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Yugoslavia Federal Executive Council
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) was responsible for
everyday bureaucratic operation of the government
(see
fig. 14).
Using recommendations from the LCY and its own committees, the
FEC was the primary sponsor of proposals for deliberation by the
Federal Assembly. The FEC consisted of a prime minister and two
deputy prime ministers who were nominated by the States
Presidency and ratified by the Federal Assembly, and the heads,
or secretaries, of the twelve major federal bureaucracies (the
secretariats of finance, foreign affairs, defense, labor,
agriculture, industry and energy, internal affairs, foreign
economic relations, domestic trade, transport and communication,
development, and legal and administrative affairs). The
secretaries were selected by the prime minister and approved by
the Federal Assembly. Four ministers without portfolio were added
from republics underrepresented in the other fifteen positions.
The nineteen-member council outlined in the 1974 Constitution
was reduced from the previous number of twenty-nine; the Federal
Secretariat of Finance was added in 1988, the secretariats of
development and domestic trade in 1989. Although Tito's rotation
principle was not observed in determining the nationality of the
prime minister or the departmental secretaries, a rough balance
was maintained.
FEC members formed a variety of committees for resolution of
interregional issues preparatory to making recommendations to the
Federal Assembly. Five standing committees, one for each of the
most troublesome federal issues, included members from both the
federal and the republican executive councils. These committees
debated practical aspects of all national problems, making the
FEC the most important national center of political debate,
compromise, and influence.
Legislation was formulated in the FEC--a process that could
take a year or more--then sent to the appropriate chamber of the
Federal Assembly for debate. In the 1970s, the FEC was second
only to Tito himself in producing compromises on controversial
issues among opposing republics, and second only to the party as
a decision--making body. By definition, it controlled all federal
bureaucracies and had exclusive access to expert information
needed for policy making. The FEC also could determine the
scheduling of debate on legislation and policy. After Tito's
death, however, regions defended their interests more stubbornly
and party leadership split along regional lines. In negotiations
involving party leaders with regional agendas, the FEC
increasingly relied on constitutionally prescribed temporary
measures, which could not be blocked by dissenting delegations.
Such measures remained in effect pending a unanimous resolution,
and on many issues they were the only valid legislation for long
periods of time. The FEC's failing bargaining power during the
1980s was exemplified by its inability to formulate the practical
terms of the Long-Term Program of Economic Stabilization.
FEC members also sat on advisory councils that considered
inter-regional organizational issues. All major social and
political organizations, including the LCY, were represented in
the councils. Although not prescribed in the Constitution, the
councils played a major role in federal policy making after 1973.
Data as of December 1990
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