-thirds majority of the total number of deputies.
During the state
of war and imminent threat of war, the mandate of the national Assembly shall
be prolonged for the duration of such a state.
The national
Assembly may not shorten its mandate during the war and imminent threat of war
.
Should the
National Assembly shorten its mandate or should it be dismissed, elections for
a new National Assembly must be held within 60 days from the day if issuance of
decision on the shortening of mandate. The elections shall be scheduled by the
President of the Republic.
By the
shortening of mandate of the national Assembly the mandate of the Government
shall also stop.
The President of
the Republic may, after he has heard the opinion of the President of the
Government and the President of the National Assembly decide to dismiss the
National Assembly .“
Article 73
Assembly deputies
shall enjoy immunity.
An Assembly
deputy may not be held criminally liable, or detained or punished for an
opinion expressed or a vote cast in the National Assembly.
An Assembly
deputy may not be arrested without the approval of the National Assembly,
unless he has been caught while committing a criminal offence carrying a
penalty of more than five years of imprisonment.
No Assembly
deputy may be subject, without the approval of the National Assembly, to
instituting criminal proceedings against him after he has invoked parliamentary
immunity.
Article 74
The National
Assembly shall sit in a continuous session.
The President of
the National Assembly shall convene and chair sessions.
The President
shall be obliged to convene a session upon the request of one third of the
total number of deputies, or on the demand by the President of the Republic or
the Government.
Article 75
Article 75 has
been replaced by Amendment XXXVII, reading as follows:
“The National
Assembly shall decide by a majority vote of all Assembly deputies, unless the
Constitution provides a special majority.”
Article 76
Article 76 has
been replaced by Amendment XXXVIII, reading as follows:
“The President
of the Republic, the Government, every Assembly deputy or a minimum of 3,000
voters shall have the right to propose laws, other regulations and general
enactments.
The National
Bank shall also have the right to propose laws, other regulations and general
enactments relating to monetary, foreign exchange and credit system.”
Article 77
The National
Assembly may decide to make a decision on some issues falling within its
competence after a referendum of citizens has been held.
Article 78
The National
Assembly shall regulate its work and organisation and the manner of exercising
the rights and duties of deputies.
Article 79
The National
Assembly shall have the President and two Vice-Presidents elected for a four
year term.
2. The President
of the Republic
Article 80
The President of
the Republic shall:
1. represent the
Republic;
2. propose to
the National Assembly a candidate for the Prime Minister;
3. propose to
the National Assembly candidates for the president and judges of the
Constitutional Court;
Item 4 of
Paragraph 1 of Article 80 has been substituted by Item 2 of Amendment XL, reading
as follows:
4. “the
President of the Republic shall promulgate laws by decree within seven days
from the day of their adoption by the National Assembly. The President of the
Republic may, within that timeline, request that the National Assembly make decision
on the law anew.
The President of
the Republic is obliged to promulgate the law which has been readopted by the
National Assembly”;
5. grant
pardons;
6. confer
decorations and awards specified by law;
7. perform other
tasks in accordance with the Constitution;
Article 80 has
been supplemented with Item 1 of Amendment XL, reading as follows:
“The President
of the Republic shall:
1) perform,
in accordance with the Constitution and law, tasks related to defence, security
and relations of the Republic with other countries and international
organisations,
Sub-item 2 of
Item 1 of Amendment XL has been substituted by Amendment L, reading as follows:
2) the
President of the Republic shall, at the proposal of the Government, by decree
appoint and recall heads of missions of Republika Srpska in foreign countries,
and shall nominate ambassadors and other international representatives of Bosnia
and Herzegovina from Republika Srpska.
3) form
advisory bodies and expert agencies for performing tasks falling within his
competence.”
Vice-Presidents
of the Republic shall assist the President of the Republic in performing tasks
entrusted to them by the President of the Republic.
Paragraph 3 of
Article 80 has been substituted by Item 3 of Amendment XL, reading as follows:
“The President
of the Republic shall decide which of the vice-presidents of the Republic shall
replace him in case he is temporary prevented from performing his duties.”
Article 81
When the
National Assembly, due to a State of emergency, is not able to convene, the
President of the Republic shall, upon obtaining the opinion of the Government,
establish the existence of the State of emergency and order that measures be
taken for their remedy, in accordance with the Constitution and law.
Paragraph 2 of
Article 81 has been substituted by Item 2 of Amendment XXXV reading as follows:
“If not possible
to convene a session of the National Assembly, which is ascertained on the
basis of a statement given by the President of the National Assembly, a state
of war or imminent threat of war shall be declared by the President of the
Republic.
If the National
Assembly cannot convene during a state of war or imminent threat of war, the
President of the Republic shall, at the proposal of the Government or at his
own initiative after he has heard the opinion of the President of the National
Assembly, pass decrees with the force of law regarding the issues falling under
the competence of the National Assembly, and appoint and recall officials which
are normally appointed and recalled by the National Assembly.
The President of
the Republic shall submit these decrees or decisions on the appointment and
recall for approval to the National Assembly as soon as it is able to convene.
Article 81 has
been supplemented with Item 3 of Amendment XXXV, reading as follows:
Exceptionally,
during a state of war or imminent threat of war, enactments passed by the
National Assembly, i.e. enactments by the President of the Republic in case the
National Assembly could not convene, may, while such State is in effect,
suspend certain provisions of the Constitution relating to the adoption of
laws, other regulations and general enactments, to the undertaking of measures
by republican bodies, and to certain human freedoms and rights, except for the
freedoms and rights laid down in Articles 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20,
24 and 25 of the Constitution, change the organisation and powers of executive,
managing and judicial bodies and their personnel, as well as the territorial
organisation in the Republic.
Article 82
The President of
the Republic may request that the Government presents its stance on certain
issues of importance for the Republic, convene a session of the Government and
put on the agenda issues falling under its competence.
Article 83
Article 83 has
been substituted by Items 4 and 5 of Amendment XL, reading as follows:
Only one
Vice-President of the Republic shall be elected at the first direct elections.
The President
and Vice-President of the Republic shall be elected for a five-year mandate by
the citizens through direct and secret ballot.
The President
and Vice-President of the Republic shall be elected simultaneously from the
same list of candidates.
The same person
may be elected President or Vice-President of the Republic no more than twice
in a row.
Article 84
When assuming
the office, the President of the Republic and the Vice-Presidents of the
Republic shall take an oath before the National Assembly.
Article 85
In case of an
imminent threat of war or state of war, the mandate of the President of the
Republic shall be extended as long as such state is in effect, i.e. until
conditions are created for the election of the President of the Republic.
Article 85 has
been supplemented with Item 6 of Amendment XL, reading as follows:
Provisions set
forth in Articles 85 through 89 of the Constitution, concerning the President
of the Republic, shall also apply to the Vice-President of the Republic.
Article 86
The President of
the Republic shall enjoy the same immunity as the Assembly deputies.
Article 86 has
been supplemented with Item 6 of Amendment XL, reading as follows:
“Provisions
set forth in Articles 85 through 89 of the Constitution, concerning the
President of the Republic, shall also apply to the Vice-President of the
Republic.”
Article 87
The term of
office of the President of the Republic shall cease before the expiry of the
period he was elected for, in case of his resignation or recall.
Article 87 has
been supplemented with Item 6 of Amendment XL, reading as follows:
“Provisions
set forth in Articles 85 through 89 of the Constitution, concerning the
President of the Republic, shall also apply to the Vice-President of the
Republic.”
Article 88
The President of
the Republic shall be responsible to citizens and they can recall him following
the same procedure by which they elected him.
Article 88 has
been supplemented with Item 6 of Amendment XL, reading as follows:
“Provisions
set forth in Articles 85 through 89 of the Constitution, concerning the
President of the Republic, shall also apply to the Vice-President of the
Republic.”
