The Constitution was drafted by a high-level committee, appointed by Emiri Decree in 1999, and approved by the Qatari people in a referendum on 29 April 2003. (Turnout was high and the Constitution was approved by 96.6% of the voters.) The Emir ratified the Constitution in June 2004, and it became effective in June 2005.

“The people are the source of power, and they shall exercise the same in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. The system of government is based on the separation and collaboration of powers. The legislative authority is vested in the Advisory Council, while the executive authority is vested in the Emir assisted by the Council of Ministers as specified by the constitution. The judicial authority is vested in courts of law; and court judgments are pronounced in the name of the Emir.

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani is Head of State, Minister of Defence and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The Heir Apparent, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, was appointed on 5 August 2003 and is the Emir’s fourth son.

His Highness the Emir appoints the prime minister and ministers. He may entrust the tasks of one ministry or more to a minister or the Prime Minister in accordance with Emiri Decree designating the appointment. The cabinet is formed by an Emiri Decree based on the proposal of the Prime Minister. The council is headed by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani, who also holds the portfolio for Foreign Affairs. The Deputy Premier is Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah. The Council of Ministers, being the supreme executive authority in the country, is mandated to monitor all the internal and external affairs within its jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions and the constitution of the law.

 

There are 14 Ministries which are:

 

The Cabinet also includes two Ministers of State without Portfolio as well as a Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.

The Advisory Council assumes the legislative authority, approves the general policy of the government and the budget and exercises control over the executive authority as specified in the constitution. The Advisory Council consists of 45 members, 30 of whom are elected by direct, general secret ballot with the Emir appointing the remaining 15 members from amongst the ministers or other persons. The term of service of the appointed members expires when these members resign their seats or are relieved from their posts.

Elections were first held in the country’s 29 constituencies in 1999 for a Central Municipal Council (CMC) which acts as an advisory body to the Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning.

Terms of office are for four years. All Qatari citizens over the age of 18, with at least 15 years’ citizenship, but excluding members of the police and armed forces, were eligible to vote. Elections for the third CMC session, held on 1 April 2007, attracted 118 candidates including three women, one of whom was elected. Turnout was 51%.

Qatari women are eligible to vote and have been represented at ministerial level since 1999; women also represent the State on a number of UN and other international committees.

The judicial authority is vested in courts of law in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, and court judgments are pronounced in the name of the Emir. The judicial authority law, issued in 2003, stipulates that judges are independent.

 

Courts of law are divided into the following categories:

Court of Cassation, Court of Appeal and the Preliminary Court. Court sessions are open to the public except when a court decides, in the interest of public order or morality, to hold them in camera. In all cases, the pronouncement of judgments is made in an open session.

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani was born in Doha in 1952 and attended local primary and secondary schools. In 1971 he graduated from the prestigious Sandhurst Military Academy in England. On his return to Qatar he joined the Qatari Armed Forces with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and is now Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. He was appointed Heir Apparent and Minister of Defence on 31 May 1977 and acceded to power on 27 June 1995.

 

HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani was born in Doha on 3 June 1980 and was educated in Qatar and the United Kingdom. He graduated from Sandhurst Military Academy in 1998 and was appointed Heir Apparent on 5 August 2003.

 

HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani was born in 1959. In 1989 he became Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and in 1990 Deputy Minister of Electricity and Water. In 1992 he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, becoming First Deputy Prime Minister in 2003 and Prime Minister in 2007.

The National Flag features one maroon and one white vertical stripe, divided by a nine-point serration, with the white stripe flying against the flagpole. The nine points are a reminder of the nine ‘reconciled Emirates’ of the Gulf (Qatar, Bahrain and the seven Emirates of the UAE) following the treaty with Britain in 1916. The white is a symbol of peace; the maroon a reminder of the blood wars in which Qatar defended itself.

 

Further information