In force Last amended 29/2/1434 AH
Saudi Shura Council Law
نظام مجلس الشورى
Sets out the formation, membership, powers and procedures of the Shura Council, the consultative council of Saudi Arabia.
- Articles
- 30
- In force
- 30
- Amended
- 6
- Issued
- 27/8/1412 AH
Issued by: أمر ملكي رقم أ/91 بتاريخ 27 / 8 / 1412
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Shura Council Law by topic
Formation and Term of the Shura Council6 articlesConditions for Shura Council Membership4 articlesDuties and Accountability of Shura Members4 articlesShura Council Presidency and General Authority3 articlesPowers of the Shura Council3 articlesCouncil Sessions and Decisions5 articlesShura Council Committees2 articlesInternal Rules and Financial Affairs5 articles
Articles of the Saudi Shura Council Law
- Article 1Article 1 establishes the Shura Council on the principle of consultation in the Quran and Sunnah, to exercise its tasks under this Law and the Basic Law of Governance.
- Article 2Article 2 sets the principles on which the Shura Council rests: holding fast to the rope of God, adherence to the sources of Islamic legislation, and members' concern for the public good.
- Article 3Article 3 provides that the Shura Council consists of a president and 150 members chosen by the King, with women's representation of no less than 20% of the members.Amended A/44
- Article 4Article 4 requires a Shura Council member to be a Saudi national by origin and upbringing, of recognized righteousness and competence, and not less than thirty years old.
- Article 5Article 5 lets a Shura Council member submit a request to be relieved of membership to the Council's president, who must present it to the King.
- Article 6Article 6 provides that a Shura Council member who breaches the duties of their work is investigated and tried under rules and procedures issued by royal order.
- Article 7Article 7 provides that if a Shura Council member's seat becomes vacant for any reason, the King chooses who replaces them and a royal order is issued to that effect.
- Article 8Article 8 bars a Shura Council member from exploiting their membership for their own benefit.
- Article 9Article 9 bars combining Shura Council membership with any government job or the management of any company, unless the King sees a need for it.
- Article 10Article 10 provides that the Shura Council's president, vice president, assistant and secretary general are appointed and relieved by royal orders, with their ranks, rights and duties set by royal order.Amended
- Article 11Article 11 requires the Shura Council's president, members and secretary general to take a set oath before the King before they begin their work in the Council.
- Article 12Article 12 sets the seat of the Shura Council in the city of Riyadh, and allows it to meet elsewhere within the Kingdom if the King sees fit.
- Article 13Article 13 sets the Shura Council's term at four Hijri years, requires the new Council to be formed at least two months before the old one ends, and renewal of at least half the members.
- Article 14Article 14 provides that the King, or the person he delegates, delivers a royal speech in the Shura Council each year covering the State's domestic and foreign policy.
- Article 15Article 15 has the Shura Council give its opinion on general State policies referred by the Prime Minister, and discuss the development plan, study laws and treaties, interpret laws and discuss ministries' reports.
- Article 16Article 16 provides that a Shura Council meeting is valid only if at least two-thirds of its members attend, including the president or his deputy, and its decisions are valid only with a majority's approval.
- Article 17Article 17 has Shura Council decisions submitted to the King, who decides which go to the Council of Ministers; if the two Councils agree, decisions issue with the King's approval, and if not, the matter returns to the Shura Council.Amended
- Article 18Article 18 provides that laws, treaties, international agreements and concessions are issued and amended by royal decrees after the Shura Council has studied them.
- Article 19Article 19 has the Shura Council form, from among its members, the specialized committees it needs for its competences, and lets it set up special committees to examine any matter on its agenda.
- Article 20Article 20 lets Shura Council committees enlist whom they see fit from outside the Council's members, after the approval of the Council's president.
- Article 21Article 21 provides that the Shura Council has a General Body made up of the Council's president, vice president, assistant and the chairs of its specialized committees.Amended
- Article 22Article 22 has the Shura Council's president ask the Prime Minister for any government official to attend sessions when the Council discusses matters within that official's competence, with a right to speak but not to vote.
- Article 23Article 23 lets the Shura Council propose a new draft law or an amendment to a law in force and study it, with the Council's president submitting what the Council decides to the King.Amended
- Article 24Article 24 has the Shura Council's president ask the Prime Minister to provide the Council with documents and data held by government bodies that the Council considers necessary for its work.
- Article 25Article 25 requires the Shura Council's president to submit an annual report to the King on the Council's work, as set out in the Council's Internal Rules.
- Article 26Article 26 applies the civil service laws to the employees of the Shura Council's bodies unless the Council's Internal Rules provide otherwise.
- Article 27Article 27 gives the Shura Council a special budget approved by the King, with spending from it under rules issued by royal order.
- Article 28Article 28 provides that the Shura Council's financial affairs, financial oversight and final account are organized under special rules issued by royal order.
- Article 29Article 29 has the Shura Council's Internal Rules, issued by royal order, regulate the competences of its leaders and bodies, the running of sessions and committees, voting and discussion rules.Amended
- Article 30Article 30 allows the Shura Council Law to be amended only in the same way in which it was issued.