Article 89
The procedure
for nominating, electing and recalling the President of the Republic shall be
regulated by the law.
Article 89 has
been supplemented with Item 6 of Amendment XL, reading as follows:
“Provisions
set forth in Articles 85 through 89 of the Constitution, concerning the
President of the Republic, shall also apply to the Vice-President of the
Republic.”
Provisions set
forth in the Constitution concerning the President of the Republic have been
supplemented with Amendment LIII, reading as follows:
“The advisory
body of the highest constitutional institutions in Republika Srpska shall be
the Senate.
The Senate shall
discuss issues of particular importance for the political, national, economic
and cultural development of Republika Srpska, and shall forward its opinion to
the highest constitutional institutions concerning the issues falling within
their competence.
The Senate shall
consist of 55 members appointed by the President of the Republic.
Appointed Senate
members shall be distinguished persons from public, scientific and cultural
life.
The Senate
members shall enjoy the same immunity as the Assembly deputies.
Sessions of the
Senate shall be convened and chaired by the President of the Republic.
The Organisation
and the mode of operation of the Senate shall be regulated by law.”
3. The
Government and the Administration of the Republic
Article 90
The Government
shall:
1. propose laws,
other regulations and general enactments;
2. propose the
development plan, urban plan, budget and the annual balance sheet;
3. ensure the
implementation and enforce the laws, other regulations and general enactments;
4. pass decrees,
decisions and other enactments necessary for the enforcement of law;
5. express its
opinion on drafts of laws, other regulations and general enactments submitted
to the National Assembly by another proposer;
6. define
principles of the internal organisation of the ministries and other
administrative bodies and organisations of the Republic, appoint and recall
officials at the ministries, other bodies and administrative organisations of
the Republic;
7. guide and
co-ordinate the work of ministries and other bodies and administrative
organisations of the Republic;
8. carry out
supervision of the work of the ministries and other bodies and administrative
organisations of the Republic, and annul or cancel their enactments which are
in contravention of law or some other regulation passed by the Government
9. carry out
other tasks in accordance with the Constitution and law.
Article 90 has
been supplemented with Item 1 of Amendment XLI and changed by Amendment LXI,
reading as follows:
“The Government
shall decide on the establishment of the Republic’s missions abroad.”
Article 91
The Government
shall be elected for a term of four years.
A new Government
shall be elected each time a new National Assembly is elected.
Article 92
The Government
shall consist of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and ministers.
Paragraph 2 of
Article 92 has been substituted by Item 2 of Amendment XLI, reading as follows:
“A member of
the Assembly who has been nominated for the post of Prime Minister, Deputy
Prime Minister or Minister cannot take part in deciding on the election of
Government, while a member of the Assembly who has been elected to those
positions cannot take part in a vote of no confidence to the Government, in a
vote on his recall, on a report made by the Government or the ministry he
runs.”
Article 93
The candidate
for the Prime Minister shall present his program to the National Assembly and
propose a list of ministers of the Government.
The Government
shall be elected if the majority of the total number of deputies of the
Assembly have voted for it.
Article 94
The Government
and its members shall be responsible to the National Assembly.
The National
Assembly may vote no confidence to the Government.
The proposal for
a no confidence vote to the Government may be submitted by at least 20
representatives.
The Government
itself may ask for a vote of confidence at the National Assembly.
The Prime
Minister may propose to the National Assembly a dismissal of individual members
of the Government.
A decision on
the dismissal of the Government or any of its members shall be considered
adopted if it has been voted by the majority of the total number of deputies.
The Government
and each of its members may submit their resignations to the National Assembly.
The resignation
or dismissal of the Prime Minister shall entail the resignation of the entire Government.
A Government
which has been voted no confidence, which has resigned or whose mandate has
been revoked because of dissolution of the National Assembly, shall remain in
office until a new Government is elected.
