Law Decree No. (55) Of 2002

regarding the Bylaw of the Shura (Consultative) Council

We, Hamad bin Eissa Al Khalifa, the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In cognizance of the constitution,

And of the Law Decree No. (15) of 2002, regarding the Shura Council and the Parliament, amended under Law Decree No. (30) of 2002, and of the Law Decree No. (54) of 2002, regarding the bylaw of the parliament, and upon the presentation thereof to the Prime Minister, and after the approval thereof by the Prime Minister, We have issued the following law:

Chapter I

General Provisions

Article (1)

The Shura Council shall commence its duties as provided under the constitution, and the law of the Shura Council and the Parliament, and in accordance with the provisions hereof.

Article (2)

In the course of the discussions held and the resolutions passed thereby, the members of the council shall abide to the provisions of the constitution, the law and hereof.

Article (3)

a) The commencement of the National Council is celebrated by the recitation of verses of the Holy Quran.

b) The ordinary commencement term of the National Council (by its both parts – the Shura Council and the Parliament) is opened in accordance with the provisions of articles (71), (73) and (74) of the constitution in listening to the higher speech, then the meeting is dissolved after the reading of this speech.

Article (4)

After listening to the higher speech, the Shura Council holds its first session in the first commencement term thereof, presided by its chairman in a procedures session.

Article (5)

In a public session, and prior to undertaking his proceedings and duties within the council or the committees thereof, each member of the Shura Council shall be administered the following oath: “I swear by Almighty Allah to be loyal to the homeland and to the King, to respect the constitution and the laws of the state, to defend the liberties, interests and funds of the people, and to perform my duties sincerely and faithfully”. This oath shall be undertaken first by the council chairman at the beginning of the legislative section.

Article (6)

The Shura Council begins the first meeting thereof at the beginning of every commencement term by the election of the two vice-chairmen thereof.

Article (7)

The office of the Shura Council selects a committee constituting of council members to prepare a proposal in response to the higher speech. The constitution of such committee is presented to the council for the approval thereof. The committee shall undertake the study of the higher speech, and shall prepare a proposal in response thereto, which shall be presented to the council at the time determined thereby, and the response is forwarded to the King after the approval thereof.

Article (8)

The Shura Council and the Parliament represent the division of the Kingdom of Bahrain at international parliamentary conferences.

The division shall have an executive committee that is constituted at the beginning of each commencement term; presided by the Parliament Chairman, and constituting of eight members, whereby each council (of the Shura and the Parliament) shall select four members thereof among its members by election. Candidacies are submitted in written form in each council within the period determined thereby. The chairman announces such candidacies within the council, and elections are held among the candidates by anonymous balloting under the supervision of a committee constituted thereby for such purpose. If no other candidates, more than the required number, have run for election, the running candidates themselves are announced elected by recommendation. The executive committee sets out the regulatory rules of the progress of work within the division, and all members of the division are to be notified thereby.

Chapter II

Council Bodies

Article (9)

The main bodies of the Shura Council are:

- The Council Chairman.
- The Council Bureau.
- The Council Committees.

The Council Chairman

Article (10)

The chairman of the Shura Council is appointed by royal order for a term equal to the term of the council.

Article (11)

In case of the vacancy of the council chairman office for any reason, the King shall appoint a replacement thereof during three weeks of the vacancy date should the council be within the commencement term, and prior to the meeting of the council should the vacancy occur during vacation.

Article (12)

The council chairman is the person who represents the council in its communications with the other bodies, speaks in the name of the council, oversees all its proceedings and monitors the bureaus and committees thereof. He further oversees the general secretary of the council, while observing in all this the implementation of the provisions of the constitution and laws, and the implementation of the provisions hereof. He may be assisted for this purpose by the bureau body, by the members he selects for such purpose or by one of the committees. He is the person who opens sessions, presides over them, announces the termination thereof and regulates the same, administrates discussions, permits speaking, forwards directed questions and announces the results of polling. He may speak at any time if he deems this useful for the discussion system or for the clarification thereof. He is the person who determines the subject of investigation, returns it back to the irregular speakers thereof, alerts to the preservation of order, and he may explain or enquire in regard to a matter he deems vague, issues subjects to take opinion thereon, announces the resolutions issued by the council, and generally, oversees the good progress of the procedures of the council. The council chairman may participate in discussions, and in this case, he shall relinquish the presidential forum of the council, and may not return back to sit at the presidential forum until the discussion in which he has participated is over.

Article (13)

The council chairman may invite any committee of the council’s committees to commence in order to investigate an important or urgent topic, and he presides over the committees’ sessions which he attends. Correspondences between any committee of the council’s committees and the executive or any other bodies outside the council shall be undertaken through the council chairman.

Article (14)

If the council chairman is absent, the sessions are presided by the first vice-chairman, and should this fail, then by the second vice-chairman, and this also fail in one of the sessions after the opening thereof, such session is presided by the oldest member in age. The session chairman shall have the competencies resolved hereby for the council chairman in the administration of the session. The council chairman may furthermore delegate some of his competencies to one of the two vice-chairmen. In all cases, the first vice-chairman, then the second vice-chairman, shall replace the chairman in all his competencies if the chairman’s absence extends for more than three continuous weeks.

The Council Bureau

Article (15)

The council bureau shall be composed of the council chairman and his two vice-chairmen, in addition to the chairmen of the qualitative committees provided under clauses 1-5 (inclusive) of the first paragraph of article (21) hereof, as soon as they are elected.

Article (16)

The first vice-chairman and the second vice-chairman of the chairman of the Shura Council are elected by subsequence in the first session of the council at the beginning of every commencement term, by the absolute majority of the present members. Should the achievement of such majority fail in the first time, election is repeated between the two candidates having the highest count of votes, and should the candidate with the second highest count of votes be shared by another candidate having the same count of votes, such another candidates is included as a third candidate in the second round of election, where election in this case is undertaken by relative majority. Should more than one candidate obtain an equal relative majority, the council shall make the selection among them by a lot. Candidacies are submitted to the council chairman during the period determined thereby, and should only one candidate run for the vice-chairman office, the council chairman shall announce his election to such office by recommendation. The election process shall be anonymous and held in a public session. The council chairman shall announce the election of the first vice-chairman, then the second vice-chairman of the council chairman. If the place of any of them is vacated for any reason, a replacement thereof is elected in the same manner, during two weeks of the vacancy date.

Article (17)

The council chairman shall inform the King of the constitution of the council bureau immediately following the completion of this constitution.

Article (18)

The council bureau shall be competent to undertake the following matters:

a) to set out an agenda for the sessions of the council, while observing the priority of listing the draft bills referred thereto by the parliament after the competent committees have completed the study thereof, and also the important current topics. The chairman shall announce the agenda and inform the members and the government thereof within sufficient time.

b) to adjudicate in what is referred thereto by the council, as objections to what has been recorded in the sessions’ representations (minutes).

c) to consider the proposal of the annual budget of the council and the proposal of the final account thereof, upon the referral thereof to the bureau by the chairman, prior to the presentation thereof to the council for the approval thereof.

d) to follow-up the proceedings and reports of the council’s committees, and to assist such committees to set out the regulatory rules for the administration of the proceedings and the liaison of the activities’ aspects thereof.

e) to suggest whom it determines to represent the council internally, upon the nomination of the chairman, prior to the presentation of the matter on the council to adjudicate therein.

f) to study the reports submitted by delegations for the missions and visits thereof, prior to the presentation thereof to the council.

g) to exercise the administrative competencies of the council in between the commencement terms, upon the request of the council chairman.

h) to study what is presented by the chairman in regard to cases of the members who do perform their duties or who behave in a way that inconsistent with the dignity of membership, prior to the presentation of the issue to the council to take the appropriate action.

i) to investigate anything the bureau chairman finds it appropriate to take opinion in regard thereof.

Article (19)

The council bureau shall meet upon the invitation of the bureau chairman, and the meetings thereof are deemed correctly convened by the presence of the majority of the members thereof, provided that among them he shall be present the chairman or one of the two vice-chairmen. The resolutions thereof are passed by the majority votes of the present members, and in case of equality of votes, the vote casted by the chairman is considered a conclusive vote for the result of voting. The meetings of the bureau may not be attended by persons other than the members thereof, and the person elected by the bureau shall prepare minutes of the meetings of the bureau’s authority for the important matters which ought to be presented to the council or the various committees. The chairman shall invite the minister competent in the affairs of the Shura Council and the Parliament to attend the meetings of the bureau, at the time of preparation of the council’s agenda. The general secretary of the council may attend the sessions of the council bureau upon the request of the bureau chairman, where in such case, he shall undertake to record the minutes of the bureau meetings.

Article (20)

The general secretary of the council is competent to edit the representations of the bureau sessions and to record the names of the members demanding to speak according to the order of their requests and to embody alerts to preserve order and register polling results, in addition to other matters that the general secretary is requested to undertake by the chairman in regard to the administration of the session.

