Comparison
Read two legal systems against each other
Because every portal follows the same fifteen-section outline, the comparison is genuinely like-for-like rather than a collage of whatever each government happens to publish.
Select up to six documented jurisdictions
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| Attribute | Bosnia and HerzegovinaReviewed | ArmeniaReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal familyIdentical | Civil law | Civil law |
| System of government | Federal parliamentary republic | Unitary parliamentary republic |
| Constitution | Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dayton Annex 4) | Constitution of the Republic of Armenia |
| In force sinceIdentical | 1995 | 1995 |
| Capital | Sarajevo | Yerevan |
| Official languages | Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian | Armenian |
| Currency | Convertible mark (BAM) | Dram (AMD) |
| Population | 3,200,000 | 2,800,000 |
| Division of powers | A three-member Presidency and Council of Ministers at state level share power with two autonomous entities and the Brčko District, each with their own legislatures and courts, under a Constitutional Court. | Unitary, with ten provinces headed by centrally appointed governors and Yerevan as a separate community with an elected council. Local self-government is guaranteed constitutionally and has been consolidated through mergers of small communities. |
| How law is made | State laws require approval of both houses of the Parliamentary Assembly with entity-vote safeguards, while most everyday law is made at entity level. | Bills are introduced by the Government, deputies or a citizens' initiative of 50,000 voters, and pass two readings in the National Assembly. Constitutional laws need three-fifths of the total membership. The President signs and publishes within 21 days, or may return a law once to the Assembly, or refer it to the Constitutional Court. Government bills may be designated urgent, compressing the timetable. |
| Legal profession | Advokati/odvjetnici belong to entity bar associations; notaries handle deeds and company acts under entity notary laws. | Advocates are licensed by the Chamber of Advocates after the qualifying examination and the School of Advocates course, and hold a monopoly on criminal defence. Public defenders sit within the Chamber rather than a separate agency, which is unusual and makes the Chamber the main legal aid provider. Notaries are licensed by the Ministry of Justice and their authentication is required for property transactions, powers of attorney and many corporate acts. |
A comparison table flattens nuance by design. Where a difference matters to a decision you are making, open both portals and read the section in full — the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.