Parliament of Lebanon

Parliament of Lebanon
Name	Parliament of Lebanon
Native name	مجلس النواب اللبناني
Legislature	National Assembly
Founded	1926
House type	Unicameral
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Nabih Berri
Members	128
Term length	4 years
Voting system	Proportional representation with confessional allocation
Meeting place	Beirut

Parliament of Lebanon is the unicameral national legislature of the Lebanese Republic, seated in Beirut and constituted under the Lebanese Constitution of 1926 and subsequent amendments, including the Taif Agreement. It comprises 128 members elected on a confessional basis and is a central institution in Lebanon's post‑Ottoman, French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon and modern political development. Its role has been shaped by episodes such as the Lebanese Civil War, the Taif Agreement, the Cedar Revolution, and ongoing regional influences from Syria, Israel, and Iran.

History

Lebanon's parliamentary origins trace to the Ottoman Empire provincial councils and the State of Greater Lebanon (1920) under French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, leading to the 1926 constitution that created a unicameral assembly influenced by Lebanese leaders like Émile Eddé and Charles Debbas. Post‑World War II independence featured negotiations among figures such as Bechara El Khoury and Riad Al Solh, while the 1958 crisis involved Camille Chamoun and Foulaheim‑era interventions by United States Marine Corps. The 1975–1990 Lebanese Civil War fragmented parliamentary activity; the 1989–1990 Taif Agreement revised representation and modalities, influencing later elections contested by groups including Phalange Party (Kataeb), Lebanese Forces, Progressive Socialist Party, and Amal Movement. The 2005 Cedar Revolution and assassination of Rafic Hariri accelerated debates over Syrian presence and led to electoral contests featuring Future Movement, Hezbollah, and Free Patriotic Movement.

Structure and Composition

The assembly consists of 128 deputies seated according to sectarian allocation established by Taif Agreement negotiations among Maronite, Sunni, Shia, Druze, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Protestant, and other communities associated with leaders like Riad Solh and institutions such as the Lebanese National Pact. The Speaker is elected from the Shia community (notably Nabih Berri), the Prime Minister conventionally from the Sunni community, and the President from the Maronite community, in practices rooted in understandings involving personalities like Camille Chamoun and parties like Kataeb and Kamal Jumblatt's Progressive Socialist Party. Committees reflect parliamentary groups linked to blocs such as March 8 Alliance, March 14 Alliance, Lebanese Forces (LF), Future Movement (al-Mustaqbal), and cross‑sectarian independents like Michel Aoun's allies.

Electoral System

Elections operate under a proportional representation model with multi‑member constituencies and preferential voting developed in reforms influenced by actors including Mikati, Saad Hariri, and international advisers after the 2008 Doha Agreement. Constituencies correspond to governorates and districts such as Beirut Governorate, Mount Lebanon Governorate, North Governorate, Akkar District, South Governorate, and Bekaa Governorate. Legal frameworks such as the Electoral Law of 1960 and its later replacements determine thresholds and seat distribution contested by lists from Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Hezbollah, Amal Movement, Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), Tashnaq (Armenian Revolutionary Federation), Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), and independent coalitions. Voter turnout and diaspora voting debates involve diaspora communities in France, Brazil, United States, and Australia and institutions like the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities.

Powers and Functions

The assembly enacts legislation, approves the national budget, ratifies international treaties including agreements with United Nations, and exercises oversight of the Council of Ministers (Lebanon) and the executive through confidence votes and interpellations concerning figures such as Najib Mikati and Saad Hariri. It has authority to amend the constitution, declare war, and authorize state of emergency measures, with jurisprudence shaped by the Lebanese judiciary and cases referred to the Constitutional Council (Lebanon). Parliamentary commissions investigate security incidents and financial scandals involving institutions like the Central Bank of Lebanon (Banque du Liban), and can summon ministers and heads of agencies including the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants.

Political Dynamics and Party Representation

Party representation reflects alliances and rivalries among blocs such as March 8 Alliance, March 14 Alliance, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Lebanese Forces (LF), Future Movement (al-Mustaqbal), Amal Movement, Hezbollah, Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), Tashnaq, Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), and independent figures including members from the Civil Society movements post‑2019 protests led by groups inspired by activists like Ziad AbuRish and public intellectuals such as Rami Khouri. Regional geopolitics involves states and entities like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, France, United States, and Israel, affecting coalition building, cabinet formation involving Prime Minister candidates, and parliamentary votes on security and foreign policy. Patronage networks, sectarian brokers, and reformist lists contest funding and influence from entities such as Ogero and state‑owned enterprises, while NGO and diaspora pressure campaigns push for electoral reform and anti‑corruption measures embodied by activists and organizations linked to the October 2019 protests.

Procedures and Sessions

Parliament convenes regular legislative sessions and extraordinary sittings called by the Speaker or upon a request by deputies, following procedures codified in the parliamentary bylaws and constitutional articles drawing on precedents set during assemblies chaired by figures like Sabri Hamadeh and Kamal Jumblatt. Plenary sittings address agenda items including budget debates, confidence votes for cabinets led by figures such as Najib Mikati and Salam cabinets, and ratification of treaties with European Union partners. Committees — including Finance and Budget, Defense and Internal Affairs, Administration and Justice, and Foreign Affairs — examine bills and summon witnesses from ministries like Ministry of Public Works and Transport, state bodies such as Civil Aviation, and security agencies including the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). Voting procedures include roll‑call votes, secret ballots for certain elections (e.g., Speaker), and quorum requirements; sessions often reflect negotiation dynamics involving aides to leaders like Nabih Berri and mediators such as representatives from Arab League member states.

Category:Politics of Lebanon Category:Legislatures