What is the Shura Council of Qatar and what does it do?

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Qatar’s Shura Council (Advisory Council) was established in 1972 following the provisions of an interim political order issued on 19 April 1972, related to the regulation of the State’s new institutions, including the Shura Council. The Advisory Council assumes the legislative authority, approves the general policy of the government and the budget, and exercises control over the executive authority as prescribed by the constitution.

Sittings of the Council are public. They may also be held in camera upon a request of one-third of the members of the Council or upon a request from the Council of Ministers. The resolutions of the Council are passed by an absolute majority of the attending members save in cases that require a special majority. In case the votes are equal, the speaker shall have a casting vote.

The Amir may dissolve the Council by a Decree in which the reasons for the dissolution shall be stated; however, the Council shall not be dissolved twice for the same reason. Where the Council is dissolved, the elections of the new Council take place within a period not exceeding six months as of the date of dissolution. Until a new Council is elected, the Emir with the assistance of the Council of Ministers assumes the power of legislation.

Responsibilities of the Shura Council

The Shura Council has legislative powers, is responsible for determining the general budget, and it also checks the executive powers. The Council is responsible for deliberating and making suggestions on a number of issues, including:

Proposed laws and decrees referred by the Council of Ministers
State policy which concerns economic, administrative and political issues referred by the Council of Ministers
All state affairs related to social and cultural issues, through its own initiative or referred by the Council of Ministers
The general budget for public projects
The Council’s budget and its final accounts
Following up and tracking the progress of previously discussed issues referred by the Cabinet and also addressing any queries
Addressing questions to ministers to get clarification on matters related to their expertise
Requesting additional detail on matters concerning government and ministerial policy
Proposing and putting forward recommendations on Council issues

Members of the Shura Council

The current Shura Council comprises a total of 45 members, 30 of whom are directly elected in a secret general ballot, whilst the remaining 15 are appointed by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani from amongst the ministers or anyone else. The term of service of the appointed members expires when these members resign their seats or are relieved from their posts.

Sessions of the Shura Council

The annual term of the session of the Council is at least eight months and the Council may not be allowed to adjourn the session until the budget of the state is approved. The Council commences its annual ordinary session upon convocation by the H.H. The Amir within the month of October every year. H.H. The Amir or his nominated representative opens the annual term of the session of the Advisory Council and gives a comprehensive speech in which he addresses the affairs of the state.

For sessions to be valid, the majority of the members, including the speaker or his deputy, must attend them. If the number is not complete, the session is postponed to the next convocation date.

The decisions of the Council are made through an absolute majority of present members – in cases where a special majority is not specified – and if the votes are equal, the Speaker’s vote determines the final decision.

In the case of necessity, the H.H. The Amir, by Decree or upon a request by a majority of the members of the Council, calls the Council to an extraordinary meeting, where the Council may not look into matters other than those for which the Council is convoked. Summoning and adjourning the ordinary and extraordinary sessions shall be made by Decree.

Council Organs of the Shura Council

The Shura Council's organs are:

The Bureau

The Council has a bureau consisting of the Speaker, his Deputy Speaker and two or more rapporteurs. However, since its inception, it has been a practice in the Council to elect, only two rapporteurs, by secret balloting on the base of proportional majority. The tenure of the two rapporteurs lasts from the end of the preceding day, to the inaugural meeting of the next annual session. However, they may be re-elected for the next sessions of the Council.

General Secretariat

The General Secretariat is the executive organ of the Shura Council. It is responsible for all administrative, financial, technical and legal affairs of the Council. It is tasked with the implementation of decisions and recommendations of the Council and its Standing and other Committees composed of the Shura members. It's composed of the:

Secretary-General
Assistant Secretary
Employees

It has the following technical sections:

Technical Affairs Section
Editing and Translation Section
Information and Public Relations Section
Financial and Administrative Affairs Section

Committees

The Shura Council forms, from among its members, within the first week of its annual ordinary session, the following Standing Committees:

The Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee.
The Economic and Financial Committee.
The Services and the Public Utilities Committee.
The Internal and External Affairs Committee.
The Information and Cultural Affairs Committee.

The Shura Council may, according to the exigencies of the work, may form other Ad hoc, or Standing Committees. Each Ad hoc, or Standing Committee may constitute, from among its members, one or more Sub-Committees.

The Committees shall, after consideration and discussion of each matter referred to them, present to the Speaker of the Council, a comprehensive report on each item referred to them, within 30 days at late, from the date of referral of the issue., unless the Council decides otherwise.

If there are delays in the date of submission of the reports to the Speaker, the Speaker shall solicit the opinion of the members of the Council in the first coming meeting. The Council may grant a new date for submission of the reports or may refer the matter to another Committee or the Council will directly take a decision on it.

First Shura Council elections in October 2021

Qatar is all set to hold its first Shura Council elections in October 2021. An electoral law for the country’s first legislative polls was passed by His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, so there is more participation of Qatari citizens.

Based on the electorate, 30 members will be voted in out of the 45 members of the Shura Council, while the remaining 15 will be appointed by H.H. The Amir. All the members of the Shura Council, whether voted in or appointed, will have the same rights and responsibilities.

These include:

approving the general policy of the Qatari government and the country's budget.
exercising control over the executive authority according to the new electoral law.
presenting proposals related to the government’s public matters. (Al Jazeera)

Stages of the electoral process

How to register to vote in Shura Council elections — Image credit: Shutterstock

Voter's Registration: The first stage is the voter’s registration, publishing the initial list, acceptance of any kind of grievance and adjudication, and then publishing the final list of voters.
Candidate Registration: The second stage includes the registration of the candidates, publishing their initial lists, acceptance of any kind of grievance and adjudication, and then the publishing of the final list of the candidates.
Election Campaign: The third stage is the election campaign of the candidates and then there is a silent day prior to the voting day.
Results: The last stage is the election day when the votes are cast, counted and the winners are announced. (The Peninsula Qatar)

For more information about the Shura Council of Qatar, please visit their social media pages:

Website: https://www.shura.qa/en
Instagram: @shuraqatar
Twitter: @ShuraQatar