Article 17 of the Saudi Shura Council Law
المادة 17 من نظام مجلس الشورى
Article 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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
ترفع قرارات مجلس الشورى إلى الملك ويقرر ما يحال منها إلى مجلس الوزراء .
- إذا اتفقت وجهات نظر مجلسي الوزراء و الشورى تصدر القرارات بعد موافقة الملك عليها .
- إذا تباينت وجهات نظر المجلسين يعاد الموضوع إلى مجلس الشورى ليبدي ما يراه بشأنه ويرفعه إلى الملك لاتخاذ ما يراه .
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 17 explained in plain English
This article sets out the path of the Shura Council's decisions after they are issued, and their relationship with the Council of Ministers.
Step one: the Shura Council's decisions are submitted to the King, who decides which of them are referred to the Council of Ministers.
The article then distinguishes between two cases:
- The two Councils' views agree: if the Council of Ministers and the Shura Council agree, decisions are issued after the King approves them.
- The two Councils' views differ: the matter is returned to the Shura Council to give what it sees fit regarding it, then it submits it to the King to take what he sees fit.
So in both cases the last word rests with the King. The article sets no periods for re-study or for submitting the decision.
The article was amended by Royal Order No. (A/198) dated 2/10/1424 AH to take its current wording.
The article connects with Article 16, which sets when a decision is valid, and Article 18, which provides that laws are issued and amended by royal decrees after being studied by the Shura Council.
Practical example
The Shura Council studied a draft law and issued its decision on it, so the decision was submitted to the King, who referred it to the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers' view differed on some articles, so the matter was returned to the Shura Council to give its opinion and then submitted to the King to take what he sees fit.
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 17 of the Saudi Shura Council Law
To whom are Shura Council decisions submitted?
They are submitted to the King, who decides which of them are referred to the Council of Ministers.
What happens if the Council of Ministers and the Shura Council agree?
Decisions are issued after the King approves them.
What happens if the two Councils differ?
The matter is returned to the Shura Council to give what it sees fit, and it submits it to the King to take what he sees fit.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. A/198 — 2/10/1424 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
تم تعديل هذه المادة بموجب الأمر الملكي رقم (أ/ 198) وتاريخ 2/ 10/ 1424هـ ،لتصبح بالنص الآتي:
( ترفع قرارات مجلس الشورى إلى الملك ويقرر ما يحال منها إلى مجلس الوزراء .
- إذا اتفقت وجهات نظر مجلسي الوزراء و الشورى تصدر القرارات بعد موافقة الملك عليها .
- إذا تباينت وجهات نظر المجلسين يعاد الموضوع إلى مجلس الشورى ليبدي ما يراه بشأنه ويرفعه إلى الملك لاتخاذ ما يراه ) .
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
ترفع قرارات مجلس الشورى إلى رئيس مجلس الوزراء، ويحيلها إلى مجلس الوزراء للنظر فيها، فإن اتفقت وجهات نظر المجلسين صدرت بعد موافقة الملك عليها، وإن تباينت وجهات النظر فللملك إقرار ما يراه.
More articles on Council Sessions and Decisions
- Article 16
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.
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 أغلبي
- Article 18
Article 18 provides that laws, treaties, international agreements and concessions are issued and amended by royal decrees after the Shura Council has studied them.
تصدر الأنظمة، والمعاهدات، والاتفاقيات الدولية، والامتيازات، وتعدل، بموجب مراسيم ملكية بعد دراستها من مجلس الشورى.
- Article 22
Article 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.
على رئيس مجلس الشورى أن يرفع لرئيس مجلس الوزراء بطلب حضور أي مسئول حكومي جلسات مجلس الشورى ، إذا كان المجلس يناقش أمورا تتعلق باختصاصاته، وله الحق في النقاش دون
- Article 24
Article 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.
على رئيس مجلس الشورى أن يرفع لرئيس مجلس الوزراء طلب تزويد المجلس بما لدى الأجهزة الحكومية من وثائق وبيانات يرى المجلس أنها ضرورية لتسهيل سير أعماله.
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.