Article 94 has
been supplemented with Items 3, 4 and 5 of Amendment XLI, reading as follows:
“The
President of the Republic shall propose a candidate for the Prime Minister
within 10 days from the day his resignation was accepted, no confidence voted
or the mandate of the previous Government expired due to the dissolution or the
shortening of the mandate of the National Assembly. The new Government must be
elected within 40 days from the day the candidate for the new Prime Minister
was nominated.
During the
mandate of the Government, the Prime Minister may, based on the opinions of the
President of the Republic and the President of the National Assembly, make
changes in the composition of the Government, of which he shall inform the
National Assembly.
If he assesses
that there has been a crisis in the work of the Government, the President of
the Republic may, at the initiative of at least 20 Assembly representatives and
after obtaining the opinion of the President of the National Assembly and the
Prime Minister, demand that the Prime Minister resigns. Should the Prime
Minister refuse to resign, the President of the Republic may dismiss him.
During a state
of war or imminent threat of war, the National Assembly may vote no confidence
to the Government by the majority of votes at the session attended by the
majority of the deputies.
Article 95
Members of the
Government shall enjoy the same immunity as the Assembly deputies.
The immunity of
the members of the Government shall be decided upon by the Government.
Article 96
The organisation
and mode of operation of the Government shall be regulated by law.
Article 97
The affairs of
the State administration shall be conducted by the ministries and other
administrative bodies of the Republic.
The ministries
and other administrative bodies of the Republic shall implement laws and other
regulations and general enactments of the National Assembly and Government, as
well as enactments by the President of the Republic, shall decide in
administrative matters, carry out supervision and other administrative affairs
prescribed by law.
The ministries
and other administrative bodies of the Republic shall be independent in
exercising their competencies prescribed by the Constitution and law.
Certain
administrative powers may be entrusted by law to enterprises and other
organisations.
4. The
National Bank
Article 98
The Republic
shall have a National Bank.
The status,
organisation, management and operation of the National Bank shall be regulated
by law.
5. Agency for
Payment Operations and Financial Control
Article 99
The Republic
shall have an Agency for Payment Operations and Financial Control.
The status,
organisation, management and operation of the Agency for Payment Operations and
Financial Control shall be regulated by law.
VI.
TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION
Article 100
The territorial
organisation of the Republic shall be regulated by law.
Article 101
(Article 101 has
been deleted by Amendment XXXII)
Article 102
The municipality
shall, through its bodies, and in accordance with the law:
1. enact a
development program, urban planning, budget and annual balance sheet;
2. regulate and
ensure performing of the municipal activities;
3. regulate and
ensure the use of urban construction sites and business premises;
4. take care of
construction, maintenance and use of local infrastructure, and other public
facilities of importance to the municipality;
5. take care of
meeting specific needs of citizens in the areas of culture, education, health
and social welfare, physical culture, public information, handicrafts, tourist
trade and catering services, environment protection and other areas;
6. execute laws,
other regulations and general enactments of the Republic whose execution is
entrusted to the municipality, provide for the execution of regulations and
general enactments of the municipality;
7. establish
agencies, organisations and services to meet the needs of the municipality, and
regulate their organisation and work;
8. attend to
other business as established by the Constitution, the law and the statute of
the municipality.
The system of
local government shall be regulated by law.
The performance
of tasks of local government may be entrusted to the city by law.
Article 103
The city and
municipality shall be entitled to revenues as established by law, and resources
for administering the tasks entrusted to them.
VII.
DEFENCE
Article 104
The defence and
protection of the territory and constitutional order of Republika Srpska is the
right and duty of all citizens.
The words
“sovereignty” and “independence” have been deleted from Paragraph 1 of Article
104 (Amendment LXIII).
The rights and
duties regarding defence shall be set out in a separate law.
Article 105
Republika Srpska
shall have its own Army, consisting of standing units and reserve units.
