Article 10 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
المادة 10 من نظام الدفاع المدني
The article allows the chairman of the Civil Defense Council to invite whomever he sees fit to attend the Council's sessions, without a right to vote.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز لرئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني دعوة من يرى الاستعانة بهم لحضور جلسات المجلس دون أن يكون لهم حق التصويت.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article gives the chairman of the Civil Defense Council a discretionary power to invite persons from outside the Council's membership to attend its sessions.
The article contains two elements:
- The invitation is optional: the text says "may", meaning the chairman decides at his discretion whom to invite, and the text does not oblige him to invite anyone.
- Invitees have no right to vote: a person who is invited attends so that his opinion, expertise or information can be drawn on, but he takes no part in voting on decisions.
The practical benefit of this provision is that civil defense subjects are varied and technical, and the Council may need to hear a specialist or a representative of a particular body before it takes its decision. This is evident from the breadth of the Council's powers listed in Article 9, which include approving the general policy for civil defense work, approving its general plans and projects, approving the tasks of government agencies and other bodies in carrying it out, and issuing regulations on safety conditions and rules. Such subjects may require hearing from those with expertise.
Attendance does not make invitees members of the Council: they take part in the discussion as far as they are asked to, and voting on decisions remains for the Council's members alone.
Article 11 brings another provision concerning the Council's work, providing that it exercises its powers in situations of war and emergency under the supervision of the Supreme Defense Council.
The article is organizational, concerning the running of the Council's work, and creates no direct rights or obligations for individuals.
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 10 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
Can non-members of the Civil Defense Council attend its sessions?
Yes. The Council chairman may invite whomever he sees fit to attend its sessions.
Do those invited to attend the Council's sessions vote?
No. The article provides that their attendance is without a right to vote.
More articles on Civil Defense Council
- Article 4
The article sets the components of the civil defense apparatus: the Civil Defense Council, the General Directorate of Civil Defense, and the civil defense committees.
يتألف جهاز الدفاع المدني ، مما يلي: - مجلس الدفاع المدني . - المديرية العامة للدفاع المدني . - لجان الدفاع المدني .
- Article 5
The article sets the composition of the Civil Defense Council, chaired by the Minister of Interior, with a number of ministers, heads of government bodies and the Director General of Civil Defense as members.
يكون تشكيل مجلس الدفاع المدني على النحو الآتي: أ - وزير الداخلية رئيساً ب - وزير الحرس الوطني – أو من ينيبه - عضواً ج - رئيس هيئة الهلال الأحمر السعودي – أو من
- Article 6
The article regulates the Civil Defense Council's meetings and quorum: it meets at least twice a year, and decisions are taken by a majority of those present, with the chairman's side prevailing in a tie.
يجتمع مجلس الدفاع المدني برئاسة رئيسه – أو من ينيبه – مرتين في السنة على الأقل، وكلما دعت الحاجة إلى ذلك، ويكون اجتماع المجلس نظاميًّا بحضور أغلبية أعضائه، وفي
- Article 7
The article creates the General Committee for Civil Defense Work and names its members, and regulates the Council's budget, general secretariat, National Search and Rescue Team and the secretariat's units.
أ - تُشكل لجنة عامة لأعمال الدفاع المدني، ترتبط تنظيميًّا برئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني، وذلك على النحو الآتي: 1 – مدير عام الدفاع المدني رئيساً 2 – ممثل لوزارة الح
- Article 8
The article requires the Civil Defense Council, when considering a matter concerning a government body not represented in it or in the General Committee, to obtain that body's opinion, then issue its decision and inform it.
إذا بحث مجلس الدفاع المدني أمراً يدخل في اختصاص جهة أو جهات حكومية غير ممثلة فيه أو في اللجنة العامة لأعمال الدفاع المدني؛ فعلى المجلس أخذ رأي هذه الجهة أو الجه
- Article 9
The article sets the powers of the Civil Defense Council, the General Committee for Civil Defense Work and the Council's secretariat, from approving policies and regulations to following up disasters, reports and budgets.
أ - مع مراعاة ما تقضي به الأنظمة، يختص مجلس الدفاع المدني بما يأتي: 1 - إقرار السياسة العامة لأعمال الدفاع المدني. 2 - اعتماد الخطط العامة لأعمال الدفاع المدني.
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.