Article 15 of the Saudi Council of Ministers Law
المادة 15 من نظام مجلس الوزراء
Article 15 bars the Council of Ministers from deciding a matter concerning a ministry's work except in the presence of its minister or his deputy, unless necessity requires otherwise.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يتخذ مجلس الوزراء قرارا في موضوع خاص بأعمال وزارة من الوزارات إلا بحضور وزيرها أو من ينوب عنه ما لم تدع الضرورة لذلك.
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 15 explained in plain English
This article adds a special condition for some Council of Ministers decisions, beyond the general quorum conditions:
- Scope of the provision: decisions on a matter concerning a ministry's work.
- The condition: the minister of that ministry or his deputy must be present.
- The exception: if necessity calls for taking the decision without that presence.
The apparent reason is that the minister knows his ministry's affairs best, so his view is heard before the Council decides on a matter that concerns it. The expression "his deputy" refers to deputizing for the minister in the Council, and this article does not detail how the deputy is determined.
The text does not say who assesses necessity or by what criteria, so the exception stands as the text reads without additions.
This article follows Article 14, which requires two thirds of the members for a valid meeting, and for a decision to be legally valid requires a majority of those present with the head's vote deciding a tie, and sets a different quorum for exceptional cases. Under Article 14, a complete quorum does not dispense, on matters concerning a ministry, with the presence of its minister or his deputy, except for necessity. It is followed by Article 16, which makes the Council's deliberations secret, with its decisions being public as a rule.
Practical example
A matter concerning a particular ministry's work was put before the Council of Ministers while its minister was on a foreign mission. Under Article 15, the rule is that the Council does not take its decision on it except in the presence of the minister or his deputy, unless necessity requires.
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 15 of the Saudi Council of Ministers Law
Can the Council of Ministers decide a matter about a ministry without its minister present?
As a rule no, except in the presence of the minister or his deputy, unless necessity requires.
Is a complete quorum enough to take a decision concerning a ministry?
On matters concerning a ministry's work, Article 15 also requires the presence of its minister or his deputy, except for necessity.
More articles on Council of Ministers Sessions and Voting
- Article 7
Article 7 provides that Council of Ministers meetings are held under the presidency of the King or a Deputy Prime Minister, and that its decisions become final once the King approves them.
تعقد اجتماعات مجلس الوزراء برئاسة الملك رئيس المجلس أو أحد نواب الرئيس وتصبح قراراته نهائية بعد موافقة الملك عليها.
- Article 13
Article 13 limits attendance at Council of Ministers meetings to its members and Secretary General, allows an official or expert to attend with the Prime Minister's approval to give information, and keeps voting to members only.
حضور اجتماعات مجلس الوزراء حق خاص بأعضائه فقط وبالأمين العام لمجلس الوزراء ، ويجوز بناء على طلب الرئيس أو أحد الأعضاء بعد موافقة رئيس مجلس الوزراء السماح لأحد ا
- Article 14
Article 14 requires two thirds of the members present for a valid Council of Ministers meeting and decisions by a majority of those present with the head's vote deciding ties, and sets a different quorum for exceptional cases.
لا يعتبر اجتماع مجلس الوزراء صحيحا إلا بحضور ثلثي أعضائه ولا تكون قراراته نظامية إلا بعد صدورها بأغلبية الحاضرين وفي حالة التساوي يعتبر صوت الرئيس مرجحا، وفي ال
- Article 16
Article 16 makes the Council of Ministers' deliberations secret, with its decisions public as a rule except those the Council treats as secret by its own decision.
مداولات المجلس سرية أما قراراته فالأصل فيها العلنية عدا ما اعتبر منها سريا بقرار من المجلس.
- Article 18
Article 18 allows the Council of Ministers to form committees from its members or others to examine a matter on its agenda and give a special report on it, with the internal rules setting the number of committees and how they work.
يجوز لمجلس الوزراء أن يؤلف لجانا من بين أعضائه أو من غيرهم لبحث مسألة مدرجة بجدول أعماله لتقديم تقرير خاص عنها ويتولى النظام الداخلي للمجلس بيان عدد اللجان وسير
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.