Article 16 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
المادة 16 من نظام هيئة البيعة
The article makes the Succession Commission's meetings confidential, held with the King's approval and attended only by members, the Secretary General and the recorder of deliberations, with others allowed to be invited to clarify without a vote.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
اجتماعات الهيئة سرية، وتعقد اجتماعاتها بناء على موافقة الملك، ولا يحضرها إلا أعضاؤها وأمينها العام إضافة إلى من يتولى ضبط مداولات اجتماعاتها بعد موافقة الملك.
وللهيئة بعد موافقة الملك دعوة من تراه لتقديم إيضاحات أو معلومات وليس له الحق في 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 16 explained in plain English
This article regulates the nature of the Commission's meetings and who attends them. Its provisions:
- Confidentiality: the Commission's meetings are confidential.
- Convening: meetings are held with the King's approval.
- Attendance: they are attended only by:
- The Commission's members.
- Its Secretary General.
- Whoever records the deliberations of the meetings, with the King's approval.
- Inviting non-members: the Commission may, after the King's approval, invite whomever it sees fit to give clarifications or information, and that person has no right to vote.
These provisions reflect the nature of the matters the Commission considers, which concern affairs of government and require confidentiality, so attendance by non-members is limited and conditional on the King's approval. The decision remains with the members alone; a person invited to clarify provides information and does not take part in the vote.
The article is linked to Article 15, which gives the chair of the Commission to the eldest in age of the sons of the Founding King, and to Article 17, which provides that the chairman of the Commission calls its meetings in the cases provided for in Articles 6, 11, 12 and 13 of the Law.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAsk a specialist lawyer about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Frequently asked questions about Article 16 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
Are the Succession Commission's meetings confidential?
Yes. The article provides that the Commission's meetings are confidential.
Who may attend the Succession Commission's meetings?
Its members, its Secretary General and whoever records the deliberations after the King's approval.
Does a person the Commission invites to provide information vote?
No. He has no right to vote.
More articles on Commission Meetings and Decisions
- Article 4
The article sets the Succession Commission's seat in Riyadh and its meetings in the Royal Court, and, with the King's approval, allows meetings at other Royal Court premises or a place the King determines.
مقر الهيئة في مدينة الرياض، وتعقد اجتماعاتها في الديوان الملكي ، ويجوز بموافقة الملك عقد اجتماعاتها في أحد مقار الديوان الملكي داخل المملكة، أو أي مكان آخر يحدد
- Article 15
The article gives the chair of the Succession Commission to the eldest of the sons of the Founding King in age, deputized by the next in age of his brothers, and then the eldest of the sons of the sons.
يرأس الهيئة أكبر الأعضاء سنا من أبناء الملك المؤسس عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن الفيصل آل سعود، وينوب عنه الذي يليه في السن من إخوته، وفي حالة عدم وجود أي منهم يرأس
- Article 17
The article makes the chairman of the Succession Commission responsible for calling its meetings in the cases provided for in Articles 6, 11, 12 and 13 of the Law.
يتولى رئيس الهيئة الدعوة لاجتماعاتها في الحالات المنصوص عليها في المواد السادسة، والحادية عشرة، والثانية عشرة، والثالثة عشرة من هذا النظام.
- Article 18
The article requires Succession Commission members to attend meetings, to notify the chairman in writing if absent, and not to leave permanently before the meeting ends without its chair's permission.
يجب على أعضاء الهيئة الالتزام بحضور اجتماعات الهيئة وعلى العضو الذي يطرأ ما يستوجب غيابه عن أحد اجتماعات الهيئة أن يخطر رئيس الهيئة كتابة بذلك، ولا يجوز لأي عضو
- Article 19
The article sets the powers of the chair of a Succession Commission session in running meetings, and allows a subject not on the agenda to be discussed with the approval of ten members.
يفتتح رئيس الجلسة الاجتماعات، ويعلن انتهاءها، ويدير المناقشات ويأذن بالكلام، ويحدد موضوع البحث، وينهي المناقشة، ويطرح الموضوعات للتصويت. ويجوز بموافقة عشرة من أ
- Article 20
The article requires two-thirds of the Succession Commission's members, including the chairman, for a valid meeting, with decisions by a majority of those present and a reduced quorum for emergencies.
لا يكون اجتماع الهيئة نظاميا إلا بحضور ثلثي أعضائها على الأقل بمن فيهم رئيس الهيئة أو من ينوب عنه. ومع مراعاة ما ورد في المادة السابعة تصدر قراراتها بموافقة أغل
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.