ﺍﻟﻌﻮﺍﻣﻞ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺛّﺮﺓ ﻓﻲ ﻓﺎﻋﻠﻴﺔ ﻣﺠﺎﻟﺲ ﺍﻟﺸﻮﺭﻯ ﺍﻟﻘﻄﺮﻳﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺿﻮﺀ ﺍﻟﺘﺸﺮﻳﻌﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻈﻤﺔ ﻟﻬﺎ

Abstract

In its recent history, the State of Qatar has known four advisory councils (Shura councils), the first council was established under law number (6) for the year 1964, the second council was stipulated by the provisional statute in 1970, the third council was established under the amended provisional statute in 1972, and finally, the permanent constitution of the State of Qatar (2004) stipulated the establishment of a council representing the legislative authority called Shura Council.

In this study, we highlight the factors that influence the effectiveness of the Qatari Shura councils in accordance with the legislation that regulated their provisions since the establishment of the first one before the mid-sixties of the last century until the promulgation of the permanent constitution.

Effectiveness in this context refers to the Advisory Council’s impact on the reality of political life in the State of Qatar. There are four factors that we see impact the effectiveness of the council: the mechanism its composition and the selection of its president, the terms of its reference, the decisions issued by it, and the duration of membership in it.

If the council was appointed by the governor, it shares the same opinions and stance as the government, however if it was elected by the people, it derives its strength from them, and conducts political control and supervision over the government. Moreover, the terms of reference of the council may be an important factor in its effectiveness. If these terms were modest and limited, the council loses its impact on the political decision, but if they were fundamental in legislation and political and financial control, the council becomes influential and prevents the deviation of the executive power. The terms of reference of the council are related to the nature of its resolutions, if its recommendations were non-binding, these terms lose their value, but if they were final, it manifests itself in practical reality. Finally, a prolonged membership in the council may weaken the member’s performance, enthusiasm, and active participation. The study examines the four aforementioned factors that influence the effectiveness of the council in accordance with successive legislation regulating its provisions in four investigations.