Parliament of Bahrain

Parliament of Bahrain
Name	Parliament of Bahrain
Native name	مجلس النواب ومجلس الشورى
Legislature	National Assembly
Established	1973
Leader1	Speaker of the Council of Representatives
Members	80
Structure	Bicameral
Last election	2022
Meeting place	Manama

Parliament of Bahrain is the bicameral legislature of the Kingdom of Bahrain, composed of an elected Council of Representatives and an appointed Consultative Council. The institution traces its institutional origins to the 1973 Constitution, the State Security Law era, and the 2001 National Action Charter, and functions within the political framework of the Kingdom of Bahrain under the rule of the Al Khalifa monarchy. The legislature meets in Manama, with legislative dynamics shaped by interactions among the Prime Minister, the Crown Prince, and regional actors such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

History

The modern legislature emerged after the withdrawal of the British protectorate treaties and the promulgation of the 1973 Constitution, which created a unicameral National Assembly that included figures like Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa and opposition members from groups influenced by Islamic Action Society and Shia clerical networks. The 1973 National Assembly was dissolved in 1975 by Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa leading to decades of governance through royal decree and periodic consultative bodies such as the State Council. Political reform accelerated during the reign of Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa with the 2001 National Action Charter and the 2002 re-establishment of a bicameral National Assembly (2002), creating the Council of Representatives and the Consultative Council. Subsequent periods of unrest, notably the 2011 uprising, involved actors including Al Wefaq, opposition movements, and international observers such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Structure and Composition

The legislature is bicameral, consisting of an elected 40-seat Council of Representatives and an appointed 40-seat Consultative Council, with the latter appointed by the King. Leadership posts include the Speaker of the Council of Representatives and the Speaker of the Consultative Council, and membership features figures from dynastic circles like the Al Khalifa, technocrats educated at institutions such as University of Bahrain and King's College London, and representatives from political societies including Wa'ad and Al Asalah. The legislature convenes in the National Assembly Building in Manama, and legislative committees mirror practices in parliaments such as the UK Parliament and consultative upper chambers like the Shura Council.

Powers and Functions

Constitutional powers derive from the 2002 Constitution, in which the legislature shares lawmaking, budgetary review, and oversight roles with the King and the Cabinet. The Consultative Council holds equal legislative vote power to the Council of Representatives on enactment, while fiscal measures interact with the Ministry of Finance and executive prerogatives such as royal decrees. The assembly can review treaties, question ministers like the Interior Minister and the Foreign Minister, and influence policy areas involving institutions like the Central Bank of Bahrain and the Supreme Judicial Council.

Elections and Electoral System

Elections for the Council of Representatives use a two-round majority system, with constituencies administered by the Electoral Commission and overseen by government authorities including the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs. Voter eligibility and candidacy regulations involve interactions with the Civil Service Bureau and citizenship records in the Ministry of Interior. Notable electoral milestones include the 2002 elections, the 2010 elections, the contested 2011 by-elections following the 2011 protests, and the 2018 and 2022 cycles that featured participation by parties such as Al Wefaq (boycott phases), Al Asalah, and Al-Menbar. International election monitors from entities like the European Parliament and NGOs such as International Crisis Group have reported on electoral irregularities, constituency delimitation, and voter registration disputes involving minority communities including the Shia.

Political Groups and Parties

Political life in the legislature features formally registered political societies such as Islamic Action Society, Al Asalah, Wa'ad, Al-Menbar, and independent blocs aligned with royalist interests including members of the Al Khalifa. Other actors include civic movements like Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, business-linked figures associated with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and emergent youth networks shaped by events such as the 2011 protests and regional dynamics involving Iran–Saudi rivalry. Political societies operate under the 2005 Political Societies Law and engage with international partners including the Gulf Cooperation Council and United Nations envoys.

Legislative Process

Bills may be proposed by the Cabinet, members of the Council of Representatives, or the Consultative Council, and are subject to committee review in panels analogous to committees in the Parliament of Canada or the Knesset. Enacted laws require passage by both chambers and royal assent from the King; regulations can follow under royal decree instruments akin to practices in the Kuwait and the UAE. Legislative oversight mechanisms include interpellations of ministers such as the Health Minister and investigations touching on institutions like the Public Prosecution.

Criticism and Human Rights Concerns

Critics from organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy have highlighted issues such as alleged restrictions on freedom of assembly involving groups like February 14 Youth Coalition, prosecutions in security courts tied to the State Security Law legacy, and constraints on political societies under the 2005 Political Societies Law. International bodies including the United Nations Human Rights Council and the European Parliament have raised concerns about due process in trials of opposition figures such as members associated with Al Wefaq and civic activists from BCHR, as well as on issues of naturalization and citizenship policy affecting communities tied to Bidoon-like disputes in the Gulf. Ongoing debates engage scholars from institutions like Georgetown University, SOAS, and Harvard Kennedy School on reform pathways, accountability, and the balance between royal prerogative and representative institutions.

Category:Politics of Bahrain Category:Legislatures