Council Committees

Article (21)

During the first week of the beginning of the ordinary commencement term, the following qualitative committees shall be formed to study the proceedings falling within the competency of the council:

i) The Committee of Legislative & Legal Affairs, which shall consist of eight members, and is considered competent to consider draft bills and the compliance thereof with the constitution, and shall assist the councils and the other committees thereof in the wording of legislative texts, and is furthermore competent in regard to the members affairs, investigate cases of membership revocation, permission to abate immunity, and all matters that do not fall within the competency of any other committee.

ii) The Committee of Foreign Affairs, Defense and National Security, which shall  consist of seven members, and is considered competent to study the international stance, the development of international policy, the foreign policy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and international agreements and conventions. It is further competent to study all affairs concerning internal security, crime suppression and the foreign security of the state.

iii) The Committee of Financial and Economic Affairs, which shall consist of eight members, and is considered competent to study constructional projects of economic and social development included within the state’s budget, economic plans, and giving comments in regard thereto. It is furthermore competent to study the financial and economical aspects concerning the proceedings of the ministries and various interests, especially the balances and closing accounts of the state.

iv) The Services Committee, which shall consist of seven members, and is considered competent to undertake the matters of education in all the types and stages thereof, vocational training and illiteracy elimination, and the subjects concerning social, cultural and health services, media and labor-related issues.

v) The Committee of Public Facilities and Environment, which shall consist of seven members, and is considered competent to study subjects concerning housing, post, electricity, water, agriculture, transportation, roads, municipalities and the environment.

The council may constitute further permanent qualitative committees during the time period stipulated in the first paragraph, or temporary committees, and all this according to the work need and within the competencies limits thereof, provided that the number of members in any of such committees shall not exceed seven, and it may set out for each committee any special provisions it deems appropriate in regard thereto. The temporary committee shall be dissolved at the end of the purpose for which it was originally constituted.

Article (22)

The bureau chairman shall receive, at the beginning of the ordinary commencement term and in the time he shall determine, members’ requests to join the membership of the committees. The bureau chairman shall undertake the coordination between such requests in accordance with the rules and regulations he shall determine.

Article (23)

The member shall participate in one of the permanent qualitative council committees provided under the first paragraph of article (21) hereof, and he may participate in another one permanent committee of such committees which the council may constitute.

Article (24)

The council bureau shall announce candidacy lists for committees’ memberships prior to the presentation thereof to the council. Every member may submit his suggestions or objections in written form to the council chairman to be presented to the bureau for the consideration thereof. The chairman shall present the lists to the council according to what the bureau has concluded after the study of the objections and suggestions submitted by the members. Discussion in the council shall be limited to the rules and regulations adhered by the council bureau in this regard, and such lists are deemed valid once they are approved by the council.

Article (25)

Each committee shall elect among its members a chairman and a vice-chairman, by the relative majority according to the number of its members. Should votes become equal, selection among them is determined by a lot. The secretariat of the committee shall be undertaken by one of the general secretariat employees, and the committee bureau shall be composed of the chairman and vice-chairman. The first meeting of the committee, at the beginning of the commencement term, shall be presided by oldest member in the committee, and then candidacies are submitted in written form thereto during the period determined by the council. The chairman shall announce such candidacies of the members of the committee. Elections among the candidates shall be held by anonymous polling under the supervision of a committee formed by the council bureau, composed of committee members other than those running for candidacy for the offices of committees’ bureaus. Should no members run for candidacy more than the required number, the candidates are announced elected by recommendation. The council chairman shall announce the result of the election of committees’ bureaus, and inform the Cabinet of such result.

Article (26)

The council vice-chairman shall preside over the committee sessions attended thereby.

Article (27)

The committee meetings are not deemed duly convened without the presence of the majority of committee members. Resolutions are passed by the majority of the attendants, and should votes be equal, the vote casted by the chairman is considered a conclusive vote for the result of voting. Should the majority of the committee be absent from a session, the committee chairman shall adjourn the meeting to a next session he determines, and notwithstanding this, in cases the council resolves to consider as matter of urgency, the convention of the committee may be adjourned to another time in the same day, while the committee members are informed of such time. The committee is deemed duly convened in the adjourned session by the attendance of one third of committee members, and should quorum fail, the committee chairman shall refer the issue to the council chairman. The committee may be assisted in the proceedings thereof by one or more of council’s experts or employees. It may furthermore request, through the council chairman and via the competent minister, the assistance of one or more of the government’s experts or employees, and the committee may furthermore be assisted by independent experts after the approval of the council chairman, where no one of such persons may participate in voting.

Article (28)

The committees shall undertake the investigation of whatever draft bills, suggestions or subjects falling within the activities of the ministries, and that are referred to the committees. The committees must collect all data and information concerning the subjects referred thereto to enable the council to establish its opinion in a subject after the discussion thereof. It may, for such purpose, request, through the council chairman and via the competent minister, public ministries, interests, organizations and authorities to provide it with the data and information it deems necessary for the study of the subject referred thereto. Such bodies shall provide what they are asked before the committee drafts its report by sufficient time.

Article (29)

The committee of legislative and legal affairs shall be informed of all draft bills submitted by the government or laws proposal submitted by the members, and it shall inform the competent committee of its comments at the time that the council chairman shall determine.

Article (30)

If the presented matter is connected to more than one committee, the council shall specify the committee that shall undertake the study thereof, or refer it to a joint committee consisting of more than one committee. The committees that participate in the investigation of one subject may convene joint meetings between themselves after informing the council chairman of such action, and in such case, the meeting shall be presided by the oldest committee chairman of such committees, or one of the two vice-chairmen. For the joint meeting to be duly convened, the majority of every single committee must be present as a minimum. The resolutions of the joint committee are passed by the approval of the majority of present members.

Article (31)

Should one of the committees believe that is competent to consider a subject that has been referred to another committee or that is not competent to consider a subject that has been referred thereto, it shall inform the council chairman of such situation for the presentation thereof to the council to make a determination in regard thereto.

Article (32)

The chairman of each committee shall undertake the proceedings of such committee, assisted by the committee secretary. In the case of absence of the committee chairman, he shall be replaced by the committee vice-chairman, and should this fail, then by the oldest member of such committee.

Article (33)

The committee bureau set outs it agenda based upon the suggestion of its chairman.

Article (34)

A committee shall meet upon an invitation of its chairman or of the council chairman, and shall be invited to commence if such is requested by the majority of its members. The committee invitation shall be prior to the commencement time thereof by at least twenty four hours, and the members and the general secretariat of the council shall be informed of the agenda of the committee’s meeting. The council’s adjournment of the sessions thereof does not prevent the committees to commence to complete whatever proceedings they may have, and the council chairman may invite the committees to convene between commencement terms, if necessary, or upon the request of the government of the committee chairman.

Article (35)

The sessions of the committees are confidential, and minute for each meeting shall be edited wherein it is to be recorded the names of the present and absent members, the summary of discussions and the texts of resolutions, and then signed by the committee chairman and its secretary. A copy of the minutes of the committees’ meetings shall be deposited at the council chairman office and both offices of the two vice-chairmen. Every member of the council may attend the meetings of committees, notwithstanding the fact that he is not a member of such committee, provided that the committee consents on such attendance, and provided that he may not intervene in discussion and voting, and may not given a comment unless he is asked by the committee to do so. Every member may send his opinion in written form in regard to a subject referred to a committee he is not a member therein, to the committee chairman to present such opinion to the committee. The committee may allow him to attend the session it determines to explain his point of view without participating in discussion or voting. Every member of the council members may have access to the minutes of the committees.

Article (36)

The competent minister may attend the committee’s sessions whenever a subject concerning his ministry is being considered, and he may be accompanied by one or more of the senior experts or competent employees, or to delegate any of them to act on his behalf. The minister and the persons accompanying him shall have no voting rights. Their opinions shall be recorded in the report. The committee may request, through the committee chairman, the attendance of the competent minister to investigate the matter presented thereto, where in such case, the minister or his proxy shall attend the session.

Article (37)

The priority of speech in the committees’ meeting shall be for the representatives of the government, then to the members of the committee, and then for the submitters of the suggestions referred thereto. In regard to the order of speech in the committees’ sessions, the rules resolved therefore in regard to the council’s sessions will apply, which do not contravene with the provisions stipulated in regard to committees herein.

Article (38)

The committee shall submit to the council chairman a report about each subject referred thereto, summarizing therein its proceedings, within the period the chairman shall determine, unless the council determines otherwise. Should delay reoccur in submission of the report within the time designated therefore, the council chairman shall present the matter to the council in the first following session, whereby the council may grant the committee a new deadline or refer the subject to another committee or to decide to adjudicate in the matter directly. The committee’s report shall consist of a statement of the procedures and opinion thereof in the subject referred thereto, the reasons relied upon in its opinion, the opinion of the committee or the committees from which it has received comments and the entirety of the other opinions raised during the meetings of the committee regarding the subject, and furthermore, the written opinions and suggestions that the committee was informed thereof. The committee’s report shall be accompanied with the texts of the subject proposals and legislations of the report with the explanatory memorandums thereof, if any. Each committee may request the council chairman, through its chairman or the subject resolver to return the report thereto should the council has started consideration if it appears what necessitates such request, unless the council resolves otherwise.

Article (39)

At the end of the discussion of the subject referred to, the committee bureau shall select one of its members to be a resolver of the subject, and to explain its opinion therein before the council, and shall also select an alternative resolver to replace the original resolver whenever absent, and should the alternative resolver be absent of the council’s session, the chairman thereof may ask the committee chairman or one of the present members thereof to undertake the explanation of the report on the behalf thereof.

Chapter III

Council Sessions & Resolutions

Council Meeting

Article (40)

In the first session of the annual commencement term of the council, it shall be recited the royal order of invitation, in addition to any orders and decrees that may exist in regard to the formation of the government or the amendment of its formation. Then, the constitutional oath shall be administered to the council members who have not been administered the oath previously.

Article (41)

Subject to what has been provided therefore under a special provision, the council is not deemed duly convened if some present members leave the session’s hall. The council may, in such case, continue the discussion of the subjects presented thereto after the council chairman alerts the members to come attend at the session’s hall.

