Political Systems of Bahrain & Qatar (PDF) Fall 2024/2025

COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENTS OF GCC: POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF BAHRAIN & QATAR FALL 2024/2025 BACKGROUND - BAHRAIN Bahrain is a monarchy, ruled by King Hamad bin Essa Al Khalifa, who came to power in 1999 following the death of his father. Bahrain officially gained independence from Great Britain on Aug...

COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENTS OF GCC: POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF BAHRAIN & QATAR FALL 2024/2025 BACKGROUND - BAHRAIN Bahrain is a monarchy, ruled by King Hamad bin Essa Al Khalifa, who came to power in 1999 following the death of his father. Bahrain officially gained independence from Great Britain on August 15, 1971. The monarch rules with the assistance of his relatives who occupy the most important ministerial posts, such as Defense, Interior, and Foreign affairs. EXECUTIVE BRANCH The King is the head of state. He: 1. Appoints and dismisses the Prime Minister. 2. Has wide-ranging executive and legislative powers. 3. Appoints the president and members of the Consultative Council. 4. Is the commander in chief of the armed forces. 5. Is chairman of the Higher Judicial Council and appoints judges. 6. Has the right to call for a referendum on any issue he deems important. 7. Can dissolve parliament. 8. Has the right to veto laws passed by the National Assembly. 9. Has the power to amend the constitution and propose, ratify, and circulate laws. EXECUTIVE BRANCH Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has been in office since 1971, making him the world’s longest-serving prime minister. He has historically and, most recently during the Arab Uprising of 2011, been associated with a hardline response to protesters. One of the leading demands of the opposition during the protests of 2011 was to replace the Prime Minister with an elected official. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Bahrain has a bicameral legislature. The National Assembly consists of: 1. An upper house: The 40-member Majlis Al Shura (Consultative Council), appointed by the King. 2. A lower house: The 40-member Majlis Al Nuwab (Council of Representatives), which is elected by the citizens. The upper house can veto the lower. Members are appointed for four-year terms. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY The National Assembly has a limited role, including: 1. Holds annual sessions. 2. Can be called to an extraordinary session by royal decree if the King deems it necessary. 3. Needs more than half of its members to hold a valid meeting. 4. Passes resolutions by an absolute majority of the members present. 5. Sets up a special committee to deal with complaints submitted by citizens. This committee seeks explanation from the authorities and then informs the person concerned of the result. CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL MAJLIS AL SHURA Was originally established in December 1992 as an advisory body with the right to propose legislation. Was endowed with law-making powers, such as proposing and amending laws by the 2002 constitution. Has 40 members appointed for four-year renewable terms. The king appoints the president and the members of the Council, the president then chooses two vice-presidents. When the two houses are convened together, the president of the Council serves as chairman of the session. And in the event of a deadlock, the president of the Council casts the tie-breaking vote. COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES MAJLIS AL NUWAB Has 40 members elected by the citizens for four-year terms. Has role in considering legislation, such as proposing and amending laws, but authority still resides with the king. Can be dissolved by the king, who can also recall a dissolved Chamber. If the Chamber is dissolved, elections are to be held within four months of the dissolution. The Consultative Council has effective veto power over decisions made in the Council of Representatives. WOMEN IN THE COUNCIL In 2018, six women were elected to the Majlis Al Nuwab and eight were appointed to the Majlis Al Shura. In the 2022 elections, eight were elected. “It is a proud moment in the successive achievements of women in Bahrain” Sheikha Sabeeka Al Khalifa JUDICIAL BRANCH Bahrain’s judicial system is based on both Islamic law (Sharia) and civil. The constitution specifies that the king appoints all judges by royal decree. CIVIL LAW COURTS The Civil Law Courts settle all civil and commercial cases, including cases regarding the personal status of non-Muslims. These courts are structured in a three-level hierarchy: 1. The Courts of Minor Causes: Has one judge with jurisdiction over minor civil and commercial disputes. 