This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of Montenegro (Crna Gora), based on research produced by GlobaLex at NYU Law School and the Library of Congress. Under Montenegro’s Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has no legal status.
Country Background
Montenegro is located in Southeastern Europe, along the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by Albania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The capital of Montenegro is Podgorica. However, Cetinje retains the status of the "Old Royal Capital." The official language is Montenegrin. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 645,000 people. Montenegro is a predominantly Christian country, with about 72% of the population Orthodox. Islam is the second largest religion in Montenegro, and Muslims make up about 19% of the country's population.
Constitution & Legal Structure
Montenegro is referred to as a parliamentary republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Montenegro was part of the Socialist Federal Yugoslavia, but after it dissolved in 1992, it joined Serbia to form the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Catholic, Muslim, and Albanian minorities boycotted this referendum. After declaring its independence from Serbia in 2006 via a referendum, Montenegro became an independent and sovereign republic. Montenegro adopted its current Constitution in 2007. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Although not a member state of the European Union or the eurozone, Montenegro has adopted the euro as its currency.
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no constitutional status in Montenegro
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Montenegro.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
Montenegro has no official school of Islamic law.
Sources of Law for Legal Research
Official Publications
Unofficial Databases
References:
For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].