Council of Representatives of Iraq
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| Council of Representatives of Iraq | |
|---|---|
| Name | Council of Representatives of Iraq |
| Native name | مجلس النواب العراقي |
| Legislature | Iraqi Parliament |
| House type | Unicameral |
| Foundation | 2005 |
| Leader1 type | Speaker |
| Members | 329 |
| Voting system | Open list proportional representation |
| Last election | 2021 Iraqi parliamentary election |
| Meeting place | Baghdad |
| Website | Official website |
Council of Representatives of Iraq is the unicameral national assembly formed under the 2005 Iraqi Constitution to exercise legislative authority in Iraq. It convenes in Baghdad and operates within a framework shaped by the Post-invasion Iraq political transition, the U.S. occupation of Iraq, and subsequent agreements such as the Surge (2007) and the 2008 Status of Forces Agreement. The body plays a central role in selecting executive officials, approving treaties, and overseeing ministries created after the fall of the Ba'ath Party regime.
History
The institution emerged from the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the Iraqi Governing Council arrangements, succeeding the Transitional National Assembly of Iraq that drafted the 2005 Iraqi Constitution. Early sessions featured figures from the United Iraqi Alliance, the Kurdistan Alliance, and the Iraqi Accord Front negotiating power-sharing accords influenced by the Washington Agreement (2003) and disputes tied to the 2005 Iraqi legislative election. The chamber navigated crises including the Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011), the Iraq War troop surge of 2007, the rise of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and the 2011 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Major political turning points involved coalition formation after the 2010 Iraqi parliamentary election, the premiership of Nouri al-Maliki, the premiership of Haider al-Abadi, and protests during the 2019–2021 Iraqi protests that influenced subsequent electoral reform and cabinet formation.
Structure and Powers
The assembly's composition and prerogatives are defined by the 2005 Iraqi Constitution and interpreted against precedents from the Coalition Provisional Authority era. It elects the President of Iraq and confirms the Prime Minister of Iraq and cabinet nominees, working closely with the Supreme Court of Iraq on constitutional adjudication. Powers include legislating statutes, ratifying international treaties such as agreements with United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and debating security arrangements like the U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement. The chamber exercises oversight of ministries including the Ministry of Interior (Iraq), the Ministry of Defense (Iraq), and the Ministry of Oil (Iraq), and interacts with regional bodies like the Kurdistan Regional Government and provincial councils formed under the Iraqi governorates system.
Electoral System
Members are elected via open-list proportional representation in multi-member constituencies corresponding to Iraqi provinces, subject to quotas including reserved seats for minorities such as Assyrians, Mandaeans, and Yazidis. Elections have been administered under laws amended after the 2010 Iraqi parliamentary election and the 2020 Iraqi parliamentary election debates, with international observation from organizations like the European Union Election Observation Mission and the National Democratic Institute. The electoral framework has been contested in petitions to the Iraqi Supreme Court and shaped by reforms following the 2018 Iraqi parliamentary election and protests demanding changes to seat allocation and voter rolls.
Political Composition and Parties
The chamber hosts factions deriving from blocs such as the State of Law Coalition, the Sadr Movement, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Iraqi Communist Party, and the Kurdistan Islamic Union. Other represented groups include the Islamic Party of Kurdistan, the Iraqi National Accord, the Iraqi Islamic Party, and coalitions formed by leaders like Muqtada al-Sadr, Ayad Allawi, and Barham Salih. Shifts in alignment occurred during negotiations after the 2014 Iraqi parliamentary election, the 2018 Iraqi parliamentary election, and the contested outcomes of the 2021 Iraqi parliamentary election. External actors including Iran–Iraq relations dynamics and engagement with the United States and the European Union have influenced factional strategies and cross-bloc alliances.
Legislative Process
Bills can be proposed by members, committees, and the Council of Ministers (Iraq), following procedures set out in the 2005 Iraqi Constitution. Draft legislation moves through committee review, floor debate, and votes requiring specific quorums; significant measures may involve consultation with the Central Bank of Iraq or the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq for constitutional review. Lawmaking has addressed issues from petroleum law negotiations with the Ministry of Oil (Iraq), budget approval tied to the Public Finance Law, to security statutes shaped by engagement with Multinational Force in Iraq contingents and domestic militia disarmament debates linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Committees and Leadership
The assembly organizes standing committees such as those on finance, security, foreign affairs, oil and gas, and human rights, chaired by representatives from major blocs. Leadership positions include the Speaker, Deputy Speakers, and parliamentary secretariat roles elected by members; notable Speakers have included figures tied to the United Iraqi Alliance and the Iraqi National List. Committees coordinate with ministries like the Ministry of Finance (Iraq), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iraq), and international partners including the United Nations and the World Bank on legislation and oversight.
Criticisms and Reforms
Critics cite issues of corruption investigated by bodies such as the Integrity Commission (Iraq) and allegations raised during the 2019–2021 Iraqi protests, alongside concerns over sectarian quota systems established after the Saddam Hussein era. Reform proposals have ranged from changes to the electoral law advocated by the Iraqi High Electoral Commission to anti-corruption measures pushed by civil society organizations and international actors like the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. Debates continue over decentralization requested by the Kurdistan Region, transparency initiatives involving the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), and constitutional amendments proposed in parliamentary sessions.