Article 19 of the Saudi Council of Ministers Law

This article is one of the most important in the Law, because it defines the Council of Ministers' general jurisdiction. It begins with an important qualification: all of this is subject to what is stated in the Basic Law of Governance and the Shura Council Law, so the Council's powers are exercised within the limits of those two laws, whose texts are not set out here.

The article gives the Council the following powers:

1. Drawing up the policy: internal, foreign, financial, economic, educational and defense, and all general affairs of the State.
2. Overseeing the implementation of this policy.
3. Considering Shura Council resolutions.
4. Executive authority.
5. Acting as the reference for financial and administrative affairs in all other ministries and government bodies.

So the Council combines setting policies with following up their implementation. The article does not explain how the Council considers Shura Council resolutions or what follows from that, so refer to the Shura Council Law for this.

It is followed by Article 20, which provides that laws, treaties, international agreements and concessions are issued and amended by royal decrees after being studied by the Council of Ministers, subject to the Shura Council Law; this is an application of the Council's role in general affairs. Before it comes Article 18, which allows the Council to form committees to examine matters on its agenda.

Anyone who needs to know which body is competent for a particular government matter should consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and government regulations.