Article 18 of the Saudi Council of Ministers Law
المادة 18 من نظام مجلس الوزراء
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 أعمالها.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article gives the Council of Ministers a tool for studying subjects in depth before deciding them, namely forming committees. It contains the following provisions:
- Permission to form: the text says "may", so forming committees is a matter for the Council's discretion and not a duty on it.
- Composition of committees: they may be formed from Council members or from others.
- Their task: to examine a matter on the Council's agenda and give a special report on it.
- Details: the Council's internal rules set out the number of committees and how they work.
Note that, by the text, the committee's role is to examine and report; the article does not give it power to decide in place of the Council. Linking the committee's task to a matter on the agenda means that its work serves what is before the Council.
The article does not give details of the number of committees or their procedures, but refers that to the Council's internal rules, which should be consulted on this.
This article follows Article 17, which provides for trying Council members for violations in their official work under a special law, and precedes Article 19, which states that the Council draws up the internal, foreign, financial, economic, educational and defense policy and all general affairs of the State and oversees their implementation.
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 18 of the Saudi Council of Ministers Law
Is the Council of Ministers entitled to form committees?
Yes, Article 18 allows the Council to form committees from its members or others to examine a matter on its agenda.
Can Council of Ministers committees include people from outside it?
Yes, the text allows them to be formed from Council members or others.
Where is the number of Council of Ministers committees set?
The Council's internal rules set out the number of committees and how they work.
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 15
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.
لا يتخذ مجلس الوزراء قرارا في موضوع خاص بأعمال وزارة من الوزارات إلا بحضور وزيرها أو من ينوب عنه ما لم تدع الضرورة لذلك.
- 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.
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.