Parliament of Egypt

Parliament of Egypt
Name	Parliament of Egypt
Native name	مجلس النواب
Transcription name	Majlis al-Nowwab
Legislature	Parliament of the Arab Republic of Egypt
House type	Unicameral
Body	Parliament of Egypt
Houses	House of Representatives
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Hanafy El-Gebaly
Election1	12 January 2021
Members	596
House1	House of Representatives
Political groups1	Pro-government (503):, Nation's Future Party (316) – Republican People's Party (50) – New Wafd Party (26) – Homeland Defenders Party (23) – Modern Egypt Party (11) – Conference Party (10) – Egyptian Social Democratic Party (9) – Al-Nour Party (7) – Conservative Party (6) – Reform and Development Party (6) – My Homeland Egypt Party (5) – National Progressive Unionist Party (4) – Freedom Party (4) – Justice Party (2) – Democratic Peace Party (2) – Egyptian Patriotic Movement (2) – Independents (20), Opposition (23):, 25-30 Alliance (12) – Revolutionary Guards Party (5) – Egyptian Freedom Party (4) – Nasserist Party (2), Independents (70)
Voting system1	Parallel voting: Party-list proportional representation & First-past-the-post voting
Last election1	2020 Egyptian parliamentary election
Meeting place	Parliament Building, Cairo
Website	www.parliament.gov.eg

Parliament of Egypt. The Parliament of Egypt, formally the House of Representatives, is the unicameral legislative body of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Established in its modern form following the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, it operates within the framework of the Constitution of Egypt and is headquartered in a historic building in central Cairo. The parliament is responsible for lawmaking, approving the state budget, and exercising oversight over the Government of Egypt.

History

The origins of a formal legislative body in Egypt trace back to the Advisory Council of Representatives established by Khedive Isma'il Pasha in 1866. Following the Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence in 1922, the 1923 Constitution created a bicameral parliament, a system that persisted, with interruptions, until the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 led by the Free Officers Movement under Gamal Abdel Nasser. The Constitution of 1971, promulgated under Anwar Sadat, re-established a unicameral People's Assembly, with an upper Shura Council added later. Following the 2011 Egyptian revolution and the subsequent tenure of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, a new Constitution of Egypt was ratified in 2014, which dissolved the Shura Council and consolidated legislative authority in a single House of Representatives.

Structure and composition

The Parliament of Egypt is a unicameral body known as the House of Representatives. It is composed of 596 members who serve for a five-year term. The Speaker presides over the chamber, assisted by two deputies. The internal structure includes numerous specialized committees, such as those for Budget, Foreign Relations, and Defense and National Security, which scrutinize proposed legislation. The parliament convenes in its main building on Cairo's Corniche el-Nil, a site with significant historical and architectural heritage.

Powers and functions

The parliament's primary constitutional powers include the discussion and approval of all state laws, the ratification of international treaties and conventions, and the approval of the general state budget presented by the Cabinet of Egypt. It holds the authority to question and withdraw confidence from the Prime Minister of Egypt and other ministers, and it can propose amendments to the Constitution of Egypt. Furthermore, it plays a role in declaring a state of emergency, as outlined in the constitution, and must approve the president's declaration of war.

Elections and membership

Members are elected through a parallel voting system, with 448 members elected via individual candidacy in single-member districts and 120 elected through a closed list proportional representation system in four large constituencies. The President of Egypt may appoint up to 28 members. Eligibility requires Egyptian citizenship, a minimum age of 25, and literacy. The most recent general election was the 2020 Egyptian parliamentary election, supervised by the National Election Authority and witnessed by international observers.

Relationship with the executive

The relationship is defined by the Constitution of Egypt, which establishes a semi-presidential system. The President of Egypt, currently Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, holds significant executive authority, including the power to dissolve the parliament under specific conditions and to issue decrees with the force of law when it is not in session. The Government of Egypt, headed by the Prime Minister of Egypt, is accountable to the parliament, which can conduct interpellations and pass votes of no confidence. All legislation passed by the parliament requires the president's promulgation to become law.

Current political landscape

Following the 2020 Egyptian parliamentary election, the dominant political force is the Nation's Future Party, which holds a commanding majority of seats. Other significant pro-government blocs include the Republican People's Party and the New Wafd Party. The Islamist Al-Nour Party retains a small presence, while the once-powerful Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, has been banned since 2014. A limited number of seats are held by opposition alliances like the 25-30 Alliance. The political environment is characterized by strong support for the policies of the Abdel Fattah el-Sisi administration, with the legislature primarily focused on domestic economic initiatives and national security matters.

Category:National legislatures Category:Politics of Egypt Category:Government of Egypt