We, Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State,
Royal Decree 86/97 regarding Majlis Oman,
Royal Decree 87/97 Promulgating the Internal Regulation of Majlis Al-Dawla,
and Royal Decree 88/97 Promulgating the Internal Regulation of Majlis Al-Shura,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The attached law shall apply in regard to the Majlis Oman.
Article II
The aforementioned Royal Decrees 86/97, 87/97, and 88/97 are hereby repealed as well as all that is contrary to this decree and the attached law, or in conflict with their provisions.
Article III
This decree shall be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the day following the date of its publication.
Issued on: 27 Jumada Al-Awwal 1442
Corresponding to: 11 January 2021
Haitham bin Tarik
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 1375 issued on 17 January 2021.
Law of Majlis Oman
Chapter One
General Provisions
Article 1
Majlis Oman consists of:
1. Majlis Al-Dawla.
2. Majlis Al-Shura.
Article 2
Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura shall each have legal personality, enjoy financial and administrative independence, and have their headquarters in Muscat.
Article 3
Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura shall each be represented by the chairman of the majlis in their relations with others and before the judiciary, and he shall have—in regard to financial and administrative affairs and employee affairs—the authorities of the head of the unit prescribed by laws and royal decrees.
Article 4
Laws and royal decrees applicable on units of the administrative apparatus of the state shall apply to each of Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura in regard to the adoption of the organisational structure, financial and administrative audit, the employee system and their retirement treatment, and the preparation of the draft annual budget and the final account of the majlis.
Chapter Two
Majlis Al-Dawla
Article 5
Majlis Al-Dawla shall consist of a chairman and members whose number, inclusive of the chairman, shall not exceed the number of the members of Majlis Al-Shura, and they shall be appointed by royal decree.
Article 6
Members of Majlis Al-Dawla shall be selected from those who had spent long years in the service of the units of the administrative apparatus of the state and other public legal persons; from figures who have performed great services to the country; from those known for their competence and experience in the fields of science, literature, and culture; from professors of universities, colleges, and higher institutes; and from prominent figures and businessmen; as well as those who the Sultan considers selecting from outside these segments.
Article 7
Without prejudice to the provisions of article 6 of this law, those selected for the membership of Majlis Al-Dawla must meet the following conditions:
1. Be of Omani nationality.
2. Be at least forty Gregorian years of age on the date of his appointment.
3. Not have been previously convicted by a final sentence of a felony or a crime prejudicial to honour or integrity, even if he has been rehabilitated.
4. Not be placed under guardianship by a judicial ruling.
5. Not suffer from a mental illness.
Article 8
The term of Majlis Al-Dawla shall be four Gregorian years commencing from the date of its first meeting, provided that, in all cases, it shall not be less than the term of Majlis Al-Shura.
Article 9
Majlis Al-Dawla shall elect from its members—in its first session—and for a term identical to its term, two deputies to the chairman through direct secret ballot by an absolute majority of the members of the majlis. If any of the candidates do not receive the required majority in the first round, a second round shall be held where selection is by a relative majority.
If the seat of any of the deputies of the chairman becomes vacant, the majlis shall elect a replacement for him until the end of his term, and his election shall follow the same procedures stipulated in the previous paragraph.
The internal regulation of the majlis shall prescribe—in both cases—the procedures for electing the deputies of the chairman.
Article 10
Membership in Majlis Al-Dawla ends for one of the following reasons:
1. The end of the term of the majlis.
2. The relief of membership.
3. Death or total incapacity.
Article 11
A member of Majlis Al-Dawla may request to be relieved from the membership of the majlis by submitting a petition to the chairman of the majlis, and the chairman shall present it to the Sultan.
In all cases, a member of Majlis Al-Dawla must be relieved if he loses one of the membership conditions upon which he was appointed, loses confidence and esteem, or violates the duties of membership.
