Section Five. Powers of the Regions
Chapter One. Regions
Article 116
The federal system in the Republic of Iraq is made up of a decentralized capital, regions, and governorates, as well as local administrations.
Article 117
First
This Constitution, upon coming into force, shall recognize the region of Kurdistan, along with its existing authorities, as a federal region.
Second
This Constitution shall affirm new regions established in accordance with its provisions.
Article 118
The Council of Representatives shall enact, in a period not to exceed six months from the date of its first session, a law that defines the executive procedures to form regions, by a simple majority of the members present.
Article 119
One or more governorates shall have the right to organize into a region based on a request to be voted on in a referendum submitted in one of the following two methods:
- A request by one-third of the council members of each governorate intending to form a region.
- A request by one-tenth of the voters in each of the governorates intending to form a region.
Article 120
Each region shall adopt a constitution of its own that defines the structure of powers of the region, its authorities, and the mechanisms for exercising such authorities, provided that it does not contradict this Constitution.
Article 121
First
The regional powers shall have the right to exercise executive, legislative, and judicial powers in accordance with this Constitution, except for those authorities stipulated in the exclusive authorities of the federal government.
Second
In case of a contradiction between regional and national legislation in respect to a matter outside the exclusive authorities of the federal government, the regional power shall have the right to amend the application of the national legislation within that region.
Third
Regions and governorates shall be allocated an equitable share of the national revenues sufficient to discharge their responsibilities and duties, but having regard to their resources, needs, and the percentage of their population.
Fourth
Offices for the regions and governorates shall be established in embassies and diplomatic missions, in order to follow cultural, social, and developmental affairs.
Fifth
The regional government shall be responsible for all the administrative requirements of the region, particularly the establishment and organization of the internal security forces for the region such as police, security forces, and guards of the region.
Chapter Two. Governorates not incorporated in a region
Article 122
First
The governorates shall be made up of a number of districts, sub-districts, and villages.
Second
Governorates that are not incorporated in a region shall be granted broad administrative and financial authorities to enable them to manage their affairs in accordance with the principle of decentralized administration, and this shall be regulated by law.
Third
The governor, who is elected by the Governorate Council, is deemed the highest executive official in the governorate to practice his powers authorized by the Council.
Fourth
A law shall regulate the election of the Governorate Council, the governor, and their powers.
Fifth
The Governorate Council shall not be subject to the control or supervision of any ministry or any institution not linked to a ministry. The Governorate Council shall have independent finances.
Article 123
Powers exercised by the federal government can be delegated to the governorates or vice versa, with the consent of both governments, and this shall be regulated by law.
Chapter Three. The Capital
Article 124
First
Baghdad in its municipal borders is the capital of the Republic of Iraq and shall constitute, in its administrative borders, the governorate of Baghdad.
Second
This shall be regulated by a law.
Third
The capital may not merge with a region.
Chapter Four. The Local Administrations
Article 125
This Constitution shall guarantee the administrative, political, cultural, and educational rights of the various nationalities, such as Turkomen, Chaldeans, Assyrians, and all other constituents, and this shall be regulated by law.
