The function of the collective head of the state is perfomed by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Presidency is comprised of three members, i.e. one Bosniac, one Croat and one Serb. Members of the Presidency, Croat and Bosniac candidates from the Federation of BiH and Serb candidate from the Republika Srpska, are elected by direct elections, for a period of four years. Chairmanship in the Presidency is rotated every eight months.

Governmental function is performed by the Council of Ministers of BiH. After general BiH elections held in October 2002, the High Representative made decision on new stucture of the Council of Ministers of BiH. According to that decision, Council of Ministers has nine members: Chairman, two Vice Chairmen being at the same time ministers, plus other six ministers. Chairman and members of the Council of Ministers hold a four year mandate. Each minister has a deputy. The function of the Secretary of the ministry has also been introduced. Candidates are elected to these functions in line with national criterium, in order to avoid that these functions are performed by representatives of only one or only two nationalities.  
According to the Law on ministries and other bodies of administration, BiH has nine ministries:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations
• Ministry of Civil Affairs
• Ministry of Finance and Treasury
• Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees
• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry of Communications and Transport
• Ministry of Security
• Ministry of Defense