Cantons serve as the second-tier administrative division in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 18 cantons currently operating exclusively within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity. These cantons function as significant units of regional self-government, holding substantial administrative and legislative powers in areas such as education, culture, public services, healthcare, and local economic development. Each canton maintains its own government structure, including a cantonal assembly and executive bodies, allowing for considerable autonomy in managing regional affairs. This system was established under the Dayton Agreement to accommodate the country's ethnic and political complexity, enabling decentralized governance while maintaining the framework of the larger Federation entity.