Article (42)

Subject to what has been provided therefore under a special provision, the resolutions of the council are issued by the absolute majority of the present members, and in case of equality of votes, the vote casted by the chairman, or whomever acting on his behalf, is considered a conclusive vote for the result of voting.

Article (43)

The council sessions are public, and may be confidentially convened upon the request of the government, the council chairman or at least ten members of the council. In the latter case, such request shall be submitted in written form to the council bureau, and the council shall determine, in a confidential session, whether the discussion in the subject raised therebefore shall be held in a public session. Such resolution shall be issued after a discussion co-held by, at most, two supporters of such confidentiality and two opponents thereto.

Article (44)

At the commencement of the council at a confidential session, the halls and balconies thereof shall be vacated exclusively for those who are permitted to enter therein. Nobody other than the members may attend the session, except those who are authorized by the council of its employees or the employees and experts of the government.

Article (45)

The council may resolve to record the representation of the confidential session, whereby the representation of such session is to be edited by the general secretary or whoever is selected by the council for such purpose. This representation is kept by the knowledge of the council chairman, and nobody other than the members and those permitted to attend the session may have access thereto, without the permission of the council chairman. The council may resolve at anytime during a confidential session to publish such representation or a part thereof.

Article (46)

The council shall hold an ordinary session on every Monday, unless determined otherwise, or unless there were no proceedings necessitating the convention of this meeting.

Article (47)

The chairman shall invite the council to convene its sessions before not less than forty eight hours of the time determined for the convention thereof, provided that the invitation is accompanied by the session’s agenda, memorandums, reports and proposal regarding thereof, unless these have been distributed in prior. The chairman may invite the council to meet prior to the ordinary time thereof if he deems such action necessary, and shall invite the council to meet if such is requested by the government or at least ten members, specifying in the invitation the subject ought to be presented. Such urgent invitation is not restricted by the time provided under the previous paragraphs. The session may be adjourned to another undetermined day, whereby the meeting shall be held on the following Monday, unless the chairman determines another time therefore.

System of Proceedings within Sessions

Article (48)

An attendance record shall be put under the disposal of the members prior to the opening of the session by half an hour, on which they shall sign at the time of their presence. Another record shall be furthermore put on which they shall sign after the ending of the session, according to the system for which a resolution is issued by the council bureau.

Article (49)

The chairman shall open the council’s sessions with the presence of more than half the members thereof, should such quorum fail, the chairman shall delay the opening of the session for half an hour. Should such quorum not be achieved, the session shall be adjourned to another specified time. Should the council’s quorum fail to be achieved for two consecutive times, the council’s meeting is deemed duly convened, provided that the number of attendants shall not be less than one quarter of the members of the council.

Article (50)

After the opening of the session, the names of the apologizing members and absent members of the previous session shall be recited without notice permission, then the council’s opinion shall be taken in certification of what has been prepared of the previous sessions’ representations. Every member who attended the session may demand the correction of what has been falsely attributed thereto at the time of certification of the representation thereof. Whenever the council’s decision is taken in acceptance of the correction, this shall be recorded in the representation of the session wherein such decision is taken, under which the previous representation shall be corrected. No correction may be made on a representation that has been certified without the permission of the council. The chairman shall inform the council thereafter of the incoming papers and letters prior to consideration of the matters mentioned in the agenda. Every member is entitled to comment on the subject of papers and letters once, provided that speech duration of the member shall not exceed five minutes, and the entire duration of commenting shall not exceed half an hour, subject to the provision of article (55) hereof. The council may exceed the time limits referred thereto. The council begins thereafter to consider the matters mentioned in the agenda.

Article (51)

Discussion may not be held in a subject that is not mentioned in the agenda, except for urgent matters, and under the clause of necessary proceedings, where this shall be done upon the request of the government or the chairman, or a written request submitted by at least three members. In all cases, the council’s approval of the request is required, and the competent minister may request the adjournment of consideration of the raised subject for the first time, even if the discussion thereof has already begun. The decision of the council in regard to such requests shall be taken without discussion. Nevertheless, the chairman may permit one of the request supporters and one of the opponents thereof to speak for a duration not exceeding five minutes for each, prior to the council’s issuance of the decision thereof.

Article (52)

No one may speak in the session unless after he requests to speak and is permitted by the chairman to do so. The chairman may not refuse to grant permission to speak without a reason necessitated under the provisions hereby. In case of disagreement on such issue, the matter shall be presented on the council to issue a decision in regard thereto without discussion. The talk going on in contravention to the provision of this article may not be recorded in the representation of the session or published by any method of publication. Except the request of expediting the finalization of reports in the subjects referred to the council committees or the procedures concerning its commencement of the mission thereof, the request to speak in a subject previously referred by the council to one of the committees shall not be accepted before the submission of the report thereof, and the entry thereof within the council’s agenda, unless otherwise determined by the council for serious reasons.

Article (53)

Every member may submit in written form to the council chairman an explanatory enquiry in any subject such member would like to enquire about in the council affairs, and the council chairman may respond to the enquire within the session briefly, without holding any discussion therein, then the council shall consider the remainder of matters mentioned in the agenda.

Article (54)

The general secretary shall prepare a list of the names of the members requesting to speak as per the order of their requests. Ministers and resolvers are not restricted by such order, as they are always entitled to speak whenever they asked to do so. Ministers may be assisted by senior employees or whoever acting on their behalf.

Article (55)

The chairman shall give speech first to the members whose names are recorded at the council secretariat prior to the session, then to the members requesting to speak during the session, whereby all this shall be done according to the order of requests. The recording request at the council secretariat shall be in written form after the distribution of an agenda for each subject separately, if the recording request was prior to the commencement of the session. In case of variation of opinions, the chairman shall observe, as far as possible, that speech shall be alternated between the supporters and the opponents of the subjects presented for discussion. Without prejudice to the provision of the previous paragraphs, anyone who has requested to speak may assign his turn to another person, whereby the assignee shall take the turn of the assignor.

Article (56)

The word is always give to the prime minister, the ministers and the representatives of the government whenever they requested the word from the council chairman, after the completion of the original speaker in giving his speech. Committees’ chairmen and the resolvers shall enjoy the right to speak whenever they requested doing so from the council chairman, during the discussion of the subjects issued by the committees thereof.

Article (57)

Subject to what has been provided therefore under a special provision, a member may not speak in a single subject during the same session for more than twice, and the duration his speech may not exceed fifteen minutes for the first time and ten minutes for the second time, unless otherwise permitted by the council.

Article (58)

The chairman shall always give permission to speak in the following cases:

a) To draw attention to the current discussion’s violation of the provisions of the constitution, the law of both Shura Council and the Parliament or the provisions hereof, without taking this as a way to speak in the core of the subject.

b) To correct a certain alleged incident or to respond to a saying containing of insult or defamation of the speech requestor’s person.

c) To request postponing consideration of the raised subject for investigation due to the importance of adjudication first in another subject connected thereto.

d) To request closing the discussion.

These requests in the said order above shall have precedence over the original subject or topic, and shall lead to the suspension of the discussion thereof until the decision of the council is taken in this regard.

The speech requestor may not speak about his request until the original speaker finishes his sayings, unless if permitted to do so by the chairman, and if the basis of speech request was one of the reasons shown in clause (a) of this article.

Article (59)

Should it appear, after permission for a member to speak, that he has spoken in violation of any of the provisions of the previous article, the council chairman may withdraw the word therefrom. The council may also, upon the suggestion of its chairman, decide to alert him to not repeat such act, or to disqualify him from speaking in the presented subject until the end of the session.

Article (60)

The council may, upon the suggestion of its chairman, the government, the competent committee, or upon a written request signed by at least five members, specify a time for finishing the discussion of one of the subjects or topics, or take opinion thereon.

Article (61)

The council may, upon the suggestion of its chairman, the government, the competent committee, or upon a written request signed by at least three members, close the discussion of one of the subjects or topics. In order to close discussion, permission to speak must had been given to at least two of the supporters and two of the opponents, and one member is always permitted to speak after the spokesman of the government in this regard.

Article (62)

Those who are permitted to talk shall do so while standing from their places, or on the forum if permitted to do so by the council chairman. The resolver shall always talk on the forum, as well as everyone who talks during the discussion of the higher speech or the government’s program, and in all other cases where at the council chairman invites the speaker to speak on the forum. The speaker may not direct his speech to anyone other than the chairman or the council.

Article (63)

The speaker shall express his opinion and point of view, while preserving the dignity and respect of the constitutional establishments within the state, and the dignity of the council and the chairman and the members thereof. The speaker shall not repeat his saying or the sayings of the others, and may not deviate from the subject raised for investigation, and shall generally not say something prejudicing to the due order and respect of the session, and may not speak in the personal matters of anybody, unless if such was supported by a final judicial judgment.

Article (64)

Nobody other than the council chairman may interrupt the speaker or give any comment thereto. The chairman alone may alert the speaker at any moment during his speech due to his violation of the provisions of the previous article or the other provisions hereof, or to the fact that his opinion has become sufficiently clear, and that there is no need for his continuing to speak. If the speaker does not obey the chairman, the chairman may alert him again while recording such in the representation. If the member insists on his stance, the matter shall be presented to the council to adjudicate therein, according to the provisions of article (67).

Article (65)

If the speaker prejudices to order by the violation of any of the aforementioned provisions herein or by another way, or gave inappropriate sayings or sayings that adversely affect the highest interest of the state, or exposed, in ill faith, one of his colleagues, government members or the regular bodies, or directed an insult, an irritating statement or a threat to any of those, or violated by anyway the requirements of appropriateness and respect, the chairman shall call him by his name and alter him to preserve order or prevent him from continuing to speak.

