Article 22 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
المادة 22 من نظام هيئة البيعة
The article requires voting on the Succession Commission's decisions to be by secret ballot according to a form prepared for this purpose.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يتم التصويت على قرارات هيئة البيعة عن طريق الاقتراع السري وفق نموذج يعد لهذا الغرض.
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 sets the method of voting on the Succession Commission's decisions, and contains two provisions:
- Secret ballot: voting on decisions takes place by secret ballot, meaning each member's vote is not announced by name.
- The prepared form: voting is according to a form prepared for this purpose; the article does not state its shape or content.
The aim of secrecy is to enable every member to vote freely, away from any embarrassment or pressure, which is important given the nature of the matters the Commission decides and their connection to the unity of the ruling family.
This article is linked to Article 21, which requires minutes to be prepared for every meeting recording, among other things, the number of votes for and against and the result of the vote and the texts of the decisions, signed by the chair of the meeting, the members present and the Secretary General. The minutes thus record the numbers and the result, while the individual votes of the members remain secret under this article.
It is also linked to Article 23, which provides that a member of the Commission views the agenda and its attachments at the Commission's meeting place and may not take the Commission's documents outside the meeting place, which completes the system of confidentiality in the Commission's work.
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 Succession Commission Law
How is voting done in the Succession Commission?
By secret ballot according to a form prepared for this purpose.
Do the minutes record the result of the vote despite its secrecy?
Yes. Article 21 requires the number of votes for and against and the result of the vote to be recorded in the minutes.
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 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
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.