Iraqi Governing Council

Iraqi Governing Council
United States Department of Defense · Public domain · source
Name	Iraqi Governing Council
Native name	مجلس الحكم العراقي
Formed	13 July 2003
Dissolved	1 June 2004
Jurisdiction	Iraq
Headquarters	Baghdad
Chief1 name	Presidency rotated monthly
Parent agency	Coalition Provisional Authority

Iraqi Governing Council. The Iraqi Governing Council was the principal provisional administrative body established in Iraq following the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the collapse of Saddam Hussein's government. Created by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) under its administrator, L. Paul Bremer, the council served as a transitional government from July 2003 until the formation of the Iraqi Interim Government in June 2004. Its formation marked the first major step toward Iraqi self-governance after decades of Ba'ath Party rule, though its authority was ultimately derived from and subject to the CPA.

Formation and composition

The council was formally established on 13 July 2003 through **Coalition Provisional Authority** Order Number 6, following extensive consultations by **L. Paul Bremer** with various Iraqi political, religious, and tribal leaders. Its 25 members were appointed to represent Iraq's diverse ethnic and sectarian demographics, including prominent Shia Arabs, Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Assyrians, and Chaldeans. Key figures included Ahmed Chalabi of the Iraqi National Congress, Iyad Allawi of the Iraqi National Accord, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Jalal Talabani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and Massoud Barzani of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. The council also included several women, such as Aquila al-Hashimi and Raja Habib al-Khuzaai, and its rotating presidency was designed to share leadership among nine selected members.

Powers and responsibilities

While symbolically sovereign, the council's powers were circumscribed by the overarching authority of the **Coalition Provisional Authority**, which retained final control over security, financial, and major policy decisions. The council was authorized to appoint and oversee interim ministers, propose policies and laws to the CPA, and represent Iraq in international forums like the United Nations and the Arab League. It established committees to manage key areas such as finance, foreign affairs, and security, and it played a crucial role in drafting the **Transitional Administrative Law**, which served as an interim constitution. However, its ability to enact independent legislation or control the **Iraqi Armed Forces** and the **Multi-National Force – Iraq** was severely limited by CPA oversight.

Major decisions and policies

The council ratified the **Coalition Provisional Authority**'s de-Ba'athification policy and the dissolution of the **Iraqi Army**, decisions that later proved highly controversial. It approved a new design for the **Flag of Iraq** and officially recognized **Kurdish language** as an official language alongside **Arabic**. In December 2003, the council captured international attention with the apprehension of former President **Saddam Hussein** near **Tikrit**. Its most significant legislative achievement was the March 2004 approval of the **Transitional Administrative Law**, which outlined the path to sovereignty and guaranteed fundamental rights. The council also signed the **November 15 Agreement**, which established a timeline for the transfer of sovereignty and the holding of elections.

Dissolution and transition

In accordance with the **Transitional Administrative Law**, the council dissolved itself on 1 June 2004 to make way for the **Iraqi Interim Government**. This transition was part of the process outlined in **United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546**, which endorsed the handover of sovereignty. Many former council members assumed prominent roles in the new administration, with **Iyad Allawi** becoming the **Prime Minister of Iraq** and **Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer** serving as **President of Iraq**. The **Coalition Provisional Authority** was simultaneously dissolved, transferring formal sovereignty to the interim government, though **Multi-National Force – Iraq** troops remained to provide security.

Legacy and assessment

The **Iraqi Governing Council** is historically significant as Iraq's first post-**Ba'ath Party** governing body, providing a framework for ethnic and sectarian power-sharing that influenced later governments under the **Constitution of Iraq**. However, it faced widespread criticism for being an unelected body perceived as reliant on and legitimizing the **American-led occupation**, which limited its popular legitimacy. Its decisions regarding de-Ba'athification and the military are often cited as contributing to the instability that fueled the subsequent **Iraqi insurgency**. Despite its shortcomings, the council's drafting of the **Transitional Administrative Law** and its management of the initial political transition established foundational processes for the **Council of Representatives of Iraq** and the eventual **2005 Iraqi parliamentary election**. Category:Iraqi Governing Council Category:2003 establishments in Iraq Category:2004 disestablishments in Iraq Category:Coalition Provisional Authority