The Saudi Shoura Council

Riyadh — The Shoura Council has the power to propose laws to the King and the Cabinet. It has 150 members, all of whom are appointed by the King. The Consultative Council is headed by a Speaker. The Shoura Council is permitted to propose draft laws and forward them to the King. The Council has the power to interpret laws, as well as examine annual reports referred to it by state ministries and agencies. It can also advise the King on policies. The Council is also authorized to review the country’s annual budget, and call in ministers for questioning. The first Council was founded by King Abdulaziz on Jan. 13 1926. However, the complete institutionalization of the Council was finalized in 1932. Later, it was expanded to include 25 members at the beginning of King Saud’s reign. King Fahd decreed a new Shoura Council Law on Nov. 24, 2000, which replaced the previous law that had been effective since 1928. The first term Council (1993–1997) had a speaker and 60 members. The membership was increased by 30 in each of the following terms. In January 2013, King Abdullah issued two royal decrees, granting women 30 seats on the Council, and stating that women must always hold at least a fifth of the seats on the Council. According to the decrees, the female council members must be “committed to Islamic Shariah disciplines without any violations.” The decrees also said that the female Council members would be entering the Council building from special gates, sit in seats reserved for women and pray in special worshipping places.