Joursdiction of the Shoura Assembly

The jurisdiction of the Shoura Assembly is defined in Articles (194) & (195) of the Constitution. According to Article (194) of the Constitution, the Shoura Assembly is concerned with the study and proposal of what it deems necessary to preserve the principles of the 23 July, 1952 Revolution and the 15 May, 1971 Revolution, to consolidate national unity and social peace, to protect the Alliance of the people's working forces and socialist gains as well as the basic constituents of the society, its supreme values, its rights and public freedom and duties, and to deepen the democratic socialist system and widen its scope.

Article ( 195 ) of the Constitution provides for the Shoura Assembly to be consulted on the following matters :

Proposals for the amendment of one or more Articles of the Constitution.
Bills complementing the Constitution.
The draft of the general plan for social and economic development .
Peace and alliance treaties, and all treaties affecting modifications in the state's territories or those relating to its sovereignty rights.
Bills referred to the Shoura Assembly by the President of the Republic .
Any matters relating to the state's public policy or its Arab and Foreign affairs policy referred to the Shoura Assembly by the President of the Republic.

Worth mentioning, the President of the Republic has exercised his constitutional right by referring many of the bills ( along with bills complementing the constitution ) ahead of which the State’s General Draft Budget since the fiscal year 97/98 . The President of the Republic had as well referred many of the issues which he recommended to be studied such as the G.A.T., Basic Education , the Press , ... ...

Requests For General Debate :

Article ( 129 ) of the constitution and article (102) of the rules of the procedure stipulate that at least twenty members of the People’s Assembly and the Shoura Assembly as well may request to put forward a public matter for general debate for the purpose of having a clear idea about the government’s policy as well as exchanging views thereon.

According to the second and the fourth passages of article (103) of the rules of the procedure, the Assembly’s Bureau shall place the request for a general debate on the agenda of the first sitting following its presentation . The Assembly may, according to the government’s request, decide to debate the subject at the same sitting.

Motion for a Wish :

Article ( 130 ) of the constitution stipulates that the members of the People’s Assembly and the members of the Shoura Assembly as well as may present a motion carrying a wish related to a public matter to be conveyed to the Prime Minister, his deputies and the ministers.

Shoura Assembly Membership

Electoral Constituencies of the Shoura Assembly :

Electoral constituencies of the Shoura Assembly are determined by Law.

The Arab Republic of Egypt is divided in accordance to the law into 88 constituencies.

Conditions of Candidature:

According to the Law, candidates to be elected or nominated to the Shoura Assembly should fulfil the following conditions :

I - Egyptian Nationality and an Egyptian father.

2- The age of the candidate on the date of the election or nomination should not be less than 35.

3- The Candidate should have completed his military service or have a valid certificate of exemption

Methods of Election

The Shoura Assembly member is elected by the absolute majority of valid votes cast in the elections .

Membership of both the People’s and Shoura Assemblies is incompatible.

Term of Membership:

The term of membership of the Shoura Assembly is six years. After three years, half the number of elected or appointed members may be changed unless they are re-elected or re-appointed. According to Article 198 of the constitution, it is permitted for members who ended their term of membership to be re- elected or re-appointed .

Guarantees to the Assembly and its Members

The Constitution has provided the Assembly and its members with many guarantees that can enable them to carry out their duties . Most important of these guarantees are the following:

I - The Assembly cannot be dissolved except by a Presidential decision and in case of necessity . The dissolution decision should comprise measures for holding elections within a period of sixty days while the Assembly wi1l be convoked within the ten days following the elections.

2 - Members of the Assembly have Parliamentary Immunity, for no criminal procedures may be taken against any member without a prior permission from the Assembly or from its Speaker if such a measure is taken between sessions.