National Assembly (Kuwait)

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National Assembly of Kuwait
14th Legislative Session
Coat of arms or logo
Coat of Arms of the State of Kuwait
Type
Type
Term limits
 None
History
New session started
 August 6, 2013 (2013-08-06)
Leadership
Marzouq Ali al-Ghanim
Since August 6, 2013
Mubarak Bunaiah al-Khurainej
Since August 6, 2013
Secretary
Adel Musaad al-Khorafi
Since October 28, 2014
Controller
Abdullah Ibrahim al-Tamimi
Since October 27, 2015
Structure
Seats 50 elected members
Up to 15 appointed members
Length of term
 Four years
Elections
Single non-transferable vote
Last election
 July 27, 2013
Next election
 July 27, 2017
Meeting place
Utzon Kuwait National Assembly.jpg
Building of the National Assembly of Kuwait
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Website
kna.kw

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The National Assembly (Arabic: مجلس الأمة‎‎), is the legislature of Kuwait. The current speaker of the house is Marzouq Al-Ghanim. The Constitutional Court constitutionally dissolved the house in June 2013, subsequently issuing a decree for new elections.

Overview

The National Assembly is the legislature in Kuwait.[1] The National Assembly has the power to remove government ministers from their post. MPs frequently exercise their constitutional right to interpellate government members. The National Assembly's interpellation sessions of ministers are aired on Kuwaiti TV. MPs also have the right to interpellate the prime minister, and then table a motion of non-cooperation with the government, in which case the cabinet must get replaced.

The National Assembly can have up to 50 MPs. Fifty deputies are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. Members of the cabinet also sit in the parliament as deputies. The constitution limits the size of the cabinet to 16, and at least one member of the cabinet must be an elected MP. The cabinet ministers have the same rights as the elected MPs, with the following two exceptions: they do not participate in the work of committees, and they cannot vote when an interpolation leads to a no-confidence vote against one of the cabinet members.

The National Assembly is the main legislative power in Kuwait. The Emir can veto laws but the National Assembly can override his veto by a two-third vote. The National Assembly (per article 4 of the Constitution) has the constitutional right to approve and disapprove of an Emir's appointment. The National Assembly effectively removed Saad al-Sabah from his post in 2006 because of Saad's inability to rule due to illness. Kuwait's National Assembly is the most independent parliament in the Arab world,[2] it is among the strongest parliaments in the Middle East.[3]

Dissolutions

The Constitutional Court has the authority to dissolve the house and must subsequently call for new elections within two months. The Constitutional Court is widely believed to be one of the most judicially independent courts in the Arab world.[4] The Emir also has the authority to dissolve the house and must subsequently call for new elections within two months. The Constitutional Court can invalidate the Emir's decree dissolving the parliament.

Building

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Main article: Kuwait National Assembly Building

The parliament building was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who also designed Sydney Opera House.

Political factions

While political parties are not legally recognized in Kuwait, a number of political factions exist. The house is composed of different political factions in addition to independents:

  • The liberal, secular bloc: Ten members were elected in the 2013 elections, making them the largest political bloc in the current parliament.
  • The Shaabi (populist) bloc: A coalition of populists (Sunni and Shia), liberals and nationalist parties with a focus on middle-class issues. The Popular Action Bloc is their main political party.
  • The Islamist bloc: Consisting of Sunni Islamist members. The Islamist bloc has 3 members elected in the 2013 national elections.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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