2. The High Civil Court of Appeal: Has jurisdiction over larger civil and commercial disputes and personal status cases involving non-Muslims. It is presided over by three judges. 3. The Supreme Court of Appeal: Composed of a chairman and three other judges who are appointed by decree. SHARIA LAW COURTS The Sharia Law Courts has jurisdiction over all issues related to the personal status of Muslims, both Bahraini and non-Bahraini, including matters relating to inheritance and wills. There are the two levels of Sharia courts in Bahrain: 1. The Senior Sharia Court 2. The High Sharia Court of Appeal At each of the two levels there is a Sunni court with jurisdiction over all personal status cases brought by Sunni Muslims and a Shia court with jurisdiction over cases brought by Shia Muslims. The High Sharia Court of Appeal must be composed of a minimum of two judges. In the event of a disagreement, the Ministry of Justice provides a third judge, and the decision will be based on a majority vote. STATE SECURITY COURT The King established a State Security Court to deal with matters of internal and external security. This court was abolished in 2001. In March 2011, however, the King declared a state of emergency and established a military court, the National Safety Court. The National Safety Court is to try opposition members, presided over by a military judge and two civilian judges, all appointed by the Bahrain Defense Force. BACKGROUND - QATAR Qatar gained its independence from the United Kingdom on September 3, 1971. The Amir is the Head of State. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al- Thani became Amir of Qatar on June 25, 2013. And he is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. EXECUTIVE BRANCH The Amir shall discharge the following functions: 1. Drawing up the general policy of the State with the assistance of the Council of Ministers. 2. Ratification and declaration of laws; and no such law may be issued unless it is ratified by the Amir. 3. Summoning the Council of Ministers to convene at any time deemed necessary for public interest, and the Amir shall preside over the meetings of the Council of Ministers that he attends. 4. Appointment of civil servants and military personnel and terminating their service in accordance with the law. COUNCIL OF MINISTERS According to Chapter 3 “The Executive Authority “of the Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar, the formation of the Council of Ministers shall be established by an Amiri Order on a proposal by the Prime Minister. The Amir may entrust the Prime Minister or any other Minister with the functions of one or more ministries. The law shall specify the powers of Ministers. The Prime Minister shall preside over the sessions of the Council. He shall organize its proceedings and supervise the coordination of work among the various Ministries to achieve unity and harmony among the governmental organs of the state. The Prime Minister shall sign, in the name and on behalf of the Council of Ministers, decisions made by the Council. COUNCIL OF MINISTERS He shall also submit to the Amir the decisions of the Council on matters requiring an Amiri Resolution for approval. Article 121 of the Constitution of Qatar defined the Council of Ministers “as the highest executive organ, to administer all the internal and external affairs falling within its jurisdiction as determined in this Constitution and the provisions of the law”. THE ADVISORY COUNCIL The current Advisory Council comprises a total of 45 members. 30 of whom are directly elected in a general election, and the remaining 15 are appointed by the Amir. The terms of service of the appointed members end either when they resign or when they are relieved from their posts. The Advisory Council has legislative powers, is responsible for determining the general budget, and it also checks the executive powers. The Advisory Council can draft and approve laws, but the final say is in the hands of the Amir. DEBATE QUESTION “Al Jazeera should be banned in the GCC.” GROUP H GROUP D FOR AGAINST 1. Mariam Mohamed Abdalla Alqireidi Alshamsi 1. Salem Hamad Mohammed Saif Alkhateri 2. Maitha Khalifa Mohammed Alhamar Alzaabi 2. Yasmeen Abdalla Karam Ibrahim Al-ali 3. Shouq Mohamed Ahmed Dughali Aldhuhoori 3. Ibrahim Abdelaziz Ibrahim Murad Alraeesi 4. Meerah Adel Mahmoud Ahmed Alzarooni 4. Ghaith Jasim Khamis Mohamed Aljasmi