Federalism in Iraq

The 2005Constitution of IraqdefinesIraqfor the first time as afederalcountry.

History

After the defeat of theOttoman Empirein 1919, Iraq became aLeague of Nations mandateunder temporary British control.Mahmud Barzanjiled a Kurdish revolt against the British and in 1922 attempted to establish astatein northern Iraq. In 1924 the British defeated Mahmud, and the Mosul region was incorporated into theKingdom of Iraq.After the British occupation, Kurdish leaders continued to press for autonomy within Iraq. In 1970 the Iraqi government agreed to create theKurdistan Regioncovering three provinces of northern Iraq.

After the end of theGulf Warin 1991 the Kurdish region rose up against PresidentSaddam Husseinand gainedde factoindependence under the protection of ano fly zone.After theAmerican-led invasion of Iraqin 2003, the short-livedTransitional Administrative Lawrecognised the existing Kurdish regional government and defined Iraq for the first time as a federal country.

Article 118

Article 118 of the constitution of Iraq provided that no new region may be created before the Iraqi National Assembly has passed a law that provides the procedures for forming the region. This law was passed in October 2006 after an agreement was reached with theIraqi Accord Frontto form the constitutional review committee and to defer implementation of the law for 18 months. Legislators from theIraqi Accord Front,Sadrist MovementandIslamic Virtue Partyall opposed the bill.

Sources

• Iraqi Constitution(PDF)(Constitution). 2005. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 28 November 2016.Retrieved13 December2015.Archived28 November 2016 at theWayback Machine