1963 Yugoslav Constitution

The 1963 Yugoslav Constitution was the second constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, taking effect on April 7, 1963 and remaining in force until 1974. It represented a major restructuring of the state reflecting the ruling party's view that Yugoslav self-management principles had matured enough to warrant a comprehensive new constitutional framework. The constitution established an unusually elaborate legislature, initially with five chambers and later six, including a Federal Chamber, a Chamber of Nationalities and specialized economic, educational and social councils. Josip Broz Tito relinquished the state presidency under the new arrangement while retaining leadership of the party, formally separating state and party functions, and the constitution introduced a rotation principle limiting executive officeholders to two four year terms. It also extended human and civil rights protections and established constitutional court procedures. The document was amended 42 times over the following decade before being replaced entirely by the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution.