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| Moroccan Parliament | |
|---|---|
| Name | Parliament of Morocco |
| Native name | البرلمان المغربي |
| House type | Bicameral |
| Established | 1963 |
| Leader1 type | President of the House of Representatives |
| Leader2 type | President of the Assembly of Councillors |
| Meeting place | Rabat |
Moroccan Parliament is the bicameral legislature of the Kingdom of Morocco, seated in Rabat. It comprises two chambers that trace institutional roots to constitutional provisions enacted after independence during the reigns of Mohammed V of Morocco and Hassan II of Morocco. The Parliament operates within a constitutional framework shaped by the Constitution of Morocco and successive amendments influenced by events such as the Hirak Rif protests and the 2011 Arab Spring-era reforms.
Parliamentary development followed the end of the French Protectorate in Morocco and negotiations culminating in independence under Istiqlal Party leadership aligned with Allal al-Fassi and Moulay Youssef. The first formal legislature was formed after the 1963 constitution under King Hassan II of Morocco, responding to pressures from movements like the National Liberation Movement (Morocco). Episodes such as the 1971 Skhirat coup attempt and the 1972 attempted coup altered legislative prerogatives and led to periods of suspended parliamentary sessions overseen by security institutions including the Royal Armed Forces (Morocco). The 1990s saw liberalization driven by actors like Abderrahmane Youssoufi and parties including Socialist Union of Popular Forces and Istiqlal Party (Morocco), while the 2011 constitutional referendum under Mohammed VI of Morocco expanded some parliamentary competences reflecting demands linked to February 20 Movement activism and regional dynamics involving Western Sahara conflict negotiations with the Polisario Front.
The legislature is bicameral, consisting of a lower chamber, the House of Representatives, and an upper chamber, the Assembly of Councillors. The House of Representatives uses electoral lists influenced by laws enacted by the Ministry of Interior (Morocco) and supervised by the Constitutional Council (Morocco), with seat allocation mechanisms referencing proportional representation used by parties such as Authenticity and Modernity Party and Justice and Development Party (Morocco). The Assembly of Councillors features indirect elections representing local collectivities, professional chambers, and employers’ organizations linked to institutions like the General Confederation of Moroccan Employers (CGEM). Leadership posts have been held by figures associated with parties including Istiqlal Party (Morocco), National Rally of Independents, and Socialist Union of Popular Forces; administrative support comes from the parliamentary secretariat and the Court of Auditors (Morocco) for financial oversight.
Constitutional powers include lawmaking, budgetary approval, and government questioning within limits set by the Constitution of Morocco and the prerogatives of the King of Morocco. Parliament exercises authority over international treaties through ratification procedures involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Morocco) and interactions with regional bodies such as the African Union and the Arab League. It holds a consultative role in appointments to institutions like the Superior Council of the Judicial Power (Morocco) and participates in oversight of public finance alongside the Court of Accounts (Morocco). Parliamentary competence intersects with security policy influenced by agencies such as the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance and national strategic concerns tied to relations with the European Union and United States.
Legislation originates from government bills sponsored by ministries like the Ministry of Justice (Morocco) or from private members’ bills introduced by deputies from parties such as the Party of Authenticity and Modernity and Istiqlal Party (Morocco). Drafts undergo committee review, plenary debates, and voting in both chambers before submission to the King of Morocco for promulgation; contentious items may be referred to the Constitutional Council (Morocco) for review. The budget process involves the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Morocco) and timetable coordination with the International Monetary Fund-advised fiscal frameworks; emergency legislation can be fast-tracked in contexts similar to responses to public health crises involving the Ministry of Health (Morocco).
A multiparty system has parties represented across chambers: notable formations include the Justice and Development Party (Morocco), Istiqlal Party (Morocco), Authenticity and Modernity Party, Socialist Union of Popular Forces, National Rally of Independents, and smaller groups like the Party of Progress and Socialism and Federation of Democratic Left. Electoral law reforms, campaigns coordinated by the Ministry of Interior (Morocco), and decisions by the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) shape party competition. Parliamentary blocs organize around ideological currents rooted in historical movements such as Pan-Arabism, Berberism, and leftist traditions linked to personalities like Abderrahmane Youssoufi and organizations including the National Union of Popular Forces.
Standing committees cover domains mirroring ministries: finance, justice, foreign affairs, interior, and social sectors, interfacing with bodies such as the Ministry of Finance (Morocco) and the National Human Rights Council (Morocco). Specialized inquiry committees have been convened to examine issues like corruption, infrastructure projects involving entities such as Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF), and regional development tied to programs of the Agence pour le Développement du Nord. Parliamentary audit and oversight interact with judicial inquiries handled by institutions such as the Public Prosecutor's Office (Morocco) and administrative courts.
Parliament operates within a constitutional monarchy led by the King of Morocco, whose prerogatives include appointing prime ministers drawn from parliamentary majorities and presiding over the Royal Cabinet. Tensions and cooperation have manifested between legislative majorities and governments headed by premiers like Abdelilah Benkirane and Saadeddine Othmani, with episodes of coalition formation involving parties such as the Istiqlal Party (Morocco) and National Rally of Independents. The constitutional revision of 2011 recalibrated some powers, affecting interactions with institutions such as the Supreme Council of the Judiciary and the Council of Government (Morocco), while diplomacy and security matters continue to involve executive prerogatives coordinated by the royal office and ministries including Ministry of Interior (Morocco) and Ministry of Defense (Morocco).