Article 3 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
المادة 3 من نظام هيئة البيعة
The article binds the Succession Commission to the Book of God, the Sunnah of His Messenger, preserving the entity of the State, the unity and cooperation of the ruling family, national unity and the interests of the people.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تلتزم الهيئة بكتاب الله تعالى، وسنة رسوله محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، والمحافظة على كيان الدولة، وعلى وحدة الأسرة المالكة، وتعاونها، وعدم تفرقها، وعلى الوحدة الوطنية ومصالح الشعب.
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 3 explained in plain English
This article sets out the principles that the Succession Commission must adhere to in all its work. They are:
- The Book of God Almighty and the Sunnah of His Messenger Muhammad, peace be upon him.
- Preserving the entity of the State.
- Preserving the unity of the ruling family, its cooperation and its not splitting.
- Preserving national unity and the interests of the people.
These principles take on particular importance given the nature of the Commission's tasks: its work relates to the transfer of rule and its stability, so the article makes the unity of the ruling family, the stability of the State and the interests of the people binding aims for the Commission, not merely general guidance.
This article is linked to Article 2, which provides that the Commission exercises its assigned tasks in accordance with this Law and the Basic Law of Governance; Article 2 sets the legal framework and Article 3 sets the governing principles. It is also linked to Article 4, which sets the Commission's seat in the city of Riyadh and its meetings in the Royal Court, and allows meetings, with the King's approval, to be held in one of the Royal Court's premises inside the Kingdom or any other place the King determines.
In this way the Law's opening articles show who makes up the Commission, its framework of work, the principles it is bound by, and where it works.
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 3 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
What is the Succession Commission bound by?
The Book of God Almighty and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace be upon him, preserving the entity of the State, the unity of the ruling family, its cooperation and its not splitting, and national unity and the interests of the people.
Is the Succession Commission bound to preserve the unity of the ruling family?
Yes. The article provides for its commitment to preserving the unity of the ruling family, its cooperation and its not splitting.
More articles on Formation of the Succession Commission
- Article 1
The article creates the Succession Commission by royal order, and names its members from the sons of the Founding King and those the King appoints, and how a vacant seat is filled.
تكون بأمر ملكي هيئة تسمى (هيئة البيعة)، على النحو الآتي: 1 - أبناء الملك المؤسس عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن الفيصل آل سعود. 2 - أحد أبناء كل متوفى، أو معتذر، أو عا
- Article 2
The article provides that the Succession Commission exercises its tasks in accordance with the Succession Commission Law and the Basic Law of Governance.
تمارس الهيئة المهام المنوطة بها وفقا لهذا النظام والنظام الأساسي للحكم.
- 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 5
The article requires the chairman, members and Secretary General of the Succession Commission to take a prescribed oath before the King before they start their work in the Commission.
يؤدي رئيس وأعضاء الهيئة وأمينها العام قبل أن يباشروا أعمالهم في الهيئة أمام الملك القسم التالي: (أقسم بالله العظيم أن أكون مخلصا لديني، ثم لمليكي وبلادي، وألا أ
- Article 25
The article requires a royal order, after the approval of the Succession Commission, to amend the provisions of the Succession Commission Law.
يتم تعديل أحكام هذا النظام بأمر ملكي بعد موافقة هيئة البيعة.
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.