vizualinacija.BSBosanski

How is BiH governed?

One state, two entities and a district with special status. Explore where decisions are made, who chooses institutions and how their responsibilities differ.

Institutions and responsibilities, without parties or current officeholders.

Explore the territorial diagram
Bosnia and HerzegovinaState
Federation of BiHEntity
10 cantonsOnly in the Federation of BiH
  1. 01Una-Sana Canton
  2. 02Posavina Canton
  3. 03Tuzla Canton
  4. 04Zenica-Doboj Canton
  5. 05Bosnian-Podrinje Canton Goražde
  6. 06Central Bosnia Canton
  7. 07Herzegovina-Neretva Canton
  8. 08West Herzegovina Canton
  9. 09Sarajevo Canton
  10. 10Canton 10
Municipalities and citiesLocal self-government
Republika SrpskaEntity

No cantonal level

Municipalities and citiesLocal self-government
Brčko District of BiHSpecial status

A unit of local self-government under BiH sovereignty. Not a third entity.

Territorial connections, not a chain of command. Constitutions and laws divide responsibilities; Brčko has a special status.

Sarajevo Canton

Canton 09 · Federation of BiH

Sarajevo Canton is one of the ten cantons of the Federation of BiH. The government is based in Sarajevo. It has its own assembly and government, while courts operate independently within the FBiH judicial system. Sarajevo Canton and the City of Sarajevo are neither the same institution nor the same territorial unit.

Institutions and how they are chosen

Cantonal Assembly

Legislative authority: adopts the cantonal constitution, laws and budget, confirms the cantonal government and oversees its work.

Election / appointment: Citizens elect it directly at general elections. The assembly participates in the indirect election of delegates to the FBiH House of Peoples, under constitutional and electoral rules.

Cantonal Government

Executive authority: the prime minister and ministers implement cantonal laws and run their portfolios. The government is based in Sarajevo.

Election / appointment: The candidate for prime minister proposes the government’s composition, and the assembly confirms the appointment through the constitutional procedure. The government is accountable to the cantonal assembly.

Cantonal and competent municipal courts

Judicial authority: hear cases specified by law; they are not part of the cantonal government. This canton has no separate constitutional court.

Election / appointment: The HJPC of BiH appoints judges under the law; the prime minister and cantonal government do not appoint them.

Institutions at this level

What is this level responsible for?

  • Education and cultural policy, and establishing and overseeing cantonal police, within the constitutional and legal framework.
  • Housing policy, spatial planning and public services, respecting municipalities’ and cities’ own powers protected by law.
  • Health, the environment, social policy, tourism and natural resources are shared with the Federation; laws and cooperation further define the allocation of responsibilities.
  • The cantonal budget and funding institutions within the canton’s responsibilities.

Important distinctions

  • A canton is not a regional office of the federal Government: it has its own constitution and institutions, but must comply with the BiH Constitution, the FBiH Constitution and applicable laws.
  • The assembly adopts laws and confirms the government; the government implements policy. Courts are not part of the government and do not receive its instructions when deciding cases.
  • Responsibility for education does not mean that the canton alone covers every cost and runs every institution; local and federal regulations also have a role.