Article (66)

If the chairman draws the speaker’s attention in accordance with the provisions of the two previous articles, and then the speaker re-violated again the order of speech, the chairman may present to the council the idea of preventing him to speak in the same subject or till the end of the session, whereby the decision of the council is taken in regard thereto without discussion.

Article (67)

The council may, upon the suggestion of its chairman, take against the member who prejudices order during the session, or does not adhere to the council’s decision in preventing him to speak, the following penalties:

a) Preventing such member to speak in a certain subject for the remainder of the session.
b) Warning.
c) Blaming.
d) Disqualifying such member to speak for the remainder of the session.
e) Disqualifying such member to participate in the remaining proceedings of the session.
f) Disqualifying such member to attend the meeting hall for one session.
g) Disqualifying such member to participate in the proceedings of the council and its committees for a duration not exceeding two weeks.

The council’s decision is taken in applying one of the penalties above in the same session and without discussion, and after hearing the sayings of such member, if necessary.

Article (68)

If the member does not adheres to the decision of the council, the chairman may take the means he deems appropriate to ensure the implementation of this decision after warning such member thereof. The chairman may suspend or end the session, where in such case the penalty shall extend to twice the duration determined by the council.

Article (69)

The member who was disqualified from participating in the proceedings of the council under any provision of the two previous articles may request the revocation of implementation of such decision if he submits a written apology to the council chairman, recording therein his regret for not respecting the order of the council. Such apology is recited during the session, and the council shall issue its decision in regard to such request without discussion.

Article (70)

If such member repeats, within the same commencement term, what necessitates the disqualifying thereof from participating in the proceedings of the council, then no apology is accepted. The council may, in such case, disqualify such member from participating in the proceedings thereof for a period not exceeding one month, or refer his matter to the council bureau to submit a report to the council about what has been done by such member in violation of the order.

Article (71)

If the order is prejudiced and the chairman was unable to restore it, he shall declare his intention to terminate the session. If the order is nevertheless not restored, he may suspend the session for a duration not exceeding half an hour, and it prejudice to order continues after resuming the session, the chairman shall adjourn such session and announce the time of the next session.

Article (72)

The chairman may temporarily suspend the session for a break not exceeding half an hour, and shall suspend the session for prayer when its time comes.

Taking Opinion and Announcement of Council Resolution

Article (73)

The council chairman shall take opinion on the subject presented, immediately following closing thereof discussion thereof, and after verification of the completeness of the quorum required for duly giving opinions thereat.

Article (74)

Nobody other than the council chairman may present any suggestion to take opinion thereon in the session. Opinions shall be first taken on the suggestions submitted regarding the presented subject, and priority shall be to its fullest extent and as far as possible from the original text in regard thereto. Should the council reject the said suggestions, opinion is to be taken on the original text.

Article (75)

Should the presented suggestion include several matters and the submitter thereof or five of the other members requested the division thereof into parts, the chairman shall present opinion on each part, separately.

Article (76)

Subject to the cases in which opinion is taken through calling by name, opinion is taken by one of the following means:

a) Electronic voting.
b) Show of hands.
c) Standing and sitting down.

Article (77)

Should it not become clear the opinion of the majority to the chairman when taking opinion by show of hands, opinion is taking by the standing and sitting down method by asking the supporters of such matter to stand up. Should the result not become clear yet, opinion is retaken in a reverse way, by asking the opponents of such matter to stand up, and failing this, opinion is taken through calling by name.

Article (78)

Opinion shall be taken through calling by name in the following cases:

a) Cases wherein a special majority is stipulated.
b) If demanded by the council chairman or the government.
c) If demanded by a written request submitted by at least seven members before starting to take opinions, and whereby such request is not accepted before verifying the existence of the submitters thereof in the session.

A member shall express his opinion when being called by his name, by saying either the word (agree) or (do not agree) or (abstain) without any further comment.

Article (79)

Every member shall give his opinion in any subject presented to take opinion thereon. Notwithstanding this, a member may abstain from giving his opinion and may present the reasons of such abstaining to the council after taking opinion on the subject and prior to the announcement of the result.

Article (80)

Abstainers are deemed neither supporters nor opponents of a subject or a topic. Should it appear that the number of members who actually gave their opinion is less than the necessary majority to pass the resolution, taking opinion on such presented subject is adjourned to a following session.

Polling is retaken on such subject or topic, and should the necessary majority for the approval thereof fail in accordance with the provisions hereof, it is adjourned to a next commencement term.

Article (81)

The chairman shall declare the council’s decision in regard to the presented subject according to the result of opinion-taking, and no further comment may given thereon after the declaration of the decision.

Session Representation

Article (82)

A session representation is the official statement of all the matters occurring and all the sayings said during the session, and shall include a description of the memorandums, proposals and suggestions recited and the sayings mentioned during the session, and a statement the discussions undertaken, the opinions given and the resolutions and recommendations issued therein, in addition to a statement of the names of those who have participated in voting along with the opinion of each member, whether in support, opposition or abstaining, and the names of absents members. A representation is edited for every session by the knowledge of the council employees and the supervision of the general secretary of the council.

Article (83)

The representation is distributed among the members one printed, and is presented for the certification thereof in the following session to the session at which it was distributed in accordance with the provisions of article (50) hereof. The certification of the council bureau is sufficient for the last sessions’ representations for the commencement term which have not been certified.

Article (84)

After certification of the representation, it shall be signed by each of the council chairman and the general secretary, kept in the records of the council and published in a special appendix to the official newspaper after sending it to the government.

Article (85)

The council chairman may, by himself or upon the request of the government, delete from a session’s representation any saying given by one of the members in violation of the provisions hereof, and if such decision is appealed thereon, the matter is presented to the council to take its decision in this regard without discussion.

Article (86)

After every session, a brief of its representation is prepared on urgent basis, explained therein the summary of the subjects presented on the council and the resolutions and recommendations taken therein, to be at the disposal of various media bodies.

Article (87)

The Head of Parliament shall inform the Chairman of Shura Council of what has been concluded by the parliament regarding the letter referred thereto by the Prime Minister, containing the royal decree in demand of amendment of the constitution in accordance with the provisions of articles (35) and (120) thereof.

The letter of the Head of Parliament shall include the determination of the articles of the constitution required to be omitted or added, or whose provisions are required to be changed, and it shall be enclosed with the letter an amendment request and an explanation of the necessitating justifications therefore, and the report of the parliament in regard thereto.

The Council Chairman shall order to print the letter of the Head of Parliament regarding the amendment and the report enclosed therewith, within twenty four hours of the time of its arrival to the council, and shall furthermore order the distribution thereof among all members.

Article (88)

The Shura Council shall convene a private session within a week of the date of arrival of the letter of Head of Parliament regarding the amendment of constitution and the report enclosed therewith to the Council Chairman.

The council chairman shall present a statement in explanation of the amendment request and the report of the parliament in regard thereto before he resolves the referral thereof the committee of legislative and legal affairs to prepare a report thereabout within fifteen days of the referral date thereto. The committee shall include in its report its opinion in the principle of amendment, and the wording that has been approved by the parliament for the draft bill of the articles proposed to be amended or added in case of its approval of the principle of amendment.

The committee’s report proposal shall be recited thereon in a session attended by at least two thirds of its members prior to the submission thereof to the council. Furthermore, it is required the approval of the committee in its majority of its members on the proposal of its report after its discussion thereof.

Article (89)

The council shall specify a session for the consideration of the report of the committee of legislative and legal affairs regarding the amendment of the constitution within the following fifteen days for the submission thereof to the council chairman, enclosed therewith the text of amendment request and the justifications therefore, and the report concluded by the parliament.

The committee report shall be recited at the council prior to the discussion thereof. The council shall issue its approval of the amendment by a two-thirds majority of its members, and in this case, voting is conducting through calling by name.

Article (90)

If the draft amendment of the constitution has been submitted by the council members in accordance with article (92) of the constitution, the draft amendment must contain a determination of the article of the constitution required to be deleted or added, or whose provisions are required to be changed, provided that the amendment request shall be enclosed with a statement of the necessitating justifications thereof.

Requests submitted by a number less than the resolved constitutional quorum are kept, and the council chairman shall inform the submitters of such requests of such action in written form.

The council chairman shall present the request submitted in suggestion of amendment within seven days of the submission date thereof to the committee of legislative and legal affairs to prepare a report regarding the principle of amendment and the subjects thereof. The report is presented to the council, and opinion is taken thereon through calling by name. If the council approves the principle of amendment and the subjects thereof by a majority of two thirds of its members, the draft amendment is referred to the government to set out a proposal scheme for amendment of the constitution, and then refer it to the parliament.

Article (91)

The Shura Council shall hold a private session within fifteen days of the incoming date of the draft amendment of the constitution, prepared by the government, enclosed with the report of the parliament. The draft amendment and the report shall be recited prior to the discussion thereof. The council’s resolution is approval of the amendment is issued in accordance with the provisions mentioned in article (89) hereof. The council may resolve to refer the draft amendment and the report of the parliament to the committee of legislative and legal affairs prior to taking a decision in regard thereto.

Chapter IV

Council Proceedings

- Legislative Affairs
- Draft Bills and Law Proposals
- Law Decrees
- International Conventions and Agreements
- Political Affairs
- Financial Affairs

Section I

Legislative Affairs

Part I

Draft Amendments of the Constitution

Article (87)

The Head of Parliament shall inform the Chairman of Shura Council of what has been concluded by the parliament regarding the letter referred thereto by the Prime Minister, containing the royal decree in demand of amendment of the constitution in accordance with the provisions of articles (35) and (120) thereof.

