Bahrain's Shura Council: Understanding Its Role And Influence

The Shura Council, also known as the Consultative Council (Majlis al-shura), is the upper house of the National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain. The Shura Council is composed of 40 members appointed directly by the King of Bahrain. These 40 seats, together with the 40 elected seats of the Council of Representatives, form the National Assembly of Bahrain. All laws, except for Royal decrees, must be passed by both chambers of the Assembly. The Shura Council is responsible for studying and analyzing the needs of its departments, automating administrative and legislative work, and constructing and developing information systems that support the work of the Council and its MPs.

The Shura Council is the upper house of the National Assembly of Bahrain

The Shura Council, also known as the Consultative Council (Majlis al-shura), is the upper house of the National Assembly of Bahrain, the country's main legislative body. The National Assembly is made up of the Shura Council's forty royally-appointed members and the forty elected members of the Council of Representatives, which is the lower house.

The Shura Council plays a crucial role in Bahrain's legislative process, as all laws, except for "Royal decrees", must be passed by both chambers of the Assembly. This bicameral system, similar to those in the UK and Canada, allows for technical expertise and minority representation in the legislative process. For instance, in addition to the nine women appointed to the Shura Council, a Bahraini Christian woman, Alees Samaan, and a Bahraini Jewish man have also been appointed.

The Shura Council's role in the legislative process is not without controversy. Critics argue that it gives the ruling family veto power over legislation. However, supporters point to the inclusion of diverse communities and expertise in the legislative process. The Council's term is four years, and the chairman serves as the chair of the joint National Assembly when it convenes.

The Shura Council's IT department is responsible for studying and analysing the Council's needs to automate its administrative and legislative work. It constructs and develops information systems to support the work of the Council and its MPs, providing technical consultation, analytical studies, and educational sessions. The department also manages board meetings and committees, ensuring modern technical means are used to record, document, edit, and transmit the Council's activities.

Members of the Shura Council are appointed directly by the King of Bahrain

The Shura Council, also known as the Consultative Council (Majlis al-shura), is the upper house of the National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain. The Council is composed of 40 members who are appointed directly by the King of Bahrain. These 40 seats, combined with the 40 elected seats of the Council of Representatives, form the National Assembly of Bahrain.

The appointment of members to the Shura Council is a key step in launching a new legislative term. The Shura and the Consultative Councils convene at the beginning of the legislative term and when the King calls for a meeting of the National Assembly to pass laws or enact legislation.

The King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, issued a royal order appointing 40 members to the Shura Council, with Ali bin Saleh as Chairman. This new formation included 31 members from the previous council, including six women who retained their seats. The appointment of nine women in the Shura Council, including a Jewish member, Nancy Dinah Khedouri, and a Christian, Hala Ramzi Qurisa, brought female representation to 15 seats, or 18% of the total members of the legislative authority, a first in the Kingdom's history.

The Shura Council plays an important role in the legislative process, allowing technical expertise and minority communities to have a voice. For example, in 2002, when no women were elected to the lower house during the general election, four women were appointed to the Shura Council. One of these women, Alees Samaan, made history in the Arab world when she became the first woman to chair a session of parliament in the region on 18 April 2004.

The Shura Council is also known as the Consultative Council

The Shura Council, also known as the Consultative Council (Majlis al-shura), is the upper house of the National Assembly of Bahrain, the country's main legislative body. The National Assembly is made up of the Shura Council and the Council of Representatives, which is the lower house.

The Shura Council is composed of 40 members who are appointed directly by the King of Bahrain. The Council of Representatives, on the other hand, consists of 40 members who are elected by universal suffrage for four-year terms. All laws, except for "Royal decrees", must be passed by both chambers of the Assembly. This bicameral system is similar to those found in democratic countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada, which have an appointed upper chamber and an elected lower chamber.

The Shura Council plays an important role in the legislative process, allowing technical expertise and minority communities to have a voice. For example, a Christian woman, Alees Samaan, and a Jewish man have been appointed to the Council. In addition, the appointment of women to the Shura Council has been a significant step towards increasing female representation in Bahrain's legislative authority. In 2002, there was disappointment over the lack of female representation in the lower house, but this was addressed with the appointment of four women to the Shura Council. In 2018, the Shura Council included nine women, with a total of 15 female members across both chambers, amounting to 18% of the legislative authority, a historic first for the Kingdom.

The chairman of the Shura Council serves as the chairman of the joint National Assembly when it meets. The term of the council is four years. The Shura and Consultative Councils convene at the beginning of each legislative term and when called upon by the King to pass laws or enact legislation.

The Shura Council has 40 members

The Shura Council, also known as the Consultative Council (Majlis al-shura), is the upper house of the National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain. The Council is composed of 40 members who are appointed directly by the King of Bahrain. These 40 seats, combined with the 40 elected seats of the Council of Representatives, form the National Assembly of Bahrain.

The Shura Council is an important part of Bahrain's legislative process, as all laws (except for "Royal decrees") must be passed by both chambers of the Assembly. This means that technical expertise and minority communities have a role to play in shaping the country's laws. For example, a Bahraini Christian woman, Alees Samaan, and a Bahraini Jewish man have been appointed to the Shura Council. In addition, after there was disappointment over the lack of female representation in the lower house following the 2002 general election, four women were appointed to the Shura Council.

The Shura Council's role in the legislative process has been a source of controversy. Critics argue that it gives the ruling family veto power over all legislation. On the other hand, supporters point to similar democratic models in other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, which have an appointed upper chamber and an elected lower chamber.

The Shura Council and the Council of Representatives make up the National Assembly of Bahrain

The Shura Council, also known as the Consultative Council (Majlis al-shura), is the upper house of the National Assembly of Bahrain, the country's main legislative body. The Shura Council is made up of 40 members who are appointed directly by the King of Bahrain.

The Council of Representatives, on the other hand, is the lower house of the Bahraini National Assembly. It was established by the 2002 Constitution of Bahrain and consists of 40 members who are elected by universal suffrage for four-year terms.

Together, the 40 seats of the Shura Council and the 40 elected seats of the Council of Representatives form the National Assembly of Bahrain. All laws, except for "Royal decrees," must be passed by both chambers of the Assembly. This legislative process includes technical expertise and input from minority communities, such as the appointment of a Bahraini Christian woman, Alees Samaan, and a Bahraini Jewish man.

The National Assembly of Bahrain allows for the representation of various groups within the legislative process. For example, after the 2002 general election resulted in no women being elected to the lower house, four women were appointed to the Shura Council. This led to Alees Samann becoming the first woman to chair a session of parliament in the Arab world on April 18, 2004.

The Shura Council and the Council of Representatives, as part of the National Assembly, play a crucial role in shaping the laws and policies of Bahrain, with the Assembly's decisions impacting various aspects of the country's governance and society.

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