Article 18 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
المادة 18 من نظام هيئة البيعة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 الانصراف نهائيا من اجتماع الهيئة قبل انتهائه إلا بإذن من رئيس الاجتماع.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article places attendance duties on the Commission's members, and they are three:
- Being bound to attend: members must attend the Commission's meetings.
- Written notice on absence: a member whose absence from one of the meetings becomes necessary must notify the chairman of the Commission in writing of that.
- Not leaving before the end: no member may leave permanently from the meeting before it ends except with permission of the chair of the meeting.
These provisions aim to ensure the seriousness of the Commission's work and the completeness of its sittings, because its decisions concern matters of government and need the members' participation. Absence is not absolutely forbidden if a reason requiring it arises, but it must be with written notice, and leaving early needs permission.
This article is linked to Article 17, which makes calling the Commission's meetings the responsibility of its chairman in the cases provided for in Articles 6, 11, 12 and 13, and to Article 19, which provides that the chair of the session opens the meetings, declares their end, manages the discussions, gives permission to speak, determines the subject of discussion, ends the discussion and puts matters to a vote.
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 18 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
Is attending the Succession Commission's meetings mandatory?
Yes. The Commission's members must attend its meetings.
What should a member do if he has to be absent?
He must notify the chairman of the Commission in writing of that.
May a member leave before the meeting ends?
He may not leave permanently before it ends except with permission of the chair of the meeting.
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 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 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.