Principles of Electoral System in Serbian Constitution Cover Image

Уставни принципи изборног система
Principles of Electoral System in Serbian Constitution

Author(s): Maja Nastić
Subject(s): Constitutional Law, Electoral systems
Published by: Институт за политичке студије
Keywords: constitution; elections; electoral systems; electoral law; Serbia

Summary/Abstract: Elections are the most important form of citizens’ participation in political decision making process in every state. Electoral rules shape the electoral democracy as an essential component of democracy. Therefore, the basic principles of electoral system has been recognized in the Constitution of Republic of Serbia (2006). Serbian Constitution does not specify the type of electoral system, but implicitily defines the proportional electoral system. It identifies following principles of the electoral system: universal suffrage, equal suffrage, free sufrage, secret suffrage and direct suffrage. These principles are common denominators of each electoral system. They represent a specific aspect of the Europan constitutional heritage namely ,,european electoral heritage’’. The principles of European electoral systems can only be guaranteed if certain general conditions are fulfiled: respect for fundamental rights, regulatory levels and stability of electoral law and procedural safeguards. Within the framework of Serbian Constitution, the author explores how the content of electoral principle have been changed and transformed during the last ten years. The author analyses the national electoral rules and how they provide for the exercise of the constitutional principles of electoral systems.

  • Issue Year: 2017
  • Issue No: 3/Spec
  • Page Range: 127-142
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Serbian