The letter of the Head of Parliament shall include the determination of the articles of the constitution required to be omitted or added, or whose provisions are required to be changed, and it shall be enclosed with the letter an amendment request and an explanation of the necessitating justifications therefore, and the report of the parliament in regard thereto.

The Council Chairman shall order to print the letter of the Head of Parliament regarding the amendment and the report enclosed therewith, within twenty four hours of the time of its arrival to the council, and shall furthermore order the distribution thereof among all members.

Article (88)

The Shura Council shall convene a private session within a week of the date of arrival of the letter of Head of Parliament regarding the amendment of constitution and the report enclosed therewith to the Council Chairman.

The council chairman shall present a statement in explanation of the amendment request and the report of the parliament in regard thereto before he resolves the referral thereof the committee of legislative and legal affairs to prepare a report thereabout within fifteen days of the referral date thereto. The committee shall include in its report its opinion in the principle of amendment, and the wording that has been approved by the parliament for the draft bill of the articles proposed to be amended or added in case of its approval of the principle of amendment.

The committee’s report proposal shall be recited thereon in a session attended by at least two thirds of its members prior to the submission thereof to the council. Furthermore, it is required the approval of the committee in its majority of its members on the proposal of its report after its discussion thereof.

Article (89)

The council shall specify a session for the consideration of the report of the committee of legislative and legal affairs regarding the amendment of the constitution within the following fifteen days for the submission thereof to the council chairman, enclosed therewith the text of amendment request and the justifications therefore, and the report concluded by the parliament.

The committee report shall be recited at the council prior to the discussion thereof. The council shall issue its approval of the amendment by a two-thirds majority of its members, and in this case, voting is conducting through calling by name.

Article (90)

If the draft amendment of the constitution has been submitted by the council members in accordance with article (92) of the constitution, the draft amendment must contain a determination of the article of the constitution required to be deleted or added, or whose provisions are required to be changed, provided that the amendment request shall be enclosed with a statement of the necessitating justifications thereof.

Requests submitted by a number less than the resolved constitutional quorum are kept, and the council chairman shall inform the submitters of such requests of such action in written form.

The council chairman shall present the request submitted in suggestion of amendment within seven days of the submission date thereof to the committee of legislative and legal affairs to prepare a report regarding the principle of amendment and the subjects thereof. The report is presented to the council, and opinion is taken thereon through calling by name. If the council approves the principle of amendment and the subjects thereof by a majority of two thirds of its members, the draft amendment is referred to the government to set out a proposal scheme for amendment of the constitution, and then refer it to the parliament.

Article (91)

The Shura Council shall hold a private session within fifteen days of the incoming date of the draft amendment of the constitution, prepared by the government, enclosed with the report of the parliament. The draft amendment and the report shall be recited prior to the discussion thereof. The council’s resolution is approval of the amendment is issued in accordance with the provisions mentioned in article (89) hereof. The council may resolve to refer the draft amendment and the report of the parliament to the committee of legislative and legal affairs prior to taking a decision in regard thereto.

Draft Bills and Law Proposals

Article (92)

Law proposals are submitted by council members to the chairman thereof, worded and specific as far as possible, and accompanied by an explanatory memorandum that includes determining the constitutional texts concerning the proposal and the basic principles relied on and the objectives achieved thereby. A law proposal may not be signed by more than five members.

Article (93)

The council chairman may inform the submitter of the proposal in written form of the proposal’s violation of the constitution, its non-compliance to the required form, or the presence of provisions included by the articles thereof in valid laws, and may ask him to correct or withdraw the proposal.

If the member insists on his opinion, he shall submit a written memorandum to the council chairman, containing his point of view, within one week from the date of his being informed. The chairman shall present the matter to the council bureau.

The chairman shall inform the member in written form of what the bureau resolves in this regard. If the member insists on his point of view within one week thereof, the chairman shall present the matter to the council.

Article (94)

The chairman shall refer the law proposal to the competent committee to give opinion in the idea thereof, and the committee may take the opinion of the submitter of the proposal prior to setting out its report in regard thereto. The committee shall prepare a report presented to the council including opinion to permit, reject or suspend consideration of the proposal. The committee may advise the council to reject the proposal for reasons concerning the subject in general. If the council agrees to consider the proposal, it shall refer the same to the government to set out a draft bill therefore.

For each law proposal submitted by one of the members and rejected by the council, it may not be submitted again by any member within the same commencement term.

Article (94 duplicate)

Every member who submits a law proposal, before the competent committee prepares its report in regard to his proposal referred thereto, may request the council chairman in written form to postpone the consideration of the proposal by the competent committee, once, and for a duration not exceeding thirty days of the submission date of adjournment, with his justifications therefore. The proposal submitter may request to proceed in the study of his proposal during such period, otherwise the request of adjournment submitted thereby is deemed a withdrawal of his proposal in accordance with article (15) hereof.

Article (95)

If one of the committees approves a law proposal in increase of expenses, or decrease of revenues, from what is stated in the public budget of the state, it shall refer the same to the committee of financial and economic affairs or its bureau to give opinion thereon. In such cases, the report of the original committee shall include the committee of financial and economic affairs of its bureau.

Article (96)

The chairman shall present to the council draft bills submitted by the government or  proposed by the members and worded by the government in accordance with article (94) hereof in the first next session to the session at which the same has arrived, for consideration of the referral thereof to the competent committees, unless the government demands consideration of the proposal on urgent basis, or the council chairman believes that the same is urgent, whereby the chairman shall refer the same to the competent committee immediately, and the council is informed of this in the first next session with a distribution of the proposal on members, along with the agenda of such session.

Article (97)

If a proposal or a draft bill is submitted in connection to another proposal or draft bill presented to one of these committees, the chairman shall refer the same to such committee and inform the council of this in the first next session.

Article (98)

If multiple proposal or draft bills are submitted in regard to a single subject or topic, the earliest thereof is deemed the original and the others are deemed an amendment to the original.

Article (99)

If the competent committee enters amendments affecting the wording of a draft bill, it may, prior to forwarding its report to the council, refer the same, after the approval of the council chairman, to the committee of legislative and legal affairs or its bureau, to give its opinion in the wording of the draft bill and the coordination of its articles and provisions during the period determined by the council chairman. The committee shall refer in its report to the opinion of the committee of legislative and legal affairs or its bureau.

Article (100)

At the beginning of each ordinary commencement term, committees shall resume its investigation and study of draft bills available thereat by themselves automatically without the need of a new referral thereto.

On the occurrence of a ministerial change, the Prime Minister may request the Council Chairman to postpone the consideration of all or some of such proposals by the council’s committees, for a duration not exceeding thirty days, so that the government would prepare for the discussion thereof, or take the resolved constitutional procedures for the amendment or return thereof.

In regard to reports of draft bills and the suggestions thereof, which the council has commenced the consideration thereof in a previous commencement term, the consideration of the same shall be resumed according to the status on which they were, unless the council resolves the return thereof to the committee based on the request of the government in accordance with the provisions of the previous article.

Article (101)

The Council Chairman shall inform the Prime Minister, within the fifteen days following the opening of the first commencement term of every legislative chapter, of the draft bills not adjudicated by the previous council.

If the government does not ask the Council Chairman to continue consideration of the said proposals initially submitted thereby, within two months of the notification date thereof to the Prime Minister, such proposals are deemed non-existing.

If the government demands the consideration thereof, the council shall refer the same to the competent committee, whereby the committee may deem the opinion concluded by the prior committee sufficient, should it had already prepared a report in regard thereto.

Article (102)

The council shall discuss draft bills during a single conversation. Nevertheless, a second conversation may be held in accordance with the provisions mentioned herein.

Article (103)

The discussion of draft bills shall begin by recitation of the original proposal, the report of the competent committee and the amendment included therein, unless the council deems it sufficient to distribute some or all of such documents with the recording thereof within the representation. The word at the time of discussion of the proposal shall be given to the committee resolver, then to the government and then to the members.

Conversation begins by the discussion of the general principles and bases of the proposal in total. Should the council disapprove the proposal in principle, such disapproval is considered a rejection of the same.

If the council approves the proposal in principle, it shall proceed further to the discussion of its articles one by one after reciting each article and the suggestions submitted in regard thereto. Opinion shall be taken on each article separately, and then opinion shall be taken on the proposal in entirety.

Article (104)

On consideration of a draft bill, every member may suggest amendment by addition to, deletion from or division of articles of in regard to the amendments presented. An amendment shall be submitted in written form at least forty eight hours prior to the session at which the articles included by such amendment are to be considered, so that the same is circulated among the members.

By approval of the council, an amendment submitted immediately prior to or during the session may be considered. The council’s decision in consideration or rejection of the same is taken without discussion after hearing the proposal submitter, if there is a place therefore. If the council approves the consideration of such amendments, the same shall be presented by the chairman to the council, and he may resolve the investigation of the same immediately or the referral thereof to the competent committee for the investigation thereof and preparation of a report in regard thereto.

Article (105)

The competent committee shall be informed of the essential amendments submitted by the members prior to the determined session for the consideration of the proposal before the council for the investigation thereof. The resolver shall explain the opinion of the committee thereabout during discussion in the session. The amendment proposal shall be determining and worded.

The government and the committee resolver may request the referral of the amendment, proposed during the council’s session, to the committee. Such request shall be satisfied if the amendment proposal was essential and has not been previously considered.

