The Dynamic Size Of Afghanistan's Legislative Body

Afghanistan's parliament, also known as the National Assembly, is a bicameral body, meaning it is comprised of two chambers: the Wolesi Jirga (House of the People) and the Meshrano Jirga (House of Elders). The Wolesi Jirga is the lower house of parliament and has 249 to 250 seats, while the Meshrano Jirga is the upper house and has 102 seats.

The National Assembly of Afghanistan, also known as the Parliament of Afghanistan, was dissolved in 2021 when the Taliban regained control of the country

The National Assembly of Afghanistan, also known as the Parliament of Afghanistan, was the legislature of Afghanistan from 1931 until 2021. It was a bicameral body, comprising two chambers: the Wolesi Jirga (House of the People) and the Meshrano Jirga (House of Elders). The Wolesi Jirga had 250 seats, with members directly elected by the people, while the Meshrano Jirga had 102 seats, a mixture of appointed and elected members.

The National Assembly was effectively suspended between 1992 and 2005 due to the ongoing war and the Taliban regime. It was reconstituted in 2005 after the collapse of the first Taliban regime. However, it was dissolved in 2021 when the Taliban regained control of the country. On August 15, 2021, the Taliban seized power and transferred legislative authority to the Leadership Council. They excluded the National Assembly and several other agencies of the former government from their first national budget in May 2022.

The National Assembly played a crucial role in Afghanistan's legislative process. It was responsible for ratifying, modifying, or abrogating laws and legislative decrees. Additionally, it approved social, cultural, economic, and technological development programs and the state budget. The Assembly also had the power to approve or grant loans, create or abolish administrative units, and ratify international treaties and agreements.

The dissolution of the National Assembly marked a significant shift in Afghanistan's political landscape. With the Assembly excluded from the Taliban's budget and the country's political space closed off, the future of democratic representation and individual rights in Afghanistan remains uncertain.

The fall of the National Assembly also carries historical weight. Afghanistan's parliamentary history, dating back to the 20th century, has been marked by interruptions due to changes in the political regime. The latest dissolution by the Taliban underscores the country's ongoing struggle to maintain a stable and democratic form of governance.

The Parliament of Afghanistan was bicameral, consisting of the House of Elders (upper house) and the House of the People (lower house)

The Parliament of Afghanistan was bicameral, consisting of two chambers: the House of Elders (upper house) and the House of the People (lower house). The House of the People, also known as the Wolesi Jirga, was the chamber responsible for most of the country's lawmaking. It had 250 seats, with members directly elected by the people. Sixty-eight women were elected to the seats reserved under the Constitution, while 17 were elected in their own right. Each province was given proportionate representation in the Wolesi Jirga according to its population. Members of the House of the People were elected by district and served for five-year terms.

The House of Elders, or Meshrano Jirga, consisted of a mix of appointed and elected members, with a total of 102 members. Sixty-eight members were selected by 34 directly elected Provincial Councils, and 34 were appointed by the President. Each provincial council elected one member to serve in the Jirga, and each district council elected one member as well. Representatives of provincial councils served four-year terms, while representatives of district councils served three-year terms.

The Parliament of Afghanistan was the legislature of the country from 1931 until 2021, spanning monarchy, republican, communist, and democratic periods. It was effectively suspended between 1992 and 2005 due to the ongoing war and was reconstituted in 2005 after the collapse of the first Taliban regime. The Parliament was dissolved when the Taliban regained control of the country in 2021 and transferred legislative authority to the Leadership Council.

The House of the People had 250 seats, with members directly elected by the people

Afghanistan's parliament, also known as the National Assembly, was bicameral, comprising two chambers: the Wolesi Jirga, or House of the People, and the Meshrano Jirga, or House of Elders. The House of the People had 250 seats, with members directly elected by the people.

The House of the People was the chamber that bore the greater burden of lawmaking in the country. It was responsible for making and ratifying laws and approving the actions of the president. Members were elected by district and served for five years. The constitution guaranteed at least 64 or 68 delegates to be female. Kuchi nomads elected 10 representatives through a Single National Constituency.

The first elections in decades were held in September 2005, four years after the fall of the Taliban regime, under international supervision. The 2010 Wolesi Jirga election was held on 18 September 2010, and the 2018 election was held on 20 October 2018 after almost three years of delay. The new Parliament was later inaugurated on 26 April 2019.

The House of the People was effectively dissolved when the Taliban seized power on 15 August 2021. Government spokesman Innamullah Samangani noted that the House of the People and several other agencies of the former government were not included in the Taliban's first national budget in May 2022 due to the financial crisis, but they could be brought back "if needed".

The House of Elders had 102 seats, with members selected by Provincial Councils or appointed by the President

Afghanistan's parliament, also known as the National Assembly, was bicameral, comprising two chambers: the Wolesi Jirga, or House of the People, and the Meshrano Jirga, or House of Elders.

The House of Elders consisted of a mixture of appointed and elected members. Sixty-eight members were selected by 34 directly elected Provincial Councils, and 34 were appointed by the President. Each provincial council elected one council member to serve in the House of Elders, as did each district council. Representatives of provincial councils served a term of four years, while representatives of district councils served a term of three years.

The House of Elders was the less powerful of the two chambers in the National Assembly. The House of Representatives of the People, or the Wolesi Jirga, was the chamber that bore the greater burden of lawmaking in the country. It consisted of 250 delegates directly elected by a single non-transferable vote. Members were elected by district and served for five years. The constitution guaranteed at least 64 or 68 delegates to be female.

The House of Representatives of the People had the primary responsibility for making and ratifying laws and approving the actions of the president. The first elections in decades were held in September 2005, four years after the fall of the Taliban regime, under international supervision.

The number of women in the Afghan parliament rose from 4% in 1990 to 28% in 2017

The Parliament of Afghanistan, also known as the National Assembly, is a bicameral body comprising two chambers: the Wolesi Jirga (House of the People) and the Meshrano Jirga (House of Elders). The Wolesi Jirga, or the lower house, has 250 seats, while the Meshrano Jirga, or the upper house, has 102 seats.

The representation of women in the Afghan Parliament has been a long and challenging journey. Women were first allowed to become members of parliament during the "decade of democracy," which began in 1964 under the reign of King Mohammad Zahir Shah. Among the 216 members of parliament, only four were women. However, this progress was short-lived as a coup d'état in 1974 and the subsequent Taliban rule reversed these gains, with women being completely excluded from political participation.

It wasn't until the fall of the Taliban government in 2001 and the signing of a new constitution in 2005 that women's rights in Afghanistan began to improve again. The 2005 Constitution included a quota for women in both houses of parliament. This move was controversial but recognised the need to ensure women's representation in politics. The quota guaranteed a minimum number of seats for women, with each province having two seats reserved for women in the Wolesi Jirga.

The number of women in the Afghan Parliament has steadily increased over the years. In the 2018 parliamentary elections, 69 women were elected, representing a significant gain. This translates to a 27% share of parliamentary seats, which is higher than in most neighbouring countries and even some developed nations.

However, despite these achievements, there are still concerns about the sustainability of these gains. The current peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban have raised fears that women's rights, including their hard-won representation in parliament, could be compromised. Additionally, societal attitudes and gender discrimination remain obstacles to women's political participation in Afghanistan.

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