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Article 16 of the Saudi Shura Council Law

المادة 16 من نظام مجلس الشورى

Article 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.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

لا يكون اجتماع مجلس الشورى نظاميا إلا إذا حضر الاجتماع ثلثا أعضائه على الأقل، بمن فيهم الرئيس أو من ينوب عنه، ولا تكون القرارات نظامية إلا إذا وافقت عليها أغلبية المجلس.

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 16 explained in plain English

This article sets two basic conditions for the Shura Council's work to be valid: the quorum of the meeting and the majority for a decision.

First: the quorum of the meeting

  • A meeting is valid only if attended by at least two-thirds of the Council's members.
  • Those attending must include the president or his deputy.

Second: the validity of decisions

  • Decisions are valid only if approved by a majority of the Council.

Note that the text says "a majority of the Council" and does not say a majority of those present, so nothing should be added to the text that it does not contain in determining how the majority is calculated.

It is preceded by Article 15, which sets the Council's competences, so every opinion the Council gives within those competences passes through a meeting with a full quorum and a decision by majority. If the quorum is not complete, the meeting is not valid at all.

Decisions that are validly issued under this article are then submitted to the King, as Article 17 explains.

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 16 of the Saudi Shura Council Law

What is the quorum for a Shura Council meeting?

Attendance of at least two-thirds of the members, including the president or his deputy.

When are Shura Council decisions valid?

If a majority of the Council approves them.

Is a meeting valid without the president?

Yes, if his deputy attends and the two-thirds quorum is complete.

More articles on Council Sessions and Decisions

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.