Article (106)

If the council resolves to refer the proposed amendment to the committee, it shall submit its report at the time determined by the council. If such amendment has an effect on the remainder of the proposal’s articles, the consideration thereof is adjourned till the committee completes its work in regard thereto. Otherwise, the council may continue the discussion of the remainder of the articles. The amendment are deemed as if not existing, and shall not be presented for the discussion thereof, should the submitters thereof waive the same without being adopted by one of the members.

Article (107)

After completion of the discussion of an article and the amendments submitted in regard thereto, opinion shall be firstly taken on amendments, whereby the chairman shall being with the amendments of widest extent and which are the farthest from the original text, then opinion is taken on the article in its entirety.

Article (108)

If the council resolves a sanction in one of the articles in amendment of an article previously approved thereby, it may revert back to the discussion of the same. The council may, upon the request of the government, the committee or one of the members, resolve the re-discussion of an article previously approved thereby should new reasons arise therefore, prior to the end of conversation regarding the proposal.

Article (109)

The council may, before taking final opinion of the draft bill, and if amendments were made on its texts during the session, refer the same to the competent committee to give its opinion in conjunction with the committee of legislative and legal affairs or its bureau for the wording and coordination of the provisions thereof. The committee to which the proposal is being referred shall submit its report on the time determined therefore by the council.

After that, no discussion may be held regarding the proposal except a discussion concerning the wording thereof.

Article (110)

A second conversation shall be held regarding some articles of the draft bill if a written request therefore is submitted to the council chairman by the government, committee chairman, its resolver or at least five members, before the session or the time appointed for taking final opinion on the draft bill. It shall be explained within the request the article or the articles required to be re-discussed and amended along with the reasons and justifications for such amendment, and the reasons and justifications for the amendment and the proposed wording for the articles required to be amended.

Article (111)

In the second conversation, discussion may not be held in other than the proposed amendments which the request has been submitted in regard thereto pursuant to the previous article, then opinion is taken after discussion of the articles proposed to be amended according to their order within the proposal. After this, final opinion shall be taken on the proposal.

Article (112)

The provisions in regard to the amendments submitted in the first conversation shall apply to the amendments submitted during the second conversation.

Article (113)

The council may not approve or reject any subject before it is considered by the competent committee or committees in light of the reports submitted in regard thereto, subject to the special provisions therefore mentioned herein.

Article (114)

Final opinion may not be taken on a draft bill before the expiry of at least four days from the end of conversation in regard thereof. In urgent cases, and by approval of the council, final opinion may be taken on a proposal in the same session at which the same has been approved, after at least one hour of the end of the consideration thereof, unless the majority of council members decide otherwise.

Article (115)

Any person who has submitted a draft bill may return the same by a written request to the council chairman, even during the discussion thereof, wherein such case, the council shall not proceed in the consideration thereof unless if the same was signed by another member or members, or one of the members has requested to proceed in the consideration thereof by a written request submitted thereby to the council chairman.

Article (116)

The law proposals submitted by members whose membership has ceased shall be revoked accordingly, unless if signed by another member or members, except the law proposals which were previously approved by the council and which the council has already resolved the referral thereof to the government for the set out thereof as a draft bill, wherein such case, the wording thereof shall proceed and the same shall be referred to the parliament.

Article (117)

The law proposals which are returned back by the submitters thereof or which are revoked pursuant to the provisions of the previous article may not be resubmitted during the same commencement term of the original submission thereof.

Article (118)

All law proposals are revoked by the end of the legislative section, except the law proposals which were previously approved by the council and which the council has already resolved the referral thereof to the government for setting out the wording thereof. The committees shall resume the consideration of law proposals referred thereto in a previous commencement term, unless the submitters thereof request, in written form, the withdraw thereof during thirty days from the beginning of the new commencement term, and whereby the chairman shall inform the committees of such request.

Article (119)

Should a proposal or a draft bill consist of one article, it shall be sufficient to recite and discuss the same, then to take final opinion thereon at once.

Article (120)

If the King appeals against a draft bill that has been approved by both the Shura Council and the Parliament and rejects the same in accordance with article (35) of the constitution, the chairman shall inform the council of the appeal against the draft bill and the reasons of such appeal. The council shall convene an urgent session for this purpose, and the Prime Minister or whoever is acting on his behalf may give a statement in this regard. The council shall refer such appeal and the data concerning the same in the same session along with the report of the parliament in this regard to the committee of legislative and legal affairs for the study of appealed against proposal, the principles and texts subject of the appeal, the constitutional and legislative reasons thereof as per the conditions and cases. The report of the committee of legislative and legal affairs shall be presented to the council for the consideration thereof on urgent basis. For the approval of the proposal, it must be approved by the majority of the members of both the Shura Council and the Parliament or the National Council.

Law Decrees

Article (121)

The council chairman shall refer law decrees that are issued in implementation of the provisions of article (38) of the constitution, and referred thereto by the Head of Parliament, to the competent committees to give their opinion thereon, and which shall have priority within the council and the committees over any other proceedings.

Article (122)

No suggestions may be submitted in amendment of the texts of any law decree that is issued in accordance with the provisions of article (38) of the constitution.

Article (123)

The procedures for the discussion of the draft bills provided hereunder shall apply in regard to law decrees. The council shall vote on such decrees in approval or rejection thereof.

The council’s resolution in disproval of the law decree is passed by majority of the council members, and such resolution shall be published in the official newspaper.

International Conventions and Agreements

Article (124)

The chairman shall inform the council of the conventions and agreements that are entered under decrees in accordance with the provision of the first paragraph of article (37) of the constitution, supported by the governmental statement accompanying the same. Such statement shall be recited in the first session with depositing the convention or agreement at the council secretariat.

After being informed of the parliament’s ending of consideration of such convention or agreement, the council may give the comment it deems appropriate in such regard, without taking a decision in regard to such convention or agreement itself.

Article (125)

The chairman shall refer to the competent committee the conventions and agreements provided for under the second paragraph of article (37) of the constitution, for the investigation thereof and the submission of a report in regard thereof to the council, whereby the council may approve or reject the same, or postpone the consideration thereof, but it may not amend the texts thereof. In case of rejection or postponement, the Council Chairman shall inform the Prime Minister of a statement that includes the texts or provisions contained by the convention or agreement, and which have lead to the rejection or postponement thereof.

Political Affairs

Questions

Article (126)

Every member of the Shura Council may direct to the ministers written questions of a specific subject or topic in enquiry of the matters falling within their competencies, and to enquire about a matter unknown by such member, or to verify the occurrence of an incident that such member has become aware of. A question may not be signed by more than one member, and it may not be directed to more than one minister.

Article (127)

A question must be signed by the submitter thereof, written clearly and concisely as far as possible, subject-specific, concerning a matter of public significance and not concerning a special interest of the questioner or his relatives till the fourth degree or one of his principals. The question must be limited to the matters sought to be enquired about with no comment thereon, and shall not include inappropriate statements or statements that insult or compromise the dignity of persons or bodies or that adversely affect the highest interest of the country. The question shall not be concerning matters not falling within the competency of the minister to whom the same is being directed, and shall not include the request or demand of information or statistics not related to the subject of the question. If a question is not in compliance with these terms, the council bureau may eliminate the same upon on the referral of the chairman, while informing the questioning member of such action. Should such member be unsatisfied of the bureau’s point of view and appeals on the same within one week of the date he is informed thereof, the matter is presented to the council for the adjudication thereof without discussion prior to taking the procedures provided for in the following article.

Article (128)

Requests of directing questions are restricted according to their incoming dates in a special register for this purpose, and the council chairman shall direct the question which is in compliance with the provisions of the previous article to the intended minister within ten days of the submission date thereof. The minister shall answer the question in written form within a maximum period of fifteen days from the date on which he is informed of such question.

Article (129)

The chairman shall inform the question submitter of the answer on his question immediately following the arrival thereof, and both the question and its answer shall be entered agenda of the first following session of such informal. It shall be further entered in the agenda the question which the minister has not answered within the time determined therefore in the previous article, so that the same shall be answered verbally in the council. A minister may request to postpone answering a question to a time not exceeding seven days, whereby his request shall be satisfied. Postponement may not be given in excess of this duration without a council sanction issued for such purpose.

Article (130)

Ministers may not be informed of the questions connected to subjects referred to the council committees, before the committee submits its report to the council. Should the committee delay from the time appointed therefore, then such question shall be informed to the minister. No questions may be informed to the ministers before the ministry presents its program, unless if related to a subject of special and urgent importance, and after the approval of the council chairman. A member may not submit more than one question within one month. The questions submitted in a single subject or in subjects strongly correlated to each other shall be consolidated together when informed to the ministry for answering the same.

Article (131)

When question that has been entered in the agenda is presented and ought to be answered, the questioning member may declare the sufficiency of the answer, whereby the investigation of such subject is closed, or express his desire to speak, whereby he is given alone the right to comment briefly on the minister’s answer. The minister may furthermore comment on this verbally or in written form.

Article (132)

The government may, by itself or on the occasion of a question directed to one of its ministers, request the discussion of a certain subject concerning the general policy of the state to obtain the opinion of the council thereon or to give data in regard thereto.

Article (133)

The previous procedures of questions shall not apply to the questions directed to the ministers during the discussion of the budget or any subject raised to the council. After being permitted to speak, members may direct such questions within the session, verbally, provided that there shall exist therein the terms provided under articles (136) and (137) hereof, and that such shall be connected to the subject raised to the council.

Article (134)

After finalization of the subject of the incoming papers and letters referred thereto in the third paragraph of article (50) hereof, half an hour is allocated for questions and answering them. Should anything remain, it shall be listed in the agenda of the following session, unless the council decides otherwise. It shall not be required for a quorum to exist during the presentation of questions and answering them, as long as such quorum has existed at the beginning of the session.

