Article 14 of the Saudi Shura Council Law
المادة 14 من نظام مجلس الشورى
Article 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يلقي الملك أو من ينيبه، في مجلس الشورى ، كل سنة خطابا ملكيا، يتضمن سياسة الدولة الداخلية والخارجية.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article provides for what is known as the annual royal speech in the Shura Council.
- Who delivers it: the King, or the person he delegates.
- Where: in the Shura Council.
- When: every year.
- Its content: the State's domestic and foreign policy.
This speech creates a regular direct link between the leadership and the Council, as through it the members learn the State's directions in domestic and foreign affairs, which relates to the Council's competence to give its opinion on the State's general policies referred to it by the Prime Minister under Article 15.
The article sets no particular time of year for delivering the speech and no procedures that follow it, so nothing should be added to the text that it does not contain.
It is preceded by Article 13, which sets the Council's term at four Hijri years, so the royal speech is repeated in each year of the term. The speech may be delivered by a person the King delegates; the text does not require the King to deliver it himself every time.
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 14 of the Saudi Shura Council Law
Who delivers the royal speech in the Shura Council?
The King or the person he delegates.
What does the annual royal speech cover?
It covers the State's domestic and foreign policy.
More articles on Formation and Term of the Shura Council
- Article 1
Article 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.
عملا بقول الله تعالى: [فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْف
- Article 2
Article 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.
يقوم مجلس الشورى على الاعتصام بحبل الله، والالتزام بمصادر التشريع الإسلامي، ويحرص أعضاء المجلس على خدمة الصالح العام، والحفاظ على وحدة الجماعة وكيان الدولة، ومص
- Article 3Amended by A/44
Article 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.
يتكون مجلس الشورى من رئيس ومائة وخمسين عضواً، يختارهم الملك، من أهل العلم والخبرة والاختصاص، على ألا يقل تمثيل المرأة فيه عن (20%) من عدد الأعضاء، وتحدد حقوق ال
- Article 12
Article 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.
مقر مجلس الشورى ، هو مدينة الرياض. ويجوز اجتماع المجلس في جهة أخرى داخل المملكة، إذا رأى الملك ذلك.
- Article 13
Article 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.
مدة مجلس الشورى ، أربع سنوات هجرية، تبدأ من التاريخ المحدد في الأمر الملكي الصادر بتكوينه. ويتم تكوين المجلس الجديد قبل انتهاء مدة سلفه بشهرين على الأقل. وفي حا
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.