Vol.1, No 1, 1997 pp. 137 - 146
UDC: 342.25:342.4(497.1)
CONSTITUTIONAL AND LAW ASSUMPTIONS
AND RESTRICTIONS ON THE LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT
IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
Aleksandar Fira
Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Yugoslavia 
Abstract. The greatest portion of this paper analyzes the most important constitutional provisions of the Federal and Republic Constitutions dealing with the local self-government. Concluding considerations formulated as a suggestion for further working out and discussions contain the basic attitudes and problems the author specifically emphasizes in the subject matter:
- In the constitutional and law system of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia "the right to the local self-government has been proclaimed by the Constitution of FRY, thus being the category of the federal constitutionality. While organizing and accomplishing it, all those provisions of the Constitution of FRY, directly applied must be respected, which refer to the local self-government and if refer. The degree of the local self-government working out within the federal constitutionality, however, is not of that kind that the local self-government could be introduced much less to function, only on its basis, that is, on the basis of direct application of the Constitution of FRY.
- Within their sovereign rights, the member Republics organize and provide for the local self-government on their own. Then, in accordance with the constitutionality and legitimacy principle, they are obliged to do that in keeping with the Constitution of FRY and federal laws which contain more provisions directly or indirectly referring to the local self-government.
- The Constitutions of both member Republics contain more, but still only basic, provisions on the local self-government. The same concept of the local self-government basically features both Constitutions. That concept suits to the centralized state which independently and in a "sovereign" way determines which part of the power will be given to the local self-government. Clearly carried out is the thesis that the local-self government is the creation of the state and it depends upon its will.
- The weakest point of the constitutional organization of the local-self government is absence of the constitutional guarantees for the financial and material independence of the local self-government. Judging from the practice so far, this cannot be provided for by referring to the laws.
- The greatest restrictions on the local self-government results from the nature of the centralized state. It is most prominent in the sphere of performance, where the assumption of competencies is, contrary to the democratic traditions and the modern trend world-wide, directed in favour of the central state organs of power and administration.
- Finally, there is no efficiently developed mechanism in the constitutional system intended for the local self-government protection.
For all these reasons, vital improvements to the local self-government are possible only through the constitutional revision, and it is advisable this meeting to come for it.
Key words:  Yugoslav and Serbian Constitutions, Constitution of Montenegro, local government
USTAVNOPRAVNE PRETPOSTAVKE I OGRANIČENJA LOKALNE SAMOUPRAVE U SRJ
Analiza najvažnijih ustavnih odredaba Saveznog i republičkih ustava u delovima koji se odnose na lokalnu samoupravu čini najveći deo ovog priloga. U zaključnim razmatranjima koja su formulisana kao poziv na razradu i diskusiju sadržani su osnovni stavovi i problemi koje autor u toj materiji posebno ističe:
- U ustavnopravnom sistemu SRJ "pravo na lokalnu samoupravu" proklamovano je ustavom SRJ i utoliko je kategorija savezne ustavnosti. U njegovom uređivanju i ostvarivanju moraju se poštovati sve one odredbe Ustava SRJ, koje se neposredno primenjuju, a koje se i ukoliko se odnose na lokalnu samoupravu. Međutim, stepen razrade lokalne samouprave u saveznoj ustavnosti nije takav da bi se mogao na osnovu njega tj. na osnovu direktne primene Ustava SRJ uvesti, a još manje funkcionisati lokalna samouprava.
- U okviru svojih suverenih prava republike članice samostalno organizuju tj. uređuju i obezbeđuju lokalnu samoupravu. Pri tome, saglasno principu ustavanosti i zakonitosti, one su dužne da to čine u skladu sa Ustavom SRJ i saveznim zakonima, koji sadrže više odredaba koje se posredno ili neposredno odnose na lokalnu samoupravu
- Ustavi obe republike članice sadrže više, ali samo još uvek osnovnih, odredaba o lokalnoj samoupravi. Pri tome oba ustava imaju istu koncepciju lokalne samouprave. Ta koncepcija odgovara centralizovanoj državi koja samostalno i "suvereno" određuje koji će deo vlasti ustupiti lokalnoj samoupravi. Pri tome je jasno sprovedena teza da je lokalna samouprava kreacija države i da zavisi od državne volje.
- Najslabija tačka u ustavnom uređivanju lokalne samouprave je nepostojanje ustavnih garancija za finansijsku i materijalnu samostalnost lokalne samouprave. Upućivanje na zakone, sudeći po dosadašnjoj praksi, to ne obezbeđuje.
- Najveće ograničenje lokalnoj samoupravi proističe iz prirode centralizovane države. Ono je najizrazitije u sferi izvršenja gde je, suprotno demokratskim tradicijama i modernom trendu u svetu, pretpostavka nadležnosti okrenuta u korist centralnih državnih organa vlasti i uprave.
- Najzad, u ustavnom sistemu nema dovoljno razvijenog zaštitnog mehanizma lokalne samouprave.
Zbog svega toga bitna unapređenja lokalne samouprave su moguća samo kroz ustavnu reviziju, o kojoj bi bilo uputno da se izjasni ovaj skup.
Ključne reči: Jugoslovenski i srpski Ustavi, Ustav Crne Gore, lokalna uprava