Federal National Council

Federal National Council
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Unicameral
Leadership
Mohammad Ahmad Al Mur
since Nov. 2011
Secretary General
Mohammed Salem Al-Mazroui
Seats 40
Website
official website
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
the United Arab Emirates
See also

Politics portal

The Federal National Council (FNC) (Arabic: المجلس الوطني الإتحادي‎, al-Majlis al-Watani al-Ittihadi) is the federal authority of the United Arab Emirates formed to represent the general emirati people.[1] The FNC consist of 40 members with advisory tasks in the house of legislative council. Twenty members are elected by the citizens of the UAE through the general election and the other half are elected by the electoral college and rulers of each emirate.[2][3] The FNC assembly hall is located in the Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE.[4]

The National Election Committee (NEC) conducts the election and authorized to nominate the electoral college members any citizen can be selected as a member. The NEC was established in February 2011 by a consensus of the UAE Supreme Council and chaired by the Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs. The NEC have the authority to lookafter the election of representatives from all the emirates of the UAE to the Federal National Council (FNC).[3]

History

The Federal National Council (FNC) was formed under the Provisional Constitution of the United Arab Emirates in 1971 as a permanent component of the country's governing structure, which also includes the Supreme Council, President, Cabinet and Judiciary.[1]

Over the last 38 years, the FNC has discussed hundreds of issues and draft laws concerning the people and economy of the country. According to the Constitution, federal draft laws first have to pass through the FNC for review and recommendations. Draft laws and amendments formed with help of specialized house committees are presented to the Council for discussion and later sent back to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. Throughout its history, the Council has influenced the Federal Government to draft laws. Original draft laws from the Cabinet were amended by the Council to suit the needs of the citizens which they represent.[5]

The FNC is responsible under the Constitution for examining, and, if it wishes, amending, all proposed federal legislation, and is empowered to summon and to question any Federal Minister regarding Ministry performance. One of the main duties of the FNC is to discuss the annual budget. Specialized sub-committees and a Research and Studies Unit have been formed to assist FNC members to cope with the increasing demands of modern government.[6]

Apportionment

All seats are based on population.

EmirateNumber of Senators
Abu Dhabi 8
Dubai 8
Sharjah 6
Ras Al Khaimah 6
Ajman 4
Fujairah 4
Umm Al Quwain 4
Total 40

Elections

2006 Elections


Not all UAE nationals are allowed to vote or run for office. Only 6,689 out of some 800,000 Emirati citizens in the country were eligible to take part in 2006 election. Those eligible were chosen by the rulers of the emirates.

Women are allowed to vote and run for office but there is no quota to ensure a set number of women get elected as there is in some other Arab countries. Over 14 percent of candidates are women. By the end of 2003, all forty members of the FNC were male.

Election officials billed the polls as a trial run they hoped will pave the way for universal suffrage in the coming years. Even then, however, only half of the FNC will be elected.[6]

In late 2006, half of the organization was elected.[7] These elections were seen as the first steps toward Emirati democracy.[8]

  Summary of the 16, 18 and 20 December 2006 UAE Federal National Council election results
Members Seats
Elected 20
Appointed by the rulers of the constituent emirates 20
Total 40
Female membership
Among the twenty members chosen by the Electoral College, one woman was elected. Eight women were appointed by the rulers of the seven emirates and, with the exception of Umm al-Qaiwain, at least one woman was appointed by each emirate. Women therefore constituted 22.5% of the Council's membership, a significant increase.
Three among those appointed were from Dubai.[9]

2011 Elections


In 2011, parliamentary elections had an expanded electoral college with 129,274 members, nearly 20 times more than in 2006. The new Electoral College includes about 12 per cent of UAE nationals. Approximately 35 per cent of the members were under 30 years of age and 46 per cent were women.

In all, 468 candidates, including 85 women, stood for the elections. Many candidates pledged to provide better education and health care and more housing for young UAE nationals. They also promised to strengthen the UAE identity and culture. Several candidates used social media networks such as Facebook to present their plans.[10]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Legislative body forms a pillar of governance". gulfnews.com. September 25, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  2. ↑ "A vote for the country's future". gulfnews.com. September 25, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "About the Federal National Council". khaleejtimes.com. 4 July 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  4. ↑ "fnc_KT". arabiangazette.com. September 4, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  5. ↑ Staff Report. "What is the Federal National Council." Gulfnews.com
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 UAE Politics. The Political System of the UAE
  7. ↑ http://www.electionguide.org/country-news.php?ID=224
  8. ↑ The Report: Dubai 2007. The Oxford Business Group. 2007
  9. ↑ http://www.almajles.gov.ae/
  10. ↑ UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, Majlis Watani Itihadi (Federal National Council), http://www.ipu.org/parline/reports/2333_E.htm, Accessed April, 2015

References

External links