Article (135)

A member may return back (withdraw) his question at anytime.

Article (136)

A question is revoked by the cessation of the capacity of its submitter or the person to whom the same is directed, or by the expiry of the commencement term during which such question has been submitted.

Financial Affairs

Public Budgets and the Closing Accounts thereof

Article (137)

The Chairman of Shura Council shall refer the budget draft bill to the committee of financial and economic affairs, immediately following the referral of the same thereto by the Head of Parliament, and the council shall be informed of this on the first following session.

Article (138)

The committee of financial and economic affairs shall submit to the council a report which includes a general presentation of the basis on which the budget proposal relies, and an appropriate statement of each part thereof with mentioning the comments and suggestions included by the report of the parliament or submitted by the council members or the committee itself, within a time not exceeding six weeks from the referral date of the proposal to the committee. Should such grace period expire without the committee has submitted the said report, the reasons for such failure shall be explain to the council, whereby the council may grant the committee another grace period not exceeding two weeks. Should the committee yet fail to submit its report during such grace period, the council may discuss the budget draft bill on the situation it has arrived on from the Head of Parliament.

Article (139)

The consideration of the budget at the Shura Council and the committees thereof shall be on urgent basis, and the committee of financial and economic affairs shall refer the parts its completes the investigation thereof to the council for the subsequent consideration thereof.

In regard to the budget draft bill, the provisions mentioned in article (191) hereof shall apply.

Article (140)

The discussion of the budget at the Shura Council shall be on the basis of the division mentioned therein into parts. Budget may be prepared for more than one financial year. None of the public revenues may be allocated for a certain purpose of expenditure without a law legalizing doing the same.

Article (141)

Each amendment proposed by the committee of financial and economic affairs in regard to the provision included by the budget proposal shall be by agreement with the government thereon, and the committee shall state such expenditure in its report.

Article (142)

Anyone who wishes to talk in a subject concerning a part of the budget shall register his name after the distribution of the report of the committee of financial and economic affairs in regard thereto and prior to the discussion thereof. The person who requests to speak shall determine the matters addressed by his investigation. Discussion in the council shall be limited to the subjects raised by the requestor to speak, whereby all this shall be done unless the council permits otherwise.

Article (143)

No department or function that is existing under an applied legal system may be revoked or amended, and no existing law may be amended by the revocation or amendment of the provisions stated within the budget. Should the council consider it appropriate to do the same, a special law proposal in this regard shall be submitted.

Article (144)

The closing account of the financial affairs of the state for the ending year shall be firstly submitted to the parliament within the five months following the end of the financial year, which shall be referred by the Head of Parliament, after the council finished its report, to the Chairman of Shura Council, and the approval thereof shall be vide a resolution of both councils supported by their notes, and the same shall be published in the official newspaper.

Article (145)

The provisions regarding the discussion of the public budget and the issuance thereof shall apply to the closing account and the additional provisions, and transfer from one part to another within the parts of the budget. Such provisions shall also apply to the independent and annexed budgets and the additional provisions concerning the same, and transfer from one part to another and the closing accounts thereof.

Chapter V

Rights and Duties of Members

- Parliamentary Immunity
- Attendance and Absence of Members
- Duties of Members
- Parliamentary Penalties

Parliamentary Immunity

Article (146)

Except in the case of witnessed crime, no action of detainment, investigation, inspection, imprisonment or any other criminal action may be taken during the commencement term against a member, without a prior permission of the council.

At times other than the commencement term, it is required to obtain the permission of the council chairman for taking any of such actions.

The failure of the council or the chairman to issue the decision thereof in regard to a permission request, within one month of the arrival date of the same thereto, is deemed permission.

The council shall be informed of the actions that may be taken in accordance with the previous paragraph during the commencement of the council, and it shall also be always informed in the first meeting thereof of any action that has been taken during the annual vacation of the council against any of its members.

Article (147)

The submitter of permission shall submit his request in stripping a member’s immunity to the council chairman from the ministry of justice. Such request shall be accompanied by an official copy of the papers of the case demanded to take actions in regard thereto. The chairman shall refer the said request to the committee of legislative and legal affairs for the investigation thereof and giving opinion in regard thereto. The committee shall prepare its report in regard to the request of the stripping of immunity within ten days in maximum of the referral date of such papers thereto.

Article (148)

A member may not waive immunity without the permission of the council, and the council may permit such member to do so based on his request to hear his sayings if any accusation was raised against him even if he accepted to submit a request in stripping of immunity. In such case, no procedures may be taken against such member without the issuance of a resolution by the council in permission therefore in accordance with the provisions of the last two articles.

Article (149)

Neither the committee of legislative and legal affairs, not the council, may investigate in the availability or absence of evidence for conviction in the subject of criminal accusation. Investigation shall be limited to the extent of the falseness and unfairness of the claim, and to investigate whether it was intended to prevent such member from performing his parliamentary responsibilities within the council.

Criminal procedures are always permitted to be taken whenever it has been proven that it is not intended from the action or procedure to prevent such member from performing his parliamentary responsibilities within the council.

Attendance and Absence of Members

Article (150)

A member shall attend the meetings of the council and its committees regularly.

Article (151)

The member who is forced to be absent from one of the council’s sessions or its committee’s meetings shall inform the council chairman or the committee chairman, as the case shall be, of this fact in written form. A member may not be absent from more than two sessions of the council or three consecutive meetings of the committee, unless if he is given a leave or permission by the council chairman for reasons justifying the same. If absence was for an acceptable excuse, such excuse shall be submitted to the council chairman or the committee chairman in the following session or meeting. Leave may not be requested for an unlimited duration. The chairman shall inform the council of the leaves awarded to the members in the first following session.

Article (152)

If a member is absent from attending the sessions of the council or its committees without a leave or permission, or failed to attend after expiry of the duration authorized in favor thereof, he shall be deemed absent and his right in remuneration shall be forfeited for the duration of absence.

Article (153)

The member who is forced to leave the council or the sessions of its committees on final basis prior to the closing thereof, shall request permission for doing so in written form from the council chairman or the committee chairman, as the case shall be.

Article (154)

The council member who is delegated abroad on a mission for the council is deemed on leave for the entire specified duration for such mission.

Article (155)

The committee chairman shall present to the council chairman, on monthly basis, and whenever the council chairman deemed it necessary, a report of the attendance and absence of the committee members.

Article (156)

A member shall observe the due respect of the constitutional establishments of the state and shall observe the principles of good behavior in his dealing with his colleagues within the session and the council chairman.

Article (157)

A member may not do acts, inside or outside the council, in violation of the provisions of the constitution or the provisions hereof.

Article (158)

A member is prohibited to allow the exploitation of his capacity in order to obtain undue special privileges.

Article (159)

Immediately following the declaration of the royal order in the appointment thereof into the council, a member may not accept appointment in one of the foreign companies, and may not accept the membership in the boards of directors of share companies or monitoring councils in recommendation companies by shares and limited liability companies, unless if he was one of the promoters of such company or the owner of at least ten percent of the capital share of such company, or has previously become a member in such boards or councils prior to the declaration of his appointment as a council member.

Article (160)

Immediately following the declaration of the royal order in the appointment thereof, each member shall provide the council chairman with data of his membership in the companies provided under in the previous article, or the free business he is practicing, or any commercial, industrial or agricultural activity he is undertaking. He shall inform the council chairman of any change occurring on such data during the duration of his membership within one month in maximum from the time of the occurrence of such change.

Article (161)

At the time of discussion of any subject presented to the council, its bureau or one of its committees that concerns a personal interest for him or for any of his relatives till the fourth degree or for one of his principals, a member shall inform the council, the bureau or the committee of such fact prior to discussion.

Parliamentary Penalties

Article (162)

Subject to what is mentioned in article (99) of the constitution, and without prejudice to criminal or civil liability, the member who becomes proven that he has prejudiced the duties of his membership or that he has committed any of the acts prohibited thereon, shall be subject to one of the following penalties:

a) Verbal warning.
b) Written warning.
c) Blaming.
d) Disqualification from participation in the council proceedings for a period not less than two sessions and not exceeding ten sessions.
e) Disqualification from participation in the council proceedings for a period exceeding ten sessions and not exceeding the expiry of the commencement term.
f) Revocation of membership.

And subject to the penalties provided under and referred to in articles (65), (66), (67) and (68) hereof, none of the penalties provided under in the previous clauses may be applied to a member before hearing his sayings and the investigation of his defense. The council shall vest this task in the committee of legislative and legal affairs. For the appliance of any of the penalties provided in clauses (c), (d) and (e), it shall be required the approval thereof by the majority of council members. For revocation of membership, it shall be required the approval of two-thirds the council members, and subject to the procedures provided herein.

Article (163)

A member’s entitlement to remuneration shall be forfeited for the entire duration for which the council resolves the disqualification of such member in the proceedings thereof. If the member against whom the previous penalty has been applied was a chairman or a vice-chairman for one of the committees, this shall result in the removal thereof from his post within the committee in the commencement term during which the penalty was applied.

Chapter VI

Termination of Membership

- Termination of Membership
- Removal from Membership and Vacancy

Termination of Membership

Section I

Article (164)

In case the council chairman is informed by one of the official bodies that judicial verdicts or actions or resolutions have been issued which lead to the revocation of membership in accordance with article (99) of the constitution, the council chairman shall refer the matter to the committee of legislative and legal affairs within three days of the date of notice, and shall inform the council of this fact in the first following session. The committee, after hearing the sayings of the member and the investigation of his defense, shall investigate the matter in both constitutional and legal aspects. If the committee concluded that what has been established thereby would lead to the revocation of membership, it shall submit a report in its opinion to the council bureau for the referral thereof to the council for the consideration thereof in the first following session to resolve in regard thereto what it deems appropriate.