Article 12
It is not permitted to hold simultaneously the membership of Majlis Al-Dawla and public office, except those known for their competence and experience in the fields of science, literature, and culture, professors of universities, colleges, and higher institutes, and those who the Sultan considers selecting in accordance with article 6 of this law.
Chapter Three
Majlis Al-Shura
Article 13
Majlis Al-Shura shall consist of elected members representing all the wilayat of the Sultanate. The number of the members of the majlis shall be specified so that each wilayat is represented by a single member if its population does not exceed thirty thousand on the date on which nominations are opened, and two members if the population of the wilayat exceeds this limit on that same date.
Article 14
The election of the members of Majlis Al-Shura shall be by universal direct secret ballot in the manner prescribed by the Election Law.
Article 15
Candidates for the membership of Majlis Al-Shura shall meet the following conditions:
1. Be of Omani nationality by origin.
2. Be at least thirty Gregorian years of age when nominations are opened.
3. Hold an academic qualification that is not lower than the general education diploma.
4. Not have been previously convicted by a final sentence of a felony or a crime prejudicial to honour or integrity, even if he has been rehabilitated.
5. Be registered in the electoral register in the wilayat he is a candidate for.
6. Not be affiliated with a security or military body.
7. Not be placed under guardianship by a judicial ruling.
8. Not suffer from a mental illness.
It is permitted for those whose membership ends to run again for the membership of Majlis Al-Shura.
Article 16
The term of Majlis Al-Shura shall be four Gregorian years commencing from the date of its first meeting. The elections for the new Majlis shall take place during the ninety days prior to the date specified for the end of that term. If the elections do not take place by the end of the term of the majlis or if they are delayed for any reason, the majlis shall remain until the election of the new majlis, and it is permitted in necessary cases to extend the term of the majlis by royal decree until the reasons for these cases cease to exist.
Article 17
Majlis Al-Shura shall meet in an extraordinary session called by the Sultan, prior to its first session, to elect its chairman and two deputies to the chairman for a term identical to its term, and that is through direct secret ballot by an absolute majority of the members of the majlis, and this session shall be chaired by the member oldest in age. If any of the candidates for the position of the chairman or the position of the deputies to the chairman do not receive the required majority in the first round, a second round shall be held where selection is by a relative majority.
If the seat of the chairman or any of his deputies becomes vacant, the majlis shall elect a replacement for him until the end of its term. The same procedures stipulated in the previous paragraph shall be followed for his election.
The internal regulation of the majlis shall prescribe—in all cases—the procedures for electing the chairman and his deputies.
Article 18
If the seat of any of the members of Majlis Al-Shura becomes vacant before the end of his term, it shall be filled by a candidate from his wilayat in the order of the results of the elections of Majlis Al-Shura for the same term so that priority is given to those who received the most votes, and that is within sixty days from the date of the announcement by the majlis of the vacancy of the seat. The term of the new member shall be the remainder of the term of his predecessor. This seat shall not be filled if it becomes vacant during the six months preceding the date specified for the end of the term of the majlis.
Article 19
Membership in Majlis Al-Shura ends for one of the following reasons:
1. The end of the term of the majlis.
2. Resignation.
3. Death or total incapacity.
4. The revocation of membership.
5. Dissolution of the majlis.
Article 20
Resignation from the membership of Majlis Al-Shura shall be in writing. It shall be submitted to the chairman of the majlis to present it to the majlis to decide on its acceptance or rejection. The internal regulation of the majlis shall govern the provisions relating to this matter.
Article 21
The membership of a member of Majlis Al-Shura is revoked by law if he loses one of the membership conditions specified in article 15 of this law. Majlis Al-Shura may, by a majority of two thirds of its members, issue a decision to revoke the membership of a member if he loses confidence and esteem, or violates the duties of membership.
