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United Arab Emirates
Index
Figure 12. United Arab Emirates: Government Structure, 1992
On July 18, 1971, rulers of six amirates from those
known as
the Trucial Coast states, ratified the provisional
constitution
of the UAE. A product of more than three years of
discussion and
debate among the rulers, the document was promulgated on
December
2, 1971, on the UAE's independence. (Ras al Khaymah joined
the
union in February 1972.) Originally, the provisional
constitution
was to be replaced after five years with a permanent
document,
pending the resolution of issues standing in the way of
full
integration among the federation's amirates. These issues
included individual amirates' contributions to the federal
budget
and defense integration. Reflecting a lack of progress in
resolving these matters and a grudging preference for the
status
quo, however, the provisional constitution was extended
for fiveyear periods in 1976, 1981, 1986, and 1991.
The provisional constitution of the UAE provides for
the
separation of powers into executive, legislative, and
judicial
branches. Additionally, it separates legislative and
executive
powers into federal and amirate jurisdictions. Certain
powers are
expressly reserved for the central government, including
foreign
policy, defense, security, immigration, and
communications. The
individual amirates exercise residual powers.
The separation of powers remained nominal in 1993. The
Supreme Council of the Union (SCU), also seen as the
Federal
Supreme Council, functions as the highest federal
authority in
executive and legislative capacities. Narrowly, the
executive
branch consists of the SCU, the Council of Ministers (the
cabinet), and the presidency
(see
fig. 12). The SCU
consists of
the rulers of the seven amirates; it elects from among its
members a chairman and a vice chairman, who serve for a
term of
five years. Article 150 of the provisional constitution
defines
the powers of the SCU as formulation of general policy;
legislation on all matters of state; ratification of
federal laws
and decrees, including those relating to the annual budget
and
fiscal matters; ratification of international treaties and
agreements; and assent to the appointment of the prime
minister
and Supreme Court of the Union judges.
The rulers make decisions by a simple majority vote,
except
on substantive issues. Substantive issues require a
two-thirds
majority (five of seven rulers), including the votes of
both Abu
Dhabi and Dubayy. The SCU carries out its work through a
secretariat and whatever ad hoc committees it chooses to
appoint.
The president serves as chairman of the SCU, head of
state,
and commander of the Union Defense Force (UDF). The
president
convenes the SCU and appoints the prime minister, the two
deputy
prime ministers, the cabinet ministers, and other senior
civil
and military officials. He has the power to proclaim
martial law
and to carry out a variety of functions usually associated
with
the chief executive.
The Council of Ministers administers federal affairs.
In 1992
there were twenty-five ministers, including the prime
minister
and deputy prime minister. UAE citizenship is a
requirement for
appointment as a minister. All ministers are individually
and
collectively answerable to the president and the SCU. In
addition
to its executive duties, the Council of Ministers is
responsible
for drafting bills for formal enactment.
Under the provisional constitution, the Federal
National
Council (FNC) is the principal legislative authority, but
its
actual role in the governmental process is limited to
consultation. Its forty members are appointed for two-year
terms
by the respective amirate rulers, in accordance with a
constitutionally fixed quota that allots proportionately
more
members to the wealthiest and most populous amirates.
Thus, Abu
Dhabi and Dubayy each appoint eight members to the FNC;
Ras al
Khaymah and Sharjah each appoint six members; and Ajman,
Al
Fujayrah, and Umm al Qaywayn each appoint four members.
Members
of the FNC must be citizens of the amirates they
represent,
twenty-one years of age or older, and literate. They may
not hold
any other public office.
The FNC meets in regular session for a minimum of six
months,
beginning in November. The UAE president may call a
special
session if necessary. The president opens the regular
session
with a speech on the state of the union. The FNC can reply
to the
state of the union address in the form of "observations
and
wishes," but the reply has no legal effect. The FNC also
makes
recommendations on legislative matters to the Council of
Ministers, the president, and the SCU. The FNC can discuss
any
government bills drafted by the Council of Ministers; it
can
agree with, amend, or reject such bills, but it cannot
veto them.
The laws of the UAE are divided into two main
categories:
union laws and decrees. A bill drafted by the Council of
Ministers for nonbinding deliberation by the FNC and then
submitted to the president for his assent and the SCU for
ratification becomes a union law when promulgated by the
president. Decrees are issued jointly by the president and
the
Council of Ministers between sessions of the SCU; a decree
must
be confirmed by the SCU to remain valid.
