Bahrain's Electoral Process: Choosing The General Assembly

The Bahraini General Assembly, also known as the National Assembly, is the country's legislative body. It is a bicameral parliament, consisting of the 40 elected members of the Council of Representatives (the lower house) and the 40 royally-appointed members of the Consultative Council (the upper house). The Council of Representatives, or the Chamber of Deputies, was created by the 2002 Constitution of Bahrain and elects members for four-year terms from single-member constituencies using a two-round system. The last election for the council was the 2022 Bahraini general election held on 12 November 2018, with the runoff on 19 November.

The Bahraini National Assembly is bicameral

The National Assembly is the legislative body of Bahrain, and all laws (except for "Royal decrees") must be passed by both chambers. This bicameral system is similar to those found in long-established democracies such as the United Kingdom and Canada, which have an appointed upper chamber and an elected lower chamber. However, critics of the Bahraini system argue that it gives the unelected upper house equal or more legislative power than the lower house, effectively allowing the King to control all legislation.

The Chamber of Deputies, or the Council of Representatives, was created by the 2002 Constitution of Bahrain. Members are elected for four-year terms from single-member constituencies using a two-round system. Candidates must be Bahraini citizens and at least 30 years old. The last election for the council was held on 12 November 2018, with a runoff on 19 November.

The Consultative Council, as the upper house, has 40 royally-appointed members. The council includes representatives from minority communities, such as a Bahraini Christian woman and a Bahraini Jewish man. After the 2002 general election, in which no women were elected to the lower house, four women were appointed to the Consultative Council.

The lower house is elected by universal suffrage

The Council of Representatives, also known as the Chamber of Deputies, is the lower house of the Bahraini National Assembly, the country's legislative body. The council was established by the 2002 Constitution of Bahrain and consists of 40 members, who are elected by universal suffrage.

The 40 seats in the Council of Representatives, together with the 40 royally-appointed seats in the upper house, the Shura Council (or Consultative Council), make up the Bahraini National Assembly. The National Assembly is chaired by the Speaker of the Council of Representatives, or by the Speaker of the Consultative Council if the former is absent.

The Council of Representatives is elected for four-year terms from single-member constituencies using a two-round system. If no candidate receives 50% of the vote in the first round, a second round is held between the top two candidates. Candidates for the lower house must be Bahraini citizens and at least 30 years old.

The most recent election for the Council of Representatives was the 2022 Bahraini general election, held on 12 November 2018, with a runoff on 19 November. The previous election, in 2014, had a voter turnout of 67% according to the government, although the opposition claimed it did not exceed 30%.

The first election under the 2002 Constitution was boycotted by several political parties, including the Shia Islamist Al Wefaq, the country's largest political party, as well as the left-wing National Democratic Action Society, the Nationalist Democratic Rally Society, and the radical Shia Islamist Islamic Action Society. These parties claimed that the 2002 Constitution gave too much power to the unelected Consultative Council and demanded a reform of the constitution.

The upper house is royally-appointed

The upper house of Bahrain's National Assembly, the Consultative Council (also known as the Shura Council), is royally-appointed. The Council comprises 40 members, all of whom are appointed directly by the King of Bahrain. This system of an elected lower house and a royally-appointed upper house is known as bicameralism, and it is also found in long-established democracies such as the United Kingdom and Canada.

Supporters of Bahrain's bicameral system argue that it gives a voice to minority communities and technocratic experts within the legislative process. Indeed, the stated aim of the upper house is to provide representation for these groups. For example, in 2004, Alees Samaan, a Bahraini Christian woman, became the first woman to chair a session of parliament in the Arab world. Additionally, a Bahraini Jewish man has also been appointed to the Consultative Council.

However, critics of the system argue that it gives the King too much control over legislation. In Bahrain's bicameral system, both chambers of the Assembly must pass all laws (except for "Royal decrees"). This effectively gives the unelected upper house equal legislative power to the elected lower house. Critics also point out that the current system was imposed unilaterally by the King, violating the 1973 Constitution and a 2001 agreement with the Bahraini opposition.

The upper house of the National Assembly is an important aspect of Bahrain's political system, and it has been the subject of debate and discussion among supporters and critics of the country's bicameral legislature.

The legislative process includes minority communities and technocrats

The Bahraini legislative body is a bicameral parliament, consisting of the Council of Representatives (the lower house) and the Consultative Council (the upper house). The Council of Representatives is made up of 40 members elected by universal suffrage, while the Consultative Council is composed of 40 members appointed directly by the King of Bahrain.

The upper house, also known as the Shura Council, includes minority communities and technocrats in the legislative process. The stated aim of this house is to give a voice to minority groups and include technical expertise in the passing of laws. In Bahrain, a Christian woman and a Jewish man have been appointed to the Shura Council, ensuring the representation of minority religious groups.

The inclusion of minority communities and technocrats in the Shura Council is defended by supporters of the system, who point to established democracies such as the United Kingdom and Canada, which operate with a similar bicameral model. In these countries, the appointed upper chamber provides a check on the powers of the elected lower chamber, ensuring that legislation is thoroughly scrutinised and amended.

However, critics argue that the Bahraini system gives the Shura Council equal or more legislative power than the elected lower house, allowing the King to control all legislation. This criticism highlights a key difference between the Bahraini model and that of the UK and Canada, where the powers of the upper chamber are more restricted.

The inclusion of minority communities and technocrats in the legislative process through the Shura Council has been a contentious issue in Bahrain, with proponents arguing for representation and expertise, while opponents criticise the concentration of power in the hands of the King.

The Bahraini electoral framework is considered unfair

Bahrain's electoral framework has been criticised for its unfairness, with several factors contributing to this perception. Firstly, the framework has been manipulated to underrepresent Shiites, who constitute a majority of the citizenry. The government has been accused of deliberately drawing district boundaries to dilute the voting power of the Shiite population. This gerrymandering ensures that Shiites have limited influence on the electoral process despite their numerical strength.

Secondly, the current electoral system was unilaterally imposed by the King, deviating from the 1973 Constitution and a 2001 agreement with the Bahraini opposition. This departure from established norms further fuels the perception of unfairness. The King's role in appointing the members of the upper house, the Consultative Council or Shura Council, has been criticised as a means to control all legislation and maintain veto power. This concentration of power in the hands of the monarchy undermines the democratic principles of equal representation and legislative independence.

Additionally, the government agency responsible for administering elections lacks independence. Headed by the justice minister, a member of the royal family, the electoral commission is seen as susceptible to royal influence. This raises concerns about the impartiality of the election administration and the potential for undue interference in the electoral process.

The framework has also been criticised for disadvantaging certain political societies, including leftist and Sunni Islamist groups. The district boundaries have allegedly been drawn to hinder these groups' electoral prospects, further skewing the political landscape in favour of the ruling party. This practice of gerrymandering reinforces the perception of an unfair playing field, where the government uses its power to marginalise opposition voices.

Moreover, the Bahraini electoral framework has historically excluded women from the political process. While the situation has improved, with women gaining the right to vote and stand in national elections in 2002, their representation in elected office remains limited. The failure to elect women to the lower house in 2002 led to the appointment of women to the Shura Council, but the underlying issues persist. The influence of religious leaders and clerical influence on voting patterns has also been observed, with clerics mobilising their congregations to vote against MPs who support women's rights.

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