Permanent units
shall consist of professional soldiers and soldiers serving the Army.
A separate law
shall be passed on the Army of the Republika Srpska.
Article 106
At war and at
peace time, the Army of Republika Srpska shall be commanded by the President of
the Republic, according to the Constitution and law.
The President of
the Republic shall nominate, promote and recall the officers of the Army of
Republika Srpska in accordance with law, he shall nominate and recall the
president, judges and members of the jury of the military courts as well as the
Army prosecutors.
Article 107
Military courts
and Army prosecutors shall be established by law.
Military courts
shall be independent and shall adjudicate in accordance with the law.
VIII.
CONSTITUTIONALITY AND LEGALITY
Article 108
P> Laws, statutes, other regulations
and general enactments must be in conformity with the Constitution.
Regulations and
other general enactments must be in conformity with the law.
Article 109
Laws, other
regulations and general enactments shall enter into force not earlier than on
the eighth day after the day of their publication, unless, for particularly
justified reasons, it is stipulated that they enter into force at an earlier
date.
Before entering
into effect, laws, other regulations and general enactments of State agencies
shall be published in an appropriate official gazette.
Article 110
Laws, other
regulations and general enactments may not have retroactive effect.
If so required
by public interest established in the procedure of enactment of the law, the
law may stipulate that some of its provisions shall have a retroactive effect.
Punishable
offences shall be prescribed and punishments for their commission pronounced
according to law or other regulation which was in force at the time of the
commission of the offence, unless the new law, i.e. regulation, is more
favourable for the perpetrator.
Article 111
State agencies
and organisations exercising public powers may decide in individual cases on
rights and duties of citizens or, apply coercive measures and restrictions only
in a procedure prescribed by law, in which everyone is provided with the
opportunity to defend his rights and interests and to appeal against the issued
act or apply any other legal remedy prescribed by law.
Article 112
In the
proceedings before a court or other State agency or organisation which, in
exercise of public powers rules on his rights and duties, each person shall be
guaranteed the right to use his own language and to familiarise himself with
the facts of the proceedings in his language.
Article 113
An appeal may be
lodged with a competent body against the individual rulings issued in the first
instance by judicial, administrative and other State bodies, as well as by
organisations exercising public powers.
Exceptionally,
an appeal may be disallowed by law if the right to legal remedy and protection
of legality have been secured in some other way.
The legality of
final and binding individual acts by which State agencies and organisations
exercising public powers decide on rights and duties, shall be decided upon by
a court in the administrative dispute proceedings, unless another kind of
judicial protection has been provided for the specific matter.
By way of
exception, the administrative dispute proceedings may be excluded only by law
in specific kinds of administrative matters.
Article 114
The Government
of the Republic shall have the right to suspend the implementation of a
regulation, a general or individual enactment, which it considers to be
unconstitutional or unlawful, until the Constitutional Court has reached a
decision.
The Republic
shall have the right and duty to ensure the enforcement of laws and other
regulations directly through the agencies of the Republic, if the agencies and
organisations of the Republic do not enforce them themselves.
IX.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
Article 115
The
Constitutional Court shall decide on:
1. conformity of
laws, other regulations and general enactments with the Constitution;
2. conformity of
regulations and general enactments with the law;
3. conflict of
jurisdictions between bodies of legislative, executive and judicial branch;
In Item 4 of
Paragraph 1 of Article 115 the word “region” has been deleted (Item 3 of
Amendment XLIII,).
4. conflict of
jurisdiction between agencies of the Republic, city and municipality;
5. conformity of
programmes, statutes and other general enactments of political organisations
with the Constitution and the law.
Article 115 has
been supplemented with Items 1 and 2 of Amendment XLII, reading as follows:
“The
Constitutional Court shall monitor events of interest for the achievement of
constitutionality and legality, and inform the highest constitutional bodies of
the Republic on the status and problems in that area, offering them opinions and
proposals for adopting laws and undertaking other measures for the purpose of
ensuring constitutionality and legality, as well as the protection of freedoms
and rights of citizens, organisations and communities.
