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| People's Majlis | |
|---|---|
| Name | People's Majlis |
| House type | Unicameral |
| Established | 1932 |
| Leader1 type | Speaker |
| Members | 87 |
| Term length | 5 years |
| Voting system | First-past-the-post |
| Last election | 2019 |
| Meeting place | Malé |
People's Majlis
The People's Majlis is the unicameral legislative assembly of the Republic of Maldives, seated in Malé and central to the nation's constitutional framework introduced under the Constitution of the Maldives (2008), succeeding earlier parliaments formed under the reign of monarchs such as Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III and leaders like Muhammad Amin Didi. It operates within the political context shaped by actors and institutions including President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President Mohamed Nasheed, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, People's Progressive Party (Maldives), and Maldivian Democratic Party, reflecting shifts linked to events such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the 2008 Maldivian constitutional referendum, and tensions involving India–Maldives relations and China–Maldives relations.
The origins trace to consultative bodies under the Sultanate of Maldives and later reforms during the era of Kingdom of Maldives (1953) and republican periods associated with figures like Ibrahim Nasir and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The modern assembly evolved through milestones including the establishment of a legislative council under the 1932 legal framework, legislation during the Second Republic (1968–present), constitutional developments culminating in the 2008 Maldivian constitutional referendum, and political crises involving the arrests of politicians such as Mohamed Nasheed and debates over judicial independence with institutions like the Supreme Court of the Maldives. International attention centered on episodes such as the 2012 Maldivian political crisis and mediated dialogues involving United Nations envoys and diplomatic partners including India and United States.
The Majlis comprises representatives elected from constituencies across atolls and islands including Addu City, Fuvahmulah, and districts of Malé. Membership numbers have changed, currently set at 87 seats, with officeholders drawn from parties such as the Maldivian Democratic Party, Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party, Jumhooree Party (Maldives), and Progressive Party of Maldives. The assembly leadership includes a Speaker elected by members, supported by Deputy Speakers and a Secretariat influenced by parliamentary officers and clerks. Prominent members have included figures who served in executive positions like Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Mohamed Nasheed, Abdulla Yameen, and opposition leaders who formed coalitions with blocs such as the Adhaalath Party.
Constitutional competences derive from the Constitution of the Maldives (2008), including enacting statutes, approving budgets submitted by cabinets led by presidents like Abdulla Yameen, ratifying international treaties such as agreements with China and India, and overseeing executive actions through interpellation and confidence votes. The Majlis has the authority to summon ministers, endorse appointments including those to the Judicial Service Commission and Attorney General of the Maldives, and conduct inquiries that may involve institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (Maldives). Its role interfaces with judicial review exercised by the Supreme Court of the Maldives and electoral validation by the Maldives Elections Commission.
Bills may be initiated by members, by the cabinet, or through citizen petitions under procedures influenced by precedents like major fiscal laws debated after crises including the 2008 financial crisis in the region. Committee review precedes plenary debate, with readings, clause-by-clause consideration, and amendments reflecting negotiations among parties including the Maldivian Democratic Party, Progressive Party of Maldives, and independents from constituencies across atolls such as Haa Alif Atoll and Laamu Atoll. Passage requires majority votes and presidential assent, with veto mechanisms and possibilities for judicial challenge before the Supreme Court of the Maldives.
Permanent and ad hoc committees handle subjects such as finance, foreign relations, human rights, and local government, mirroring committee systems found in legislatures like the Parliament of India and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Key committees have examined issues tied to international contracts with corporations and states including China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and investment projects involving entities tied to Sri Lanka and Qatar. The Secretariat provides legislative drafting, research services, and administrative support, staffed by legal advisors and clerks with links to legal training institutions and universities such as Unicaf University and regional partners in Colombo and New Delhi.
Elections to the Majlis are organized by the Maldives Elections Commission under rules established by the Constitution of the Maldives (2008) and have featured contests among parties like the Maldivian Democratic Party, Progressive Party of Maldives, Jumhooree Party (Maldives), Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party, and independents. Campaigns have involved coalition-building, endorsements by religious groups such as the Adhaalath Party, and influences from international observers including delegations from the Commonwealth of Nations, the European Union, and the United Nations Development Programme. Electoral disputes have gone to tribunals and the Supreme Court of the Maldives, and elections have been affected historically by national events like the 2012 Maldivian political crisis and responses to environmental challenges including sea level concerns articulated at forums such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
The Majlis meets in a chamber in Malé whose architecture and insignia evoke national identity alongside symbols such as the Flag of the Maldives and national emblem used by state institutions including the President of the Maldives and ministries like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Maldives). Historic sessions have taken place in venues connected to state ceremonies with visits from foreign dignitaries including envoys from India, China, United States, and representatives from multilateral bodies such as the United Nations and the World Bank. The building and its artifacts reflect cultural ties to Maldivian history, maritime heritage, and legal traditions influenced by regional capitals such as Colombo and Thimphu.
Category:Politics of the Maldives Category:Legislatures