The federal model and the Constitution of the FR of Yugoslavia

Abstract

It is essential, as the author of the present contribution points out, for the analysis of the federal model of the Yugoslav Constitution, to consider the position of the republics - members of the federation, as well as their relations with the federation. Although there is no 'pure' model of federation, there exist common elements making the notion of a federal State. The Constitution of the FR of Yugoslavia remains within the limits of a federal State. However, it contains many elements of confederalism, which, if extended in the future, especially in implementing the Constitution, could lead to disfunctioning of the federation. This, according to the author, concerns a series of provisions in the Constitution, and more particularly the following: provisions concerning the representation of the federal units in the bodies of power in the federation, those relating to the way of electing members of the federal parliament, the way of decision-making in the Federal Assembly, as well as provisions concerning the position of members in the Chamber of the Republics, but also those relating to the procedure of amending the Constitution, and the like. The confederal elements may cause a danger to be interpreted as such, as well as accordingly applied, so that they could become factors of conflict and blockade. In such cases the resulting problems could not be solved in institutional and legal way, instead being a cause of an open political crisis. This is true even more since the federation is composed of only two, members, out of which one is rather different than the other in size, number of inhabitants, economic strength, etc. Rather significant for the functioning of the federation are the role and the conduct of political parties. These parties are for the time being republic, regional or parties of national minorities. To promote further development of the federal State, it is necessary to proceed with the coordination between the republic constitutions and the Constitution of the FR of Yugoslavia. It is essential for the future of federalism in Yugoslavia to fully implement the substance of relevant provisions of the Constitution. which means that all bodies and agencies of the federation function normally. It also means that all necessary federal laws be enacted in the Parliament, that free movement of people, goods and capital be realized, that the Federal Assembly becomes a center where the policy is created, as well as control over other bodies and agencies, etc. The Republic of Serbia and Montenegro are not connected only with common history, tradition, closeness, but also by long-term and real interests. This is why they belong to a common federal State, which is a condition for their survival in the Balkans.

Autor sa gledišta opšteprihvaćenog modela federalne države, ističe da je za analizu Ustava Jugoslavije bitno kakva je pozicija republika, članica federacije i njihovi odnosi sa federacijom. Ustav SR Jugoslavije, ostaje u granicama federalne države, međutim sadrži mnoge elemente konfederalizma, koji ukoliko bi se širili, naročito prilikom primene Ustava, doveli bi u pitanje funkcionisanje federalne države. Navode se brojni primeri iz analize Ustava koji pokazuju postojanje konfederalnih elemenata (način izbora poslanika, odlučivanje u Skupštini, način promene Ustava itd.). U pitanju je dvočlana federacija u kojoj postoje velike razlike između dve članice, Srbije i Crne Gore (veličina, broj stanovnika, ekonomski potencijal). Za budućnost federalne države u ovom momentu je bitno da se ostvare odredbe Ustava o federalnoj državi, donesu savezni zakon i slično, jer je to jedini put u sadašnjoj konstelaciji snaga, da se prevaziđu elementi konfederalizma. Republiku Srbiju i Crnu Goru ne vezuje samo zajednička istorija, tradicija, bliskost, vera i slično, već realni, dugoročni strategijski interesi.