Article 17 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
المادة 17 من نظام هيئة البيعة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يتولى رئيس الهيئة الدعوة لاجتماعاتها في الحالات المنصوص عليها في المواد السادسة، والحادية عشرة، والثانية عشرة، والثالثة عشرة من هذا النظام.
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 identifies who calls the Commission to meet in the most important cases the Law regulates. The call is made by the chairman of the Commission in the cases provided for in the following articles:
- Article 6: the case of the death of the King, in which the Commission calls for pledging allegiance to the Crown Prince as King of the country in accordance with this Law and the Basic Law of Governance.
- Article 11.
- Article 12.
- Article 13.
Assigning the call to the chairman in these cases specifically ensures that the Commission meets without delay when it is needed, and that there is one known body responsible for the call.
This article is linked to Article 16, which provides that the Commission's meetings are confidential, are held with the King's approval, and are attended only by its members, its Secretary General and whoever records its deliberations after the King's approval. It is also linked to Article 18, which requires members to attend the meetings, and requires a member whose absence becomes necessary to notify the chairman of the Commission in writing, and does not allow any member to leave permanently before the end of the meeting except with permission of its chair.
The chairman calls, the members are bound to attend, and the meetings are confidential.
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 Succession Commission Law
Who calls the Succession Commission to meet?
The chairman of the Commission, in the cases provided for in Articles 6, 11, 12 and 13 of the Law.
Do these cases include the death of the King?
Yes. Article 6 concerns the Commission's call to pledge allegiance to the Crown Prince as King on the death of the King.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 6
The article requires the Succession Commission, on the death of the King, to call for pledging allegiance to the Crown Prince as King of the country in accordance with this Law and the Basic Law of Governance.
عند وفاة الملك تقوم الهيئة بالدعوة إلى مبايعة ولي العهد ملكا على البلاد وفقا لهذا النظام والنظام الأساسي للحكم.
- Article 11
The article regulates the King's inability to exercise his powers for health reasons: a medical report, then a temporary transfer of powers to the Crown Prince, or pledging allegiance to him as King if the condition is permanent.
في حالة توفر القناعة لدى الهيئة بعدم قدرة الملك على ممارسة سلطاته لأسباب صحية، تقوم الهيئة بتكليف اللجنة الطبية المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بإعداد تقرير طبي عن
- 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
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 16
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.
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. و
- 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.