Article 69 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
المادة 69 من النظام الأساسي للحكم · الباب السادس: سلطات الدولة
The Article permits the King to call the Shura Council and the Council of Ministers to a joint meeting, and to invite whomever he sees fit to attend it to discuss what he sees fit.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للملك أن يدعو مجلس الشورى ، ومجلس الوزراء ، إلى اجتماع مشترك، وله أن يدعو من يراه لحضور هذا الاجتماع لمناقشة ما يراه من أمور.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 69 explained in plain English
This Article gives the King the power to call the Shura Council and the Council of Ministers to a joint meeting bringing the two Councils together.
The following is evident from the text:
- The call is optional; the text says "the King may call", so it is left to the King's discretion.
- The King may also invite whomever he sees fit to attend this meeting, so attendance is not limited to the members of the two Councils.
- The subject of the meeting is discussing what the King sees fit, so the Article does not confine the topics to a particular field.
The Article does not state the procedures of the joint meeting, how it is run, or what comes out of it, and these may not be inferred from the text.
The Article is linked to Article 68, which provides for establishing the Shura Council and that its law sets out how it is formed, how it exercises its powers and the selection of its members, and that the King may dissolve it and reconstitute it. It is also linked to Article 70, which provides that laws, treaties, international agreements and concessions are issued and amended by royal decrees.
The Article relates to the organization of the relationship between State bodies and does not create direct rights or obligations on individuals. Anyone who wants to explore it further may consult a lawyer who specializes in constitutional and administrative law.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 69 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
Can the Shura Council and the Council of Ministers meet together?
Yes. Article 69 provides that the King may call the two Councils to a joint meeting.
Who attends the joint meeting of the two Councils?
The two Councils attend it, and the King may invite whomever he sees fit to attend this meeting.
What are the topics of the joint meeting?
The Article provides that it is to discuss what the King sees fit, without specifying particular topics.
More articles on Shura Council and Issuing Laws
- Article 44
The Article sets out the State's three authorities, the judicial, executive and regulatory, provides that they cooperate in accordance with the laws, and states that the King is their reference.
تتكون السلطات في الدولة من : - السلطة القضائية. - السلطة التنفيذية. - السلطة التنظيمية. وتتعاون هذه السلطات في أداء وظائفها، وفقا لهذا النظام وغيره من الأنظمة،
- Article 67
The Article defines the regulatory authority's competence to make laws and regulations that serve the public interest or remove harm in State affairs, in accordance with the rules of Islamic Sharia.
تختص السلطة التنظيمية بوضع الأنظمة واللوائح، فيما يحقق المصلحة، أو يرفع المفسدة في شئون الدولة، وفقا لقواعد الشريعة الإسلامية ، وتمارس اختصاصاتها وفقا لهذا النظ
- Article 68
The Article provides for establishing a Shura Council whose law sets out its composition, powers and selection of members, and gives the King the power to dissolve it and reconstitute it.
ينشأ مجلس للشورى ، ويبين نظامه طريقة تكوينه، وكيفية ممارسته لاختصاصاته، واختيار أعضائه. وللملك حل مجلس الشورى وإعادة تكوينه.
- Article 70
The Article provides that laws, treaties, international agreements and concessions are issued and amended by royal decrees.
تصدر الأنظمة ، والمعاهدات ، والاتفاقيات الدولية ، والامتيازات ، ويتم تعديلها بموجب مراسيم ملكية .
- Article 71
The Article requires laws to be published in the Official Gazette and makes them effective from the date of publication unless another date is specified.
تنشر الأنظمة في الجريدة الرسمية، وتكون نافذة المفعول من تاريخ نشرها، ما لم ينص على تاريخ آخر.
- Article 83
The article provides that the Basic Law of Governance may be amended only in the same way in which it was issued.
لايجري تعديل هذا النظام إلا بنفس الطريقة التي تم بها إصداره.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.