| Parliament name |
- |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Majlis Al-Nuwab / Chamber of Deputies |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Majlis al-Mustasharin / Chamber of Councillors
|
| NATURE |
| Nature of the mandate |
· Free representation |
| Start of the mandate |
· When the mandates are validated [references, texts or comments] |
| Validation of mandates |
· Validation by a committee [references, texts or comments]
· Procedure (Art. 106 and 106 bis of the Electoral Code) |
| End of the mandate |
· On the day when the legal term of the House ends or on the day of early dissolution or prolongation of the mandate of the Chamber of Deputies (Art. 74 of the Electoral Code; for prolongation, see Art. 23 of the Constitution) |
| Can MPs resign? |
Yes |
· Procedure
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: |
| Can MPs lose their mandate? |
Yes |
(a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter for absence during three consecutive months (Art. 14 of the Standing Orders; see Participation in the work of Parliament)
(b) Loss of mandate by judicial decision (which automatically leads to failure to fulfil of an essential requirement for eligibility) |
| STATUS OF MEMBERS |
| Rank in hierarchy |
· Within Parliament:
1. The President
2. The 1st Vice-President
3. The 2nd Vice-President
4. The 7 Chairpersons of standing committees
5. The 7 Committee Rapporteurs
6. The Deputy Rapporteurs
7. The other Members |
| Indemnities, facilities and services |
· Diplomatic passport
· Basic salary:
+ Expense allowance:
· No tax exemption
· Pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Assistants (administration)
(b) Official housing, during parliamentary activities, in a hotel
(c) Travel and transport
(d) Other |
| Obligation to declare personal assets |
Yes |
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability |
· The concept exists (Art. 26 of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
· Derogations:
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate. |
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability |
· The concept exists (Art. 27 of the Constitution).
· It applies to criminal and civil proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched.
· Derogations: in cases of flagrante delicto, MPs can be arrested. The Assembly is immediately informed accordingly.
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate and does not also cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 27 (1) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the Chamber of Deputies
- Procedure (Art. 58 of the Standing Orders). In this case, MPs can be heard. They do not have means of appeal.
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions.
· Parliament can suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members (Art. 27 (2) of the Constitution).
- Competent authority: the Chamber of Deputies
- Procedure (Art. 58 of the Standing Orders)
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament. |
| EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE |
| Training |
· There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. It consists of parliamentary days and conferences within the framework of special sittings.
· It is provided by Parliament.
· Handbooks of parliamentary procedure:
- Standing Orders of the Chamber of Deputies |
| Participation in the work of the Parliament |
· It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings and committee meetings (Art. 14 and 37 of the Standing Orders).
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation (Art. 14 and 37 of the Standing Orders): warning, reprimand with forfeiture of the basic salary, loss of mandate with forfeiture of the basic salary, loss of committee membership
· Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the President; the Chamber of Deputies |
| Discipline |
· The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Art. .... of the Standing Orders
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Call to order
- Withdrawal of the floor
- Exclusion from the room for the remainder of the sitting
- Other measures
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Call to order, withdrawal of the floor, exclusion from the room for the remainder of the sitting: the President
- Other measures: the Chamber of Deputies, on a proposal by the Board
· Procedure |
| Code (rules) of conduct |
· This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system. |
| Relations between MPs and pressure group |
· There are no legal provisions in this field. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Mandate module