Data as of January 1993
Executive and Legislative Branches
Figure 12. United Arab Emirates: Government Structure, 1992
On July 18, 1971, rulers of six amirates from those
known as
the Trucial Coast states, ratified the provisional
constitution
of the UAE. A product of more than three years of
discussion and
debate among the rulers, the document was promulgated on
December
2, 1971, on the UAE's independence. (Ras al Khaymah joined
the
union in February 1972.) Originally, the provisional
constitution
was to be replaced after five years with a permanent
document,
pending the resolution of issues standing in the way of
full
integration among the federation's amirates. These issues
included individual amirates' contributions to the federal
budget
and defense integration. Reflecting a lack of progress in
resolving these matters and a grudging preference for the
status
quo, however, the provisional constitution was extended
for fiveyear periods in 1976, 1981, 1986, and 1991.
The provisional constitution of the UAE provides for
the
separation of powers into executive, legislative, and
judicial
branches. Additionally, it separates legislative and
executive
powers into federal and amirate jurisdictions. Certain
powers are
expressly reserved for the central government, including
foreign
policy, defense, security, immigration, and
communications. The
individual amirates exercise residual powers.
The separation of powers remained nominal in 1993. The
Supreme Council of the Union (SCU), also seen as the
Federal
Supreme Council, functions as the highest federal
authority in
executive and legislative capacities. Narrowly, the
executive
branch consists of the SCU, the Council of Ministers (the
cabinet), and the presidency
(see
fig. 12). The SCU
consists of
the rulers of the seven amirates; it elects from among its
members a chairman and a vice chairman, who serve for a
term of
five years. Article 150 of the provisional constitution
defines
the powers of the SCU as formulation of general policy;
legislation on all matters of state; ratification of
federal laws
and decrees, including those relating to the annual budget
and
fiscal matters; ratification of international treaties and
agreements; and assent to the appointment of the prime
minister
and Supreme Court of the Union judges.
The rulers make decisions by a simple majority vote,
except
on substantive issues. Substantive issues require a
two-thirds
majority (five of seven rulers), including the votes of
both Abu
Dhabi and Dubayy. The SCU carries out its work through a
secretariat and whatever ad hoc committees it chooses to
appoint.
The president serves as chairman of the SCU, head of
state,
and commander of the Union Defense Force (UDF). The
president
convenes the SCU and appoints the prime minister, the two
deputy
prime ministers, the cabinet ministers, and other senior
civil
and military officials. He has the power to proclaim
martial law
and to carry out a variety of functions usually associated
with
the chief executive.
The Council of Ministers administers federal affairs.
In 1992
there were twenty-five ministers, including the prime
minister
and deputy prime minister. UAE citizenship is a
requirement for
appointment as a minister. All ministers are individually
and
collectively answerable to the president and the SCU. In
addition
to its executive duties, the Council of Ministers is
responsible
for drafting bills for formal enactment.
Under the provisional constitution, the Federal
National
Council (FNC) is the principal legislative authority, but
its
actual role in the governmental process is limited to
consultation. Its forty members are appointed for two-year
terms
by the respective amirate rulers, in accordance with a
constitutionally fixed quota that allots proportionately
more
members to the wealthiest and most populous amirates.
Thus, Abu
Dhabi and Dubayy each appoint eight members to the FNC;
Ras al
Khaymah and Sharjah each appoint six members; and Ajman,
Al
Fujayrah, and Umm al Qaywayn each appoint four members.
Members
of the FNC must be citizens of the amirates they
represent,
twenty-one years of age or older, and literate. They may
not hold
any other public office.
The FNC meets in regular session for a minimum of six
months,
beginning in November. The UAE president may call a
special
session if necessary. The president opens the regular
session
with a speech on the state of the union. The FNC can reply
to the
state of the union address in the form of "observations
and
wishes," but the reply has no legal effect. The FNC also
makes
recommendations on legislative matters to the Council of
Ministers, the president, and the SCU. The FNC can discuss
any
government bills drafted by the Council of Ministers; it
can
agree with, amend, or reject such bills, but it cannot
veto them.
The laws of the UAE are divided into two main
categories:
union laws and decrees. A bill drafted by the Council of
Ministers for nonbinding deliberation by the FNC and then
submitted to the president for his assent and the SCU for
ratification becomes a union law when promulgated by the
president. Decrees are issued jointly by the president and
the
Council of Ministers between sessions of the SCU; a decree
must
be confirmed by the SCU to remain valid.
Data as of January 1993
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