Shura Council
| Egyptian Shura Council مجلس الشورى المصرى Maǧlis aš-Šūrā al-Maṣrī |
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| Type | |
| Type | Upper house |
| Leadership | |
| Speaker | Ahmed Fahmy, FJP Since 28 February 2012 |
| Deputy Speaker | Tarek Sahri, Al-Nour Party |
| Deputy Speaker | Mustafa Hammouda, Wafd Party |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 270[3] |
| Political groups |
FJP (105) |
| Elections | |
| Last election | 2012 |
| Meeting place | |
| Shura Council chamber of the Egyptian Parliament building, Cairo, Egypt | |
| Website | |
| www.shoura.gov.eg/(S(fygn0qzip52mkrqxx2rfdkhp))/App_Ara/ | |
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| This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Egypt |
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Constitution
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Government
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Legislature
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Judiciary
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Divisions
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Political parties
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Foreign policy
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The Shura Council (Arabic: مجلس الشورى, pronounced [ˈmæɡles eʃˈʃuːɾˤɑ], "consultative council") is the upper house of Egyptian bicameral Parliament. Its name roughly translates into English as "the Consultative Council". The lower house of parliament is the House of Representatives. In the 2012 draft for a new constitution, they are called "Shura Council" and "House of Representatives", respectively.[4]
The Shura Council was created in 1980 through a Constitutional Amendment. The Council is composed of 264 members of which 176 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 were limited until the Egyptian constitution gave it the power to legislate after the parliament was dissolved.[2] It holds that power until a new House of Representatives is elected.[2]
A legal challenge concerning the constitutionality of the Shura Council will be looked at on 2 December 2012 by the High Constitutional Court.[5] The court has postponed the verdict in response to protests.[6] Mohamed Morsi's constitutional declaration issued in November 2012 bars the Shura Council from being dissolved by the judiciary.[7] The constitutional declaration issued by Morsi in December of 2012 allows the Shura Council to be dissolved by the judiciary.[8] The High Constitutional Court referred the lawsuit to the State Commissioners' Board, which is the advisory board of the High Constitutional Court, on 15 January 2013.[9] The board of commissioners will review the lawsuit on 10 February 2013; after lawyers give the required documents, the board will create a report on the constitutionality of the election law.[9] The report was received 22 April 2013.[10] A verdict in the case asking for the dissolution of the Shura Council will be ruled on 2 June 2013.[11]
Contents |
Members [edit]
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. Under article 128 of the draft constitution, there will be at least 150 members in the Shura Council.[4]
Term of membership and activities [edit]
The term membership of the Shura Council is six years. According to article 130 of the draft constitution, members would only have a term membership of six years.[4] In addition, the president would not be able to appoint any more than 1/10th of the amount of elected members, according to article 128.[4] 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 [edit]
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. (40 in the 2012 constitution draft)[12]
- 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 [edit]
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:
- 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.
The constituent assembly has given the Shura Council the power to issue legislation until a new lower house of parliament is elected.[13]
Parliamentary elections [edit]
There are currently 18 recognized political parties 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.
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.
Latest election [edit]
Note that, prior to the 2011–2012 elections, the Council and Assembly had both been dissolved by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces following the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.
| Party | Proportional representation | FPTP | Total seats |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | Seats | |||
| Freedom and Justice Party | 2,894,922 | 45.04 | 56 | 49 | 105 | |
| Islamist Bloc | 1,840,014 | 28.63 | 38 | 7 | 45 | |
| New Wafd Party | 543,417 | 8.45 | 14 | 0 | 14 | |
| Egyptian Bloc | 348,957 | 5.43 | 8 | 0 | 8 | |
| Freedom Party | 84,936 | 1.32 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Democratic Peace Party | 95,273 | 1.48 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Independents | – | – | – | 4 | 4 | |
| Presidential appointees | – | – | – | – | 90 | |
| Total | 6,427,666 | 100 | 120 | 60 | 270 | |
2008 fire [edit]
On 19 August 2008, a huge fire seriously damaged most of the 19th-century palace that houses the Shura Council in Cairo. At least thirteen people were hurt in the fire, which destroyed the parliamentary archive room and several meeting chambers.[14]
According to the Egyptian Channel 1, 99% of the documents have been destroyed in the fire.[citation needed]
On 21 November 2009, President Mubarak inaugurated the new Shura Council Building, which was renovated by Al Mokaweloon Al Arab.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Update: Islamists and old regime men in Morsy's Shura Council appointments". Egypt Independent. 23 December 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
- ^ a b c "Shura Council’s new legislative powers are worrying for many". Egypt Independent. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
- ^ a b c "Morsy appoints 90 members to Shura Council". Daily News Egypt. 23 December 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
- ^ a b c d "Egypt's draft constitution translated". Egypt Independent. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
- ^ "HCC to address constitutionality of Shura Council 2 December". Ahram Online. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
- ^ "Egypt Constitutional Court postpones all sessions indefinitely". Ahram Online. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
- ^ "Politicians divided on Morsy's new constitutional declaration". Egypt Independent. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ El-Dabh, Basil (10 December 2012). "Referendum to decide Shura power". Daily News Egypt. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
- ^ a b "Constitution court refers Shura Council case to state commissioners' board". Ahram Online. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
- ^ "Court to rule on Shura Council dissolution in May". Daily News Egypt. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
- ^ "Court to rule on Shura Council next month". Daily News Egypt. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
- ^ "Egyptian president granted 'half' his powers in new constitution". Egypt Independent. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
- ^ "Fast-track constitution: Voting Thursday 2 months before deadline". Ahram Online. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
- ^ "Egypt's parliament hit by blaze". BBC News. 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