The
Constitutional Court may assess the constitutionality of laws and both the
constitutionality and legality of regulations and general enactments which have
ceased to be effective, provided that not more than one year has elapsed from
the date of the cessation of validity to the date of initiating the
proceedings.
Article 116
The
Constitutional Court shall have seven judges.
Constitutional
Court judges shall be elected for the period of eight years, and may not be
re-elected.
The same person
may not be elected twice to the office of the president of the Constitutional
Court.
Article 117
A judge of the
Constitutional Court may not hold another public function.
Paragraph 2 of
Article 117 has been substituted by Item 5 of Amendment XLII, reading as
follows:
The President
and judges of the Constitutional Court shall enjoy the same immunity as the
Assembly deputies. The Constitutional Court shall decide on immunity.
Article 118
A judge of the
Constitutional Court shall terminate his office at his own request.
Paragraph 2 of
Article 118 has been substituted by Item 6 of Amendment XLII, which reads:
A judge of the
Constitutional Court shall be relieved of his duty if he is convicted of a
crime which makes him unworthy of performing his function, if he becomes
permanently incapable of performing the function, as well as due to other
reasons prescribed by the Constitution and law.
Article 119
The decisions of
the Constitutional Court are universally binding and enforceable in the
territory of the Republic.
The words “in
the territory of the Republic” have been added after the word “enforceable” in
Paragraph 1 of Article 119 (Amendment LXIV).
The execution of
the decisions of the Constitutional Court shall be ensured by the Government.
Article 120
The proceedings
before the Constitutional Court, the legal effect of its decisions and other
issues regarding its organisation and work shall be regulated by law.
Article 120 has
been supplemented with Items 3 and 4 of Amendment XLII, reading as follows:
“Anyone can
give an initiative to start the proceedings for assessing the constitutionality
and legality.
Proceedings with
the Constitutional Court may, without restriction, be initiated by the
President of the Republic, by the National Assembly and by the Government,
while other bodies, organisations and communities may do so under conditions
prescribed by law.
The
Constitutional Court may initiate the proceedings itself to assess the
constitutionality and legality.
When the
Constitutional Court assesses that a law is not in accordance with the
Constitution, or that another regulation or general enactment is not in
accordance with the Constitution or law, such law, regulation or general
enactment shall cease to be effective on the day of the publication of the
Constitutional Court’s decision.”
X.
COURTS AND PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S OFFICES
Article 121
Judicial power
shall be exercised by courts.
The courts shall
be autonomous and independent and shall adjudicate on the basis of the
Constitution and laws.
The courts shall
protect human rights and freedoms, the established rights and interests of
legal subjects and legality.
Article 122
The
establishment and jurisdiction of courts, as well as the procedure before the
courts, shall be specified by law.
Article 123
The Supreme
Court of the Republic, as the highest court in the Republic, shall ensure a
unified enforcement of law.
Article 124
Court hearings
shall be public.
The public may
be excluded from a court hearing in the cases specified by the law for the
purpose of protecting special interests of the Republic, preserving a secret,
protecting moral and interest of juveniles, private life of the parties to the
proceedings and protecting other public interest.
Article 125
The court shall
sit in panels.
Matters to be
adjudicated by a single judge shall be specified by law.
Lay judges shall
also take part in the trial, in a manner prescribed by the law.
It may be
prescribed by law that in specific courts and in particular matters only judges
shall participate in adjudication.
Article 126
No one
participating in the trial shall be held responsible for an opinion expressed
in the passing of a court decision, nor can anyone be detained in proceedings
instituted because of a criminal offence committed in performing the judicial
function without the approval of the National Assembly.
Article 127
Judges shall
have life tenure.
A judge may not
hold a public office or a job defined by law as incompatible with the judicial
function.
