Before World War II in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia it was known as the National Assembly (Narodna skupština), while in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia the name was changed to Federal Assembly (Serbo-Croatian: Savezna skupština/Савезна скупштина).

Most of the Federal Assembly's actions simply rubber stamp the party's decisions.

The first parliamentary body of the state was the Temporary National Representation which existed until the first elections were held on 28 November 1920.

The Federal Assembly of Yugoslavia was the only pentacameral (later hexacameral) legislature in political history.

The Assembly was composed of members of the League of Communists from each constituent republic appointed by electoral colleges chosen at different levels in the legal hierarchy through complex procedures.