What did the Good Friday Agreement establish in Northern Ireland?

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Everyday life during the Troubles — the Troubles Local people walking past a British soldier on guard in Northern Ireland, August 1969.

The Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, was a landmark accord designed to end decades of sectarian violence known as the Troubles. It established a framework for peace through three primary administrative strands:1

Northern Ireland Assembly: The agreement created an elected assembly responsible for managing most local matters within Northern Ireland.1
Cross-Border Cooperation: It established institutional arrangements to foster cooperation on various issues between the governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland.1
Intergovernmental Consultation: The third strand mandated continued consultation between the British and Irish governments.1

Additionally, the agreement facilitated the transition away from direct rule by the United Kingdom. As part of the broader peace process, the Republic of Ireland modified its constitution to remove territorial claims to the island of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive was formed to include representatives from various political parties, including Sinn Féin. The accord was ratified by popular vote in both Ireland and Northern Ireland in May 1998.1