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Legislative body of the State of Qatar From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Consultative Assembly (Arabic: مجلس الشورى القطري, romanized: Majlis as-Shura; also known as the Shura Council) is the legislative body of the State of Qatar, with 45 members. Following the 2021 Qatari general election, it has 30 elected and 15 appointed members.[1][2] The body can only question the prime minister, who is appointed by the Emir of Qatar, on his policies if two-thirds of the members agree, which is unlikely given that one-third of the members are appointed by the Emir.[3]
Consultative Assembly of Qatar مجلس الشورى القطري | |
|---|---|
| 51st Session | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Speaker | Hassan bin Abdulla Al-Ghanim since 27 October 2021 |
Deputy Speaker | Hamda bint Hassan Al-Sulaiti since 27 October 2021 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 45 |
| |
| Committees | List
|
Length of term | 4 years |
| Elections | |
| N/A (appointed) | |
Last election | October 2, 2021 |
| Meeting place | |
| Doha State of Qatar | |
| Website | |
| https://www.shura.qa | |
The Council was formed in April 1972 with 20 appointed members.[4] In May 1972, the first consultative assembly meeting was held, during which Sayed Aziz bin Khalid Al Ghanim was elected as the assembly's first chairman. Aside from the 20 members who took part in the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani and foreign dignitaries were also in attendance.[5]
Qatar's constitution, approved in April 2003 by popular referendum, has created a legislative body to be two thirds elected by universal suffrage, and one third appointed by the Emir. According to the constitution, the legislature will have three powers: to approve (but not prepare) the national budget; to monitor the performance of ministers through no-confidence votes; and to draft, discuss, and vote on proposed legislation, which becomes law only with the vote of a two-thirds majority and the Emir's endorsement.[citation needed]
The consultative assembly has the following functions:[6]
The responsibilities of the CMC within the broader institutional framework have been a focal point of discussion among officials and members of the public. Research conducted by the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) in 2015 reveals a lack of awareness among respondents about the extent of the CMC's impact on local daily life. According to the survey, 21% of participants believed the CMC exerted no influence at all, assigning a score of zero, while 18% perceived a moderate influence, rating it as five, and approximately 10% rated it as having full influence, giving it a score of ten.[7]
This perceived limitation in the CMC’s authority was a recurring theme in a focus group discussion held at Qatar University. Participants cited the council's constrained powers as a primary reason for their hesitance to register and vote in elections. Such critiques have been echoed in media reports and by CMC members themselves. Sheikha bint Yousuf Al-Jufairi, who was re-elected in 2015 and chairs the CMC's Legal Committee, had previously emphasized the necessity of amending Law No. 12, which defines the CMC's functions, during her 2007 campaign. Similarly, Khalid Al Kuwari, a victorious candidate in 2003, highlighted the Council’s limited executive authority as contributing to low voter turnout. He also noted the lack of representation for the expatriate population, who are not considered in municipal discussions on public health, environmental concerns, and infrastructure needs despite being the majority in many urban areas. The expatriates, who share neighborhoods and facilities with Qatari citizens, remain excluded from consultation on these issues.[7]
The current Chairman of the Consultative Assembly is Hassan bin Abdullah Al-Ghanim.[8]
Speaker
Deputy speaker
Rapporteurs[10]
| Name | Entered office | Left office | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul Aziz Bin Khalid Al-Ghanim | 1 May 1972 | 8 December 1990 | 18 years, 7 months and 7 days | [11] |
| Ali bin Khalifa Al Hitmi | 8 December 1990 | 27 March 1995 | 4 years, 3 months and 19 days | [11] |
| Mohamed Bin Mubarak Al-Khulaifi | 27 March 1995 | 14 November 2017 | 22 years, 7 months and 18 days | [11] |
| Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud | 14 November 2017 | 27 October 2021 | 3 years, 11 months and 13 days | [12][13] |
| Hassan bin Abdulla Al-Ghanim | 27 October 2021 | Present | 3 years and 25 days | [14] |
In 2006 it was announced that legislative elections would take place in 2007; according to a 1 April statement by then-First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, who later became Prime Minister of Qatar. That was postponed and an advisory committee was established to study the issue. The legislative council rescheduled the elections for June 2010.[15] The election did not take place in 2010.
In November 2011, the Emir announced that the election would take place in 2013,[1][2] but they were postponed prior to the retiring Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani transferring power to his son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.[16] The Consultative Assembly's term was extended until 2016.[17]
In November 2017, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani appointed four women to the 45-member council, marking the first time women have taken part in the council.[18]
However, the elections were then postponed until 2019, with the prior term extended once again.[19] In October 2019 the Emir issued an order for a committee to be formed to organise the elections, chaired by Prime Minister Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani.[20] In November 2020, the Emir pledged to hold the elections in October 2021.[21] The 2021 Qatari general election was held on 2 October 2021.
In October 2024, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani announced plans for a referendum on whether to abolish direct elections to the council, saying that the election had produced conflict among families and tribes.[22] The referendum passed.
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