Article (165)

At least ten council members may submit a written request to the council chairman to suggest the revocation of one of the council members, for one of the reasons shown in article (99) of the constitution. Such request must explain the reasons necessitating therefore. The council chairman shall inform the member in written form of a copy of the suggestion of revocation of his membership, after the council verifies the availability of the pro forma terms in the request. The request of revocation of membership shall be entered in the agenda of the first following session for the council to inform the member of a copy of such request, to resolve the referral thereof to the committee of legislative and legal affairs.

Article (166)

The committee of legislative and legal affairs may not commence its procedures before informing the concerned member thereof in written form, inviting him to attend the committee at the time it determines therefore, provided that the duration between the date of notice and the time appointed for the convention of the committee shall not be less than three days. The committee shall hear the sayings of such member and investigate the aspects of his defense. The member shall leave the place of meeting at the time of voting. Should such member fail to attend the meeting, the committee shall re-inform his again in accordance with the aforementioned rules. Should such member fail again to attend without an acceptable excuse, the committee shall then proceed in its procedures. Such member may select one of the council members to assist him in giving his defense before the committee. The committee shall submit its report to the council chairman after the approval thereof by the majority of two thirds of its members within no more than two weeks from the referral date thereof to the committee. Such report shall be presented to the council in the first following session, and the council’s resolution in regard thereto shall be passed in a period not exceeding two weeks from the presentation date of the report thereto.

Article (167)

The committee’s report in regard to revocation of membership shall be recited before the council, and opinion shall be taken thereon through calling by name. The council’s resolution in revocation of membership may not be passed without the approval thereof by at least two thirds of its members. The council may resolve to make voting in this regard anonymous.

Article (168)

A request in removal of the preventing effect against candidacy, as a result of revocation of cancellation of membership pursuant to clause (d) of article (57) of the constitution, is submitted in written form to the council chairman. Such request shall be accompanied with a statement of the council’s resolution, the reasons thereof, justifications of removal of the preventing effect against candidacy and the documents in support thereof. The chairman shall present the request to the council to refer the same to the committee of legislative and legal affairs to prepare a report thereabout to the council. The committee shall summon the person whose membership has been previously revoked, hear his sayings and investigate the aspects of his defense. The committee’s report shall include a discussion of the reasons and bases that such person has stated in support of his request. Such report is presented to the council, and the council shall make its decision in regard thereto within no more than two weeks from the presentation date of the report thereto.

Termination of Membership

Removal from Membership and Vacancy

Section II

Removal from Membership and Vacancy

Article (169)

Any member of the members of Shura Council may request his removal from the council membership under a written petition free of any restriction or term to the council chairman. After seven days of the submission data thereof, the council chairman shall present the petition to the council bureau for the discussion thereof in a session where the member submitting the petition is invited to attend. Should such member insist on his petition, the chairman shall forward the same to the King. Membership does not terminate unless the petition in termination of membership is accepted by the King.

Article (170)

Should the membership of any member terminate by reason of death, removal from membership or the revocation thereof, the council chairman shall declare his vacancy in the same session during which it has been announced the death of the member or during which it has been resolved to terminate his membership, and the council chairman shall inform the King of this fact.

Chapter VII

Council Affairs

- Preservation of Order within the Council
- Council’s Budget and the Closing Account thereof
- Council General Secretariat

Preservation of Order within the Council

Article (171)

Preservation of order within the council is the competency of its chairman. The chairman shall determine, by coordination with the ministry of interior, the number of guards necessary for the preservation of security and order. Such guards shall follow the orders of the council chairman and is independent of any other authority. Nobody other than the guards in charge of preservation of security and order may hold any type of arms within the council’s building. The council chairman shall set out the system that ensures the achievement of this.

Article (172)

Nobody may enter the council’s building without a permit that is issued according to the system set out by the council bureau. Persons who are authorized to enter shall abide with the instructions issued thereto by the council guards.

Article (173)

Nobody may enter the session hall or convention locations of the committees’ meetings at the convention time thereof other than the council members, people who are assigned to work thereat, persons delegated by the Prime Minister or others of the members of the government to assist them, and whomever is permitted to attend by the council or the committee.

Article (174)

Places shall be allocated on the balconies of the council for representatives of newspapers and other means of media and for the public to watch the sessions of the council. The council chairman shall set out the rules and procedures of authorizing entry to such balconies.

Article (175)

Those who are authorized to enter the council balconies shall remain fully silent during the commencement of a session, remain seated, not show any signs of like or dislike, and observe the instructions and notes given to them by the persons in charge of preservation of order. The persons in charge of preservation of order may order any of the persons authorized to enter to the balconies, who makes noise or prejudices order, to leave the balcony, and should such violating person disobey such order, the chairman may order the council guards to take him out and surrender him to the competent body, if necessary.

Council’s Budget and the Closing Account thereof

Article (176)

The provisions allocated for the council’s budget are entered as a single figure in the state’s budget, and the council shall approve its annual budget within the limits of the provision entered in such regard within the budget of the state by agreement with the government. The council’s budget shall be entered under a law, annexed to the public budget of the state, and the provisions regarding the public budget of the state shall apply thereto mutes mutandis.

Article (177)

After the issuance of the law regarding the council’s budget, the provision allocated therefore within the state budget is deposited to the body selected by the council bureau. Such provision shall not be expended without the permission of the council chairman or the person acting on behalf thereof.

Article (178)

The council bureau shall set out the rules regarding the organization of the council’s accounts, system of release, stocking and the other financial affairs.

Article (179)

The provisions resolved in the previous articles regarding the council’s budget shall apply in regard to the additional provisions for the Shura Council.

Article (180)

The council general secretariat shall prepare the closing account therefore during thirty days of the end of the financial year, and the chairman shall refer the same to the council bureau for the consideration thereof prior to the presentation thereof to the council for the discussion and approval thereof. The council bureau may refer the closing account to the committee of financial and economic affairs for the investigation thereof and to submit a report thereabout that is to be presented to the council in the first following session. The procedures followed in approval and issuance of the council’s budget shall be followed for the purpose of approval and issuance of the closing account.

Council General Secretariat

Article (181)

The council shall have a general secretariat that shall be organized pursuant to a resolution issued by the council chairman after the approval of the council bureau. Such resolution shall include the descriptive provisions regarding administrative and financial affairs, and until such resolution is issued, the council chairman may issue temporary resolutions in organization of the affairs of the general secretariat.

Article (182)

The council chairman shall undertaking supervision over the general secretariat and over all the administrative, financial and technical affairs and proceedings of the council.

Article (183)

The council shall have a general secretary who is appointed under a decree on the level of a ministry undersecretary, and who shall have the financial and administrative competencies and authorities resolved in the laws and regulations of ministries’ undersecretaries. The general secretary shall prepare the draft agenda of the proceedings of the council to be approved by the bureau and then by the council chairman. He shall attend the council’s sessions, as well as committees’ sessions upon their request, and shall be accountable for his work before the council chairman.

Article (184)

The council chairman shall have the authorities vested in a minister and the minister of finance and national economy, provided under in the laws and codes. The council bureau shall be competent in the matters which a resolution in regard thereto must be issued by the Prime Minister, in addition to the matters which the laws and code require that the opinion or the approval of the ministry of finance and national economy, civil service court, or any other body, as the case shall be, is to be taken in regard thereto.

Chapter VIII

Miscellaneous Provisions

Article (185)

In cases where the National Council is invited to meet, the sessions thereof are presided by the Chairman of Shura Council, and the provisions hereof shall apply to such session, subject to what is provided under article (103) of the constitution and what is mentioned in the bylaw of the parliament in articles (156), (157), (158) and (159).

Article (186)

Special place shall be designated for the Prime Minister and the ministers at the front of the session hall. Representatives of the government shall have other places that are designated by a decision of the council chairman.

Article (187)

The council bureau shall set out the general regulatory rules concerning the facilities offered to the council members to enable them to undertake their responsibilities.

Article (188)

The council bureau shall set out, based on what is suggested by its chairman, a special system for the ceremonies between the council members in its official meetings and in the meeting it convenes or invites to, and shall inform the Council Chairman and the Prime Minister of such system.

Article (189)

Urgent subjects and topics are investigated before other subjects within the council and its committees, and the provisions of ordinary timings resolved herein shall not apply thereto. The council may resolve the discussion of urgent subjects within the same session provided that the competent committee submits its report to the council within the same session. In such case, the council may further resolve to take final opinion on a draft bill in the same session in accordance with article (114) hereof. A subject or topic is deemed urgent if requested to be considered urgent by the government, council chairman or at least five council members. Except what is provided under article (87) of the constitution, the council may in all cases resolve to retreat from urgency and to follow the ordinary procedures. The status or urgency shall be stated in the resolution of referral to each of the council and the committees. The provisions of this article shall not be prejudiced by any special provision in regard to one of the urgency cases provided under herein.

Article (190)

Press and other means of media shall ensure accuracy in reporting and summarizing the sessions of the council. Every member may request the council chairman to correct mistakes by a letters sent by the chairman to the newspaper or media organization which has changed the occurrences, and such newspaper or media organization shall publish the letter or announce it as soon as possible with no comment, whereby this shall not prevent filing a public case against it in this regard.

Article (191)

This law shall be effective from the publication date thereof in the official newspaper.

Hamad bin Eissa Al Khalifa

The King of the Kingdom of Bahrain

Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa

The Prime Minister