Article 22 of the Saudi Shura Council Law
المادة 22 من نظام مجلس الشورى
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 أن يكون له حق التصويت.
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 22 explained in plain English
This article regulates government officials' attendance at Shura Council sessions.
- When: if the Council is discussing matters relating to the competences of that official.
- How: the president of the Shura Council must submit the request for attendance to the Prime Minister; the request is not addressed directly to the official.
- The official's role: they have the right to take part in discussion without having the right to vote.
The text uses the wording "the president of the Shura Council must", so submitting the request is a duty of the president when the case arises. The article sets no periods or other procedures for attendance.
The official's attendance benefits both sides: the Council hears the body concerned directly when discussing what concerns it, and the official is able to present their body's point of view. But the decision remains with the members alone because the official does not vote.
It is preceded by Article 21, which sets the composition of the Council's General Body, and followed by Article 23, which gives the Council the right to propose a new draft law or an amendment to a law in force.
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 22 of the Saudi Shura Council Law
How is a minister or official asked to attend a Shura Council session?
The president of the Shura Council submits the request to the Prime Minister if the Council is discussing matters relating to the official's competences.
Can a government official vote in the Shura Council?
No. They have the right to take part in discussion without the right to vote.
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 17Amended (1424 AH)
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.
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 . - إذ
- 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 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.