A judge’s term
of office shall terminate:
1. at his own
request;
2. when he meets
the requirements for retirement;
3. if he has
permanently lost the working capacity to perform his judicial function;
4. if he has
been convicted of a crime which makes him unworthy of performing the judicial
function.
A judge shall be
entitled to file a request for protection with the National Assembly, against
the decision whereby his term of office was terminated.
Article 128
Public
prosecutor’s office is an independent State body which prosecutes the
perpetrators of criminal offences and other criminal acts which are punishable
under the law, and applies legal remedies in order to protect constitutionality
and legality.
The
establishment, organisation and jurisdiction of a public prosecutor’s office
shall be regulated by the law.
A public
prosecutor’s office performs its function on the basis of the Constitution and
law.
Article 129
A public
prosecutor shall have a life tenure.
A public
prosecutor may not engage in a service or job defined by law as incompatible
with his function.
Article 130
Judges and
public prosecutors are elected or appointed and recalled by the National
Assembly.
Article 131
Law practice
shall be an autonomous and independent activity and service which renders
public assistance.
The organisation
and work of law practice shall be regulated by the law.
XI.
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
Article 132
A proposal to
amend the Constitution of the Republic may be submitted by the president of the
Republic, the Government, and at least 30 deputies of the National Assembly.
A proposal to
amend the Constitution shall be decided upon by the National Assembly by the
majority of votes of the deputies.
Article 133
Draft Amendment
to the Constitution shall be set forth by the National Assembly by the majority
of votes of the total number of deputies.
Draft Amendment
to the Constitution shall be open for a public debate.
Article 134
After a public
debate on the Draft Amendment to the Constitution has been held, the National
Assembly Commission for Constitutional Issues shall set forth a Proposal
Amendment to the Constitution.
Article 135
The National
Assembly shall decide on a proposed Draft Amendment to Constitution.
The
Constitutional Amendment shall be considered as adopted if at least two thirds
of the total number of deputies have voted for it.
If the
Constitutional Amendment has not been adopted, a proposal for amendment
regarding the same issue may not be repeated before three months have passed
from the day when the proposal was rejected.
Article 136
The Amendment to
the Constitution shall be promulgated by the National Assembly.
Article 137
The Constitution
of the Republic may be amended by constitutional amendments.
In case of a
state of war or an imminent threat of war, the National Assembly may draft a
proposal to amend the Constitution and adopt constitutional amendments at the
same session (without holding a public debate).
XII.
FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 138
Article 138 has
been substituted by Amendment LI and supplemented with Amendment LXV, reading
as follows:
“When enactments
of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina or enactments of the Federation
of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in contravention of the Constitution of Republika
Srpska and the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, violate the equality of
Republika Srpska, or when its rights and lawful interests are otherwise
endangered without any protection being provided, agencies of the Republic
shall temporarily, pending a decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, and in cases when irredeemable detrimental consequences might
occur, pass enactments and undertake measures for the protection of rights and
interests of the Republic.”
Article 139
This
Constitution shall enter into force on the day of its promulgation.
<B< B>
A constitutional
law shall be enacted for the enforcement of this Constitution.
Index of the
Constitution of Republika Srpska
I. Basic Provisions 1-9
II. Human Rights and
Freedoms 10- 49
III. Economic and Social
Order 50-65
IV. The Rights and Duties of
the Republic 66-68
V. Organisation of the
Republic 69
1. National
Assembly 70 - 79
2. The President
of the Rep. 80 - 89
3. The
Government and the Administration of the Republic 90 - 97
4. The National
Bank 98
5. Service for
Currency Exchange and Financial Control 99
VI.
Territorial Organisation 100 -103
VII. Defence 104 - 107
VIII. Constitutionality and
Legality 108 - 114
IX. The Constitutional Court
115 - 120
X. Courts of Law and Public
Prosecutor’s Offices 121 - 131
XI. Amending the
Constitution 132 - 137
XII. Concluding Provisions
138 - 140