Shura Council
Encyclopedia
The Shura Council is the upper house
of Egypt
ian bicameral
Parliament
. Its name roughly translates into English as "the Consultative Council". The lower house
of parliament is the People's Assembly
.
The Shura Council was created in 1980 through a Constitutional Amendment
. The Council is composed of 264 members of which 174 members are directly elected and 88 are appointed by the President of the Republic
for six-year terms. Membership is rotating, with one half of the Council renewed every three years.
The Shura Council's legislative powers
are limited. On most matters of legislation, the People's Assembly retains the last word in the event of a disagreement between the two houses.
The Constitution has provided many guarantees whereby the Council is able to carry out its tasks and activities. Such Guarantees include:
The Shura Council member is elected by the absolute majority of valid votes cast in the elections.
The Shura Council is to be consulted on the following (Article 195):
The council must ratify:
In case of disagreements with the People’s Assembly, a combined committee is formed composed of both chambers’ chairmen and seven members from each chamber. The proposed bill is reconsidered in both chambers. If either still disagrees, the issue is once again in a joint session of both chambers to reach a common statement.
The council is considered on a consultative capacity for:
In this case, the council submits its decision to the president and the People’s Assembly.
covering a broad political spectrum
. However, the formation of political parties based on religion is prohibited by the Constitution
. Opposition and political pressure groups, like the Muslim Brotherhood
, are active in Egypt and make their views public, and they are represented at various levels in the political system. However, power is concentrated in the hands of the President of the Republic and the National Democratic Party
which retains a super-majority in the Peoples Assembly.
The November 2000 parliamentary elections are generally regarded to have been more transparent and better executed than past elections. This is due to the new law put into force establishing universal judicial monitoring of polling stations. On the other hand, opposition parties continue to lodge credible complaints about electoral manipulation by the government. There are significant restrictions on the political process and freedom of expression for non-governmental organizations, including professional syndicates and organizations promoting respect for human rights
.
. At least thirteen people were hurt in the fire, which destroyed the parliamentary archive room and several meeting chambers.
According to the Egyptian Channel 1, 99% of the documents have been destroyed in the fire.
On 21 November 2009, President Mubarak inaugurated the new Shura Council Building, which was renovated by Al Mokaweloon Al Arab.
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian bicameral
Bicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
Parliament
Parliament of Egypt
The Parliament of Egypt is the currently dissolved bicameral legislature of Egypt. The Parliament is located in Cairo, Egypt's capital. As the legislative branch of the Egyptian government, the Parliament enacts laws, approves the general policy of the State, the general plan for economic and...
. Its name roughly translates into English as "the Consultative Council". The lower house
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of parliament is the People's Assembly
People's Assembly of Egypt
The People's Assembly is the lower house of Egypt's bicameral parliament. In spite of its lower status, however, it plays a more important role in drafting legislation and day-to-day legislative duties than the Shura Council, the upper house....
.
The Shura Council was created in 1980 through a Constitutional Amendment
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
. The Council is composed of 264 members of which 174 members are directly elected and 88 are appointed by the President of the Republic
President of Egypt
The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt is the head of state of Egypt.Under the Constitution of Egypt, the president is also the supreme commander of the armed forces and head of the executive branch of the Egyptian government....
for six-year terms. Membership is rotating, with one half of the Council renewed every three years.
The Shura Council's legislative powers
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
are limited. On most matters of legislation, the People's Assembly retains the last word in the event of a disagreement between the two houses.
Members
The Shura Council must be made up of 264 members, two thirds of the council (176) is elected by a direct ballot, and half of the Council must be farmers or workers, the remaining third (88) is appointed by the President of the Republic.Term of membership and activities
The term membership of the Shura Council is six years. However, renewed election and appointment of 50% of the total number of members is required every three years, and it is always possible to re-elect or re-appoint those members whose membership has expired.The Constitution has provided many guarantees whereby the Council is able to carry out its tasks and activities. Such Guarantees include:
- The Council may not be dissolved except by a Presidential decree and only in case of necessity.
- Members of the Council have parliamentary immunity.
Candidates criteria
In accordance with the law, any candidate wishing to be elected to the Shura Council should meet the following conditions:- Hold the Egyptian nationality as well as being the son/daughter of an Egyptian national.
- Be not less than 35 years old upon election or nomination.
- Have completed military service or be exempted therefrom.
The Shura Council member is elected by the absolute majority of valid votes cast in the elections.
Powers
Although the powers of the Shura Council are not as extensive or effective as the People’s Assembly, its jurisdiction as provided by Articles (194) and (195) of the Constitution covers the studying and proposing of what is deemed necessary to preserve the principles of the July 23rd revolution and the May 15th, 1971 Corrective Revolution.The Shura Council is to be consulted on the following (Article 195):
The council must ratify:
- Proposals for the amendment of one or more Articles of the Constitution.
- Constitutional amendment bills.
- All treaties or agreements affecting Egypt’s territorial integrity or sovereignty.
In case of disagreements with the People’s Assembly, a combined committee is formed composed of both chambers’ chairmen and seven members from each chamber. The proposed bill is reconsidered in both chambers. If either still disagrees, the issue is once again in a joint session of both chambers to reach a common statement.
The council is considered on a consultative capacity for:
- Drafts, and general plans for social and economic development.
- Bills referred to the Council by the President of the Republic.
- All matters relating to the state’s general policy or international issues referred to the Shura Council by the President of the Republic.
In this case, the council submits its decision to the president and the People’s Assembly.
Parliamentary elections
There are currently 18 recognized political partiesPolitical party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
covering a broad political spectrum
Political spectrum
A political spectrum is a way of modeling different political positions by placing them upon one or more geometric axes symbolizing independent political dimensions....
. However, the formation of political parties based on religion is prohibited by the Constitution
Constitution of Egypt
The Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt was the fundamental law of Egypt. It was adopted on September 11, 1971 through a public referendum. It was later amended in 1980, 2005 and 2007. It was proclaimed to update the democratic representative system in assertion of the rule of law,...
. Opposition and political pressure groups, like the Muslim Brotherhood
Muslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
, are active in Egypt and make their views public, and they are represented at various levels in the political system. However, power is concentrated in the hands of the President of the Republic and the National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (Egypt)
The National Democratic Party , often simply called Al-Ḥizb al-Waṭaniy – the "National Party", was an Egyptian political party. It was founded by President Anwar El Sadat in 1978....
which retains a super-majority in the Peoples Assembly.
The November 2000 parliamentary elections are generally regarded to have been more transparent and better executed than past elections. This is due to the new law put into force establishing universal judicial monitoring of polling stations. On the other hand, opposition parties continue to lodge credible complaints about electoral manipulation by the government. There are significant restrictions on the political process and freedom of expression for non-governmental organizations, including professional syndicates and organizations promoting respect for human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
.
Latest election
2008 fire
On 19 August 2008, a huge fire seriously damaged most of the 19th-century palace that houses the Shura Council in CairoCairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. At least thirteen people were hurt in the fire, which destroyed the parliamentary archive room and several meeting chambers.
According to the Egyptian Channel 1, 99% of the documents have been destroyed in the fire.
On 21 November 2009, President Mubarak inaugurated the new Shura Council Building, which was renovated by Al Mokaweloon Al Arab.