Article 22
It is not permitted to simultaneously hold the membership of Majlis Al-Shura and public office. If a public officer is elected for the membership of the majlis, his service is deemed ended from the date of the announcement of the results. In the event that the validity of his membership is contested, he shall retain his employment without the payment of his salary until a final judgment is rendered in regard to the contestation. If the judgment is rendered invalidating his membership and nullifying the decision of his win, he shall return to his office and his salary shall be paid from the date of his return to work. If the contestation is denied, his employment shall be deemed ended from the date of the announcement of the results. He shall be paid an exceptional pension specified by the law, provided that he has on this date a period of service calculated in the pension of not less than fifteen Gregorian years.
Article 23
The chairman and the members of Majlis Al-Shura are prohibited, if they run for another term for membership of the majlis, from using the membership status to interfere in any way in the procedures of the electoral process in all its stages.
Article 24
The Sultan, in the cases He determines, may dissolve Majlis Al-Shura and call for new elections within four months from the date of the dissolution.
Chapter Four
Common Provisions
Article 25
The members of Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura shall, prior to undertaking their work at the majlis, take the following oath in a public session each before his Majlis:
“I swear by Allah the Almighty to be loyal to my Sultan and to my country, to respect the Basic Statute of the State and the applicable laws, to protect the integrity of the state and the fundamental pillars of Omani society and its inherent values, and to perform my duties in the majlis and its committees truthfully and honestly.”
The chairman of Majlis Al-Dawla shall, prior to undertaking his work in the majlis, take the oath stipulated in the previous paragraph before the Sultan.
Article 26
The chairman of Majlis Al-Dawla, the chairman of Majlis Al-Shura, their deputies, and all the members of the two majlises shall direct their work towards the interests of the country in accordance with the applicable laws, and they shall not exploit their membership in any manner for their personal interest or the interests of their relatives or of those with whom they have a special relationship.
Article 27
Th competences of the members of Majlis Oman are limited to those stipulated in this law, and they shall be exercised in a manner that does not conflict with the competences of other bodies.
Article 28
It is not permitted to hold a member of Majlis Al-Dawla or a member of Majlis Al-Shura accountable for the opinions and statements he expresses before the majlis, its office, or its committees in regard to matters within the competences of the majlis.
Article 29
It is not permitted, other than in the case of flagrante delicto, to take any penal action against a member of Majlis Al-Dawla or a member of Majlis Al-Shura during the annual session, except with prior permission from the competent majlis. Permission is issued by the chairman of the majlis in question outside the session.
Article 30
It is not permitted to hold simultaneously the membership of Majlis Al-Dawla and the membership of Majlis Al-Shura.
Article 31
The main organs of Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura consist of: the chairman of the majlis, the committees, and the secretariat general. The competences of the committees established by each majlis shall be in conformity with the competences prescribed for it by law.
Article 32
Without prejudice to the provisions of this law, each of Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura shall set its internal regulation. The internal regulation of each majlis shall prescribe the following:
1. Duties and rights of members, their guarantees, and the penalties that may be imposed on them.
2. The procedures for forming the office of the majlis and the committees and specifying their competences and the competences of the chairman of the majlis and his deputies, and the mechanism for selecting the Chairman of Majlis Al-Shura and his deputies, and the deputies of the Chairman of Majlis Al-Dawla.
3. The work system of the majlis, its office, and its committees, and the principles for debate and voting, and the rules for the maintenance of order in the majlis.
The internal regulation for each majlis shall be published in the Official Gazette.
Article 33
Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura shall—each separately—have a secretariat general composed of a secretary general, assistant secretaries general, and a sufficient number of employees.
Article 34
The Secretary General of Majlis Al-Dawla and the Secretary General of Majlis Al-Shura shall be appointed by royal decree.
Article 35
The secretariat general of each majlis shall undertake the works necessary to support the majlis and all its organs in exercising its competences and responsibilities, in accordance with the general governance rules prescribed by the chairman of the majlis, and without prejudice to the provisions of article 4 of this law.
Article 36
The secretary general of each majlis shall undertake the following competences and functions:
1. Supervising the secretariat general and its employees, and monitoring the performance of their employment duties.
2. Attending the sessions of the majlis and the office of the majlis.
3. Supervising the preparation of the minutes of the sessions of the majlis and announcing them to the members in accordance with the instructions of the chairman of the majlis or one of his deputies, as the case may be.
4. Any other functions assigned to him by the majlis, the chairman of the majlis, or the office of the majlis.
Article 37
The secretary general of each majlis shall have, in regard to financial and administrative affairs and employee affairs, the authorities prescribed to the undersecretary of a ministry in laws and royal decrees applicable to the units of the administrative apparatus of the state.
Chapter Five
Scheduling of the Sessions and the Competences of Majlis Oman
Article 38
Majlis Oman shall have an ordinary session that is not less than eight months in a year, which the Sultan shall call to convene during the month of November of every year.
Article 39
In exception to the provisions of article 38 of this law, the Sultan shall call Majlis Oman for the first meeting after the general elections for Majlis Al-Shura within a month from the date of the announcement of the results of those elections.
Article 40
The Sultan may call for Majlis Oman to meet outside the ordinary sessions in the cases He determines.
Article 41
The call for Majlis Oman to convene or adjourn its ordinary or extraordinary sessions shall be by royal order.
Article 42
Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura shall each hold their meetings in their respective headquarters in Muscat, and the Sultan may call for them to meet in any other place.
Article 43
Without prejudice to the provisions of articles 52 and 76 of this law, the sessions of Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura must be public, and it is permitted to hold sessions that are not public in the cases that so require by agreement with the Council of Ministers and any of the two majlises.
Article 44
The validity of the sessions of each of Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura requires the attendance of a majority of its respective members, provided they include the chairman or one of his deputies. If the required number is not achieved, the session shall be postponed to the subsequent session.
Article 45
Decisions by each of Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura are issued by an absolute majority of the members attending, and that is in the cases that do not require a special majority. In the case of a tie vote, the side that includes the chair of the session prevails.
Article 46
If Majlis Al-Shura is dissolved, the sessions of Majlis Al-Dawla shall be suspended.
Article 47
Draft laws prepared by the government shall be referred to Majlis Oman for adoption or amendment, and then presented directly to the Sultan for ratification and promulgation.
In the event that amendments are made to the draft law by Majlis Oman, the Sultan may return it to the majlis to reconsider these amendments, and then it shall be presented to the Sultan.
Article 48
Majlis Oman may propose draft laws and refer them to the government to study and return them to the majlis within a maximum period of one year. If the proposal is approved, the same procedures stipulated in article 47 of this law shall apply to it, and if it is not approved, the government shall notify Majlis Oman of the reasons for this within the same time limit.
Article 49
Draft laws shall be referred by the Council of Ministers to Majlis Al-Shura, which shall decide on the draft by approving or amending it within three months at most from the date of referral to it. It shall then be referred to Majlis Al-Dawla which shall decide on it by approving or amending it within forty-five days at most from the date of referral to it.
If the two majlises disagree in regard to a draft, they may form a joint committee for examining the areas of disagreement. The committee shall submit its report to the two majlises to debate it in a joint session to be chaired and called by the Chairman of Majlis Al-Dawla, and then the draft shall be voted on in the same session. The decisions shall be issued by an absolute majority of the members attending, and in all cases, the Chairman of Majlis Al-Dawla shall present the draft to the Sultan accompanied by the opinion of both majlises.
Article 50
Draft laws of an urgent nature shall be referred by the Council of Ministers to Majlis Al-Shura to approve or amend them within a maximum of one month from the date of the referral to it. It shall then be referred to Majlis Al-Dawla to approve or amend it within a maximum of one month from the date of the referral to it.
If the two majlises disagree in regard to a draft, they may form a joint committee for examining the areas of disagreement. The committee shall submit its report to the two majlises to debate in a joint session to be chaired and called by the Chairman of Majlis Al-Dawla, and then the draft shall be voted on in the same session. The decisions shall be issued by an absolute majority of the members attending, and in all cases, the Chairman of Majlis Al-Dawla shall present the draft to the Sultan accompanied by the opinion of both majlises.
Article 51
The Sultan may issue decrees that have the power of law between the sessions of Majlis Oman, and while Majlis Al-Shura is dissolved and the sessions of Majlis Al-Dawla are suspended.
Article 52
Drafts of the development plans and the General Budget of the State shall be referred from the Council of Ministers to Majlis Al-Shura to debate and to make recommendations in regard to them within a maximum of one month from the date of the referral to it, and then they shall be referred to Majlis Al-Dawla to debate and make recommendations within a maximum of one month from the date of the referral to it. The Chairman of Majlis Al-Dawla shall return them to the Council of Ministers accompanied by the recommendations of both majlises, and the Council of Ministers shall notify the two majlises of the recommendations that were not approved with the reasons for this.
The sessions of Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura designated for debating drafts of the development plans and the General Budget of the State shall be held in secret.
Article 53
In addition to its other competences that are stipulated in this law, Majlis Al-Dawla may—at its own initiative—study and debate matters relating to the implementation of development plans and submit its proposals regarding them to the government. It may also submit proposals and studies that contribute to the entrenchment of inherent values of Omani society and the preservation of its accomplishments.
Article 54
Draft economic and social agreements that the government intends to sign or accede to shall be referred by the Council of Ministers to Majlis Al-Shura in order to provide its views and present its findings to the Council of Ministers, which shall take what it deems appropriate in regard to them.
Article 55
Service ministers shall provide Majlis Al-Shura with an annual report on the implementation stages of the projects of the ministries they head. The majlis may invite any of them to provide statements on matters relevant to the competences of the ministry he heads, and debate the same with him.
Chapter Six
Monitoring Tools Prescribed for Majlis Al-Shura
Article 56
Majlis Al-Shura may exercise its competence in monitoring using the following tools:
1. Urgent statement.
2. Request for briefing.
3. Expression of a wish.
4. Question.
5. Request for debate.
6. Debating ministerial statements.
7. Interpellation.
The internal regulation of the majlis shall prescribe the procedures and timings to be observed by the chairman and the members of the majlis when using these tools in a manner that does not conflict with the provisions of this law.
Article 57
Each member of Majlis Al-Shura may request in writing to the chairman of the majlis, within a sufficient time prior to the date of the session, to make a statement regarding an urgent and important matter relating to the public interest of the country, and to succinctly explain the particulars of the issue and the justifications for bringing it before the majlis.
The chairman of the majlis shall present to the majlis the requests of the members before starting with the agenda to vote on them without debate. If a majority of those attending agree, the chairman shall permit those who made the requests to make their statements without debate. The urgent statement shall not relate to a matter referred to the committees of the majlis or to a draft law under consideration by the majlis.
Article 58
Each member of Majlis Al-Shura may request in writing from the chairman of the majlis to brief the government of an urgent matter that cannot be delayed and that falls within the competences of the body to whom it is addressed, and to request from the government to brief the majlis with the data or information that falls within the competences of the majlis and assists it in exercising its authorities.
The chairman of the majlis shall submit the request to the office of the majlis, to determine whether to refer it to the competent committee to give its opinion or to refer it to the government for its response. The person making the request shall be informed of the decision of the office, and it is permitted for a person whose request is denied to explain his objections before the majlis.
The chairman of the majlis shall refer the response of the government to the member making the request immediately upon receiving it from the government. If the member requests in writing to debate the matter, the office shall include it in the agenda of the nearest session in agreement with the government. If during the debate multiple requests concern an identical issue, they shall be consolidated. The representative of the government shall start by presenting the response of the government, and then the member making the request may speak. The chairman of the majlis may permit one of the proponents and one of the opponents to speak before moving to the agenda.
Article 59
Without prejudice to the provision of article 27 of this law, Majlis Al-Shura may—at its own initiative—express wishes to the government in regard to matters relating to public services and facilities and the means for improving them and enhancing their performance, or relating to the challenges facing the economic sector and the promotion of development, whenever the majlis determines that this is required for the public interest.
Article 60
Each member of Majlis Al-Shura may propose wishes in regard to the matters referred to in article 59 of this law, and such proposals shall be submitted in writing to the chairman of the majlis accompanied by their justifications.
Article 61
If the chairman of the majlis determines that a wish proposal submitted by one of the members does not fall within the competences of the majlis, he may, after the approval of the office of the majlis, not present it to the majlis.
The chairman of the majlis may, after the approval of the office of the majlis, dismiss all wish proposals that include inappropriate statements, assault natural persons or public or private legal persons, or harms the public interest.
Article 62
The chairman of the majlis shall notify the government of the outcomes reached by the majlis in regard to the wish proposal, to consider the possibility of implementing it in light of the public policy of the government.
Article 63
Members of Majlis Al-Shura may ask questions to service ministers. It is not permitted to ask a question except from a single member to a single minister.
Question means a query by a Member about a matter unknown to him, an incident that came to his knowledge which he wishes to verify the occurrence of, and the intention of the government in regard to a matter that falls within the competences of the majlis.
Article 64
The question shall be submitted to the office of the majlis in writing, clearly and succinctly, and signed by its submitter. It shall be limited to the queried matters without expressing opinions or remarks on them, shall not relate to a private interest or a matter of a personal character, shall not contradict with the provisions of the Basic Statute of the State, shall not harm the public interest, shall not include names of individuals or prejudice their personal affairs, and shall not prejudice a matter examined by the courts or the Public Prosecution.
If the question does not satisfy some or all of the conditions stipulated in the previous paragraph, the office of the majlis shall dismiss it and notify its submitter of the reasons for this.
The chairman of the majlis shall notify the Council of Ministers of the question that satisfies the conditions to notify the competent minister to respond to it.
Article 65
The competent minister shall answer the question addressed to him in the session specified by agreement between the Council of Ministers and Majlis Al-Shura or deposit the answer in writing to the Secretariat General of Majlis Al-Shura for the members to view it, within three months from the date of this session, and this shall be noted in the minutes of the session.
Article 66
The member of the majlis who submits the question shall exclusively, if the minister attends, have the right to remark on the answer, and the remark shall be succinct and for one time.
Article 67
The effect of the question ends by answering it. It is not permitted to convert it to a general debate or to issue a decision in regard to it by the majlis.
Article 68
It is permitted, on the basis of a written request signed by at least five members, and after the approval of Majlis Al-Shura by a majority of the attending members, to debate and share opinions with service ministers on general matters falling with the competence of the majlis.
The Chairman of Majlis Al-Shura shall notify the Council of Ministers of the request for debate to call the minister to attend the debate session specified by agreement between the council and the majlis. The matter shall be added to the agenda of that session, and the competent minister may request to postpone the response to a subsequent session.
All members of the majlis may participate in the debate and ask questions orally to the minister. Priority to speak shall be given to the minister whenever he requests so, and the chairman of the majlis shall close the debate if he determines that it has been exhausted.
The majlis may issue appropriate recommendations and wishes as it sees fit in regard to the debated matter.
Article 69
Majlis Al-Shura shall, on the basis of a joint proposal by the office of the majlis and the chairs of its permanent committees, decide at the beginning of every annual session on the programme for ministerial statements that will be delivered through the session and their debate topics for discussion. The chairman of the majlis shall notify the government of this programme and specify the elements and topics that must be included in each statement in accordance with the matter or sector that the statement relates to.
The following rules shall be observed in the sessions in which ministers make their ministerial statements:
1. The statement must be distributed to the members of the majlis at least two weeks prior to the session specified for making the statement, to allow for its review.
2. The debate shall be limited to half the members of the competent committee, three members of the office of the majlis, and three members from each of the other committees, provided that the time allocated for each member does not exceed five minutes to ask questions and two minutes to make remarks, that the competent minister has sufficient allocated time to respond, and that the session does not extend to more than one business day. It is permitted to extend it to a subsequent business day if the nature of the matter so requires.
3. The questions of the members shall be specific, direct, and consistent with the nature of the work of the minister. The minister may answer in writing at a later time the questions for which he does not have sufficient information during the session, and deposit the answer with the Secretariat General of the majlis for the members to view it.
Article 70
A minimum of fifteen members of Majlis Al-Shura may request the interpellation of any service minister for matters relating to exceeding their authorities in violation of the law.
Article 71
The interpellation request shall be submitted to the chairman of the majlis stating the interpellation matter, and accompanied by an explanatory note that includes a statement of the matters concerning the interpellation, the key facts and points covered by the interpellation, the grounds relied upon by the members making the request, the legal violation attributed to the minister requested for interpellation, and the documents supporting the request.
The chairman of the majlis shall refer the request to the office of the majlis to verify its compliance with the conditions specified in the previous paragraph. If it established that it does not satisfy any of these conditions, the office of the majlis shall dismiss it and notify those who made the request and the reasons for this.
The office of the majlis shall add a request that satisfies all the conditions to the agenda of the sessions, in preparation for presenting it to the majlis for a vote. If the majlis approves the request by a majority of the attending members, the majlis shall notify the Council of Ministers of this decision to coordinate between them to specify a session to debate this interpellation.
Article 72
Members who submit a request for interpellation may, at any time before presenting their request to the majlis for a vote, withdraw the request and consider the written response of the minister on the matter sufficient. In this case, the provisions on question stipulated in this law shall apply to the request.
Article 73
The decision of Majlis Al-Shura approving the interpellation shall lapse if the capacity of the minister to be interpellated ceases, or if one of those making the request withdraws or his membership ceases for any reason, unless other members uphold it so that the number of those making the request for interpellation is not less than fifteen members.
Article 74
In the event that Majlis Al-Shura approves the interpellation, those making the request shall select one of them to explain it before the majlis in a session specified for this purpose in agreement between the majlis and the Council of Ministers, and they shall notify the chairman of the majlis of his name within an appropriate time before this session. The minister to be interpellated shall respond to it in the specified session, and one of the persons making the interpellation request may remark on this response succinctly. The chairman of the majlis shall permit one of the proponent and one of the opponent members of the majlis to speak before closing the debate.
Article 75
The majlis shall decide after closing the debate by a majority of its attending members on whether to consider the response of the minister sufficient and move to the agenda, or to refer the matter to a competent committee to prepare a report regarding the matter to be considered by the majlis in a subsequent session. The chairman of the majlis shall present to the Sultan the findings of the majlis by a majority of two-thirds of its members.
Article 76
The session of Majlis Al-Shura where interpellation takes place shall be secret. It shall not be attended except by the chairman of the majlis, his deputies, the members, and the secretary general. The facts of the session shall be secret, and they shall not be divulged or disclosed, or reported to the press, media, or social communication means of all kinds.
Chapter Seven
Final and Transitional Provisions
Article 77
The Council of Ministers shall designate for Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura, each separately, two annual meetings to be attended by the chairman and the members of the office of each majlis, for the purpose of following-up the areas of coordination between them.
The Council of Ministers may form a joint committee with Majlis Al-Dawla or Majlis Al-Shura to undertake coordination between the government and the majlis in order to serve the public interest and also to undertake the preparations for the annual coordination meetings referred to in the previous paragraph.
Article 78
Each of Majlis Al-Dawla and Majlis Al-Shura shall rectify its