Article 10 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
المادة 10 من نظام هيئة البيعة
The article creates a temporary governing council of five Succession Commission members to manage State affairs temporarily in set cases, and bars it from amending the basic laws or dissolving the Council of Ministers or the Shura Council.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تشكل الهيئة مجلسا مؤقتا للحكم من خمسة من أعضائها، ويتولى المجلس إدارة شؤون الدولة، بصفة مؤقتة في الحالات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام.
وفي كل الأحوال ليس لهذا المجلس أي صلاحية لتعديل النظام الأساسي للحكم، أو هذا النظام، أو نظام مجلس الوزراء ، أو نظام مجلس الشورى ، أو نظام المناطق ، أو نظام مجلس الأمن الوطني ، أو أي من الأنظمة الأخرى ذات العلاقة بالحكم. وليس له حل مجلس الوزراء ، أو مجلس الشورى ، أو إعادة تكوينهما. وعلى المجلس خلال المدة الانتقالية المحافظة على وحدة الدولة ومصالحها الداخلية والخارجية وأنظمتها.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article regulates the temporary governing council, a body that manages the State in exceptional circumstances. Its provisions:
Formation and task:
- The Commission forms the council from five of its members.
- The council manages the State's affairs temporarily only in the cases provided for in this Law.
Limits on its powers: in all cases the council has no power to:
- Amend the Basic Law of Governance, this Law, the Council of Ministers Law, the Shura Council Law, the Regions Law, the National Security Council Law, or any of the other laws related to governance.
- Dissolve the Council of Ministers or the Shura Council or reconstitute them.
Its duty during the transitional period: to preserve the unity of the State and its internal and external interests and laws.
It appears from this that the council is a caretaking council that has no power to change the structure of government, and its aim is to preserve the State's stability until matters return to their normal position. This article does not state the cases in which the council takes over management; it refers to what the Law provides in other places. The article is linked to Article 9, which requires the Crown Prince to be chosen within thirty days of the King being pledged allegiance, and to Article 11, which deals with the King's inability to exercise his powers for health reasons.
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 10 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
What does the temporary governing council consist of?
Five members of the Succession Commission, formed by the Commission.
Can the temporary council amend the Basic Law of Governance?
No. The council has no power to amend the Basic Law of Governance, this Law, or the other governance-related laws mentioned in the article.
Can the temporary council dissolve the Council of Ministers or the Shura Council?
No. It may not dissolve the Council of Ministers or the Shura Council or reconstitute them.
More articles on The Temporary Governing Council
- Article 12
The article regulates the inability of both the King and the Crown Prince for health reasons: the temporary governing council manages the State, and if it is permanent the Commission chooses the most suitable to rule within seven days.
في حالة توفر القناعة لدى الهيئة بعدم قدرة الملك وولي عهده على ممارسة سلطاتهما لأسباب صحية، فعلى الهيئة تكليف اللجنة الطبية المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بإعداد تق
- Article 13
The article requires the Succession Commission, if the King and Crown Prince die at the same time, to choose the most suitable to rule within seven days, with the temporary council managing the State until allegiance is pledged.
في حالة وفاة الملك وولي العهد في وقت واحد تقوم الهيئة خلال مدة لا تتجاوز سبعة أيام باختيار الأصلح للحكم من أبناء الملك المؤسس عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن الفيصل آل
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.