Article 12 of the Saudi Council of Ministers Law
المادة 12 من نظام مجلس الوزراء
Article 12 states that the Council of Ministers consists of its head, his deputies, the working ministers, ministers of state and advisers to the King appointed as members by royal order.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يتألف مجلس الوزراء من:
أ - رئيس مجلس الوزراء .
ب - نواب رئيس مجلس الوزراء .
جـ - الوزراء العاملين .
د - وزراء الدولة الذين يعينون أعضاء في مجلس الوزراء بأمر ملكي.
هـ - مستشاري الملك الذين يعينون أعضاء في مجلس الوزراء بأمر ملكي.
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 12 explained in plain English
This article sets out the categories that make up the Council of Ministers, which are five:
- The Prime Minister.
- The deputies of the Prime Minister.
- The working ministers, that is, ministers who head ministries.
- Ministers of state appointed as members of the Council of Ministers by royal order.
- Advisers to the King appointed as members of the Council of Ministers by royal order.
Note that the text attaches a special qualification to the last two categories: a minister of state or an adviser to the King is not a member of the Council merely by virtue of that capacity, but must be appointed a member of the Council by royal order. This qualification does not appear in the text for the first three categories.
The importance of defining the members appears in the following Article 13, which makes attending Council meetings a right reserved to its members and to the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, and makes voting reserved to members only, even if an official or expert is allowed to attend to provide information. Knowing who is a member determines who may attend and vote.
It is also linked to the preceding Article 11, which limits deputizing for a minister in the Council to another minister by order of the Prime Minister.
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 12 of the Saudi Council of Ministers Law
Who are the members of the Council of Ministers in Saudi Arabia?
The head of the Council, his deputies, the working ministers, and ministers of state and advisers to the King who are appointed as members of the Council by royal order.
Is every minister of state a member of the Council of Ministers?
Article 12 requires a minister of state to be appointed a member of the Council of Ministers by royal order.
Is an adviser to the King a member of the Council of Ministers?
He is a member if he is appointed a member of the Council by royal order, according to the text of the article.
More articles on Formation and Term of the Council of Ministers
- Article 1
Article 1 states that the Council of Ministers is a statutory body presided over by the King.
مجلس الوزراء هيئة نظامية يرأسها الملك.
- Article 2
Article 2 sets the city of Riyadh as the seat of the Council of Ministers and allows its sessions to be held elsewhere in the Kingdom.
مقر مجلس الوزراء مدينة الرياض ويجوز عقد جلساته في جهة أخرى من المملكة.
- Article 8
Article 8 provides that members of the Council of Ministers are appointed, relieved and have their resignations accepted by royal order, and that their responsibilities are set under Articles 57 and 58 of the Basic Law of Governance.
يتم تعيين أعضاء مجلس الوزراء وإعفاؤهم من مناصبهم وقبول استقالاتهم بأمر ملكي، وتحدد مسئولياتهم وفقا للمادتين السابعة والخمسين والثامنة والخمسين من النظام الأساسي
- Article 9
Article 9 sets the Council of Ministers' term at no more than four years, during which it is reconstituted by royal order, and it continues its work if the term ends before reconstitution.
مدة مجلس الوزراء لا تزيد عن أربع سنوات يتم خلالها إعادة تشكيله بأمر ملكي، وفي حالة انتهاء المدة قبل إعادة تشكيله يستمر في أداء عمله حتى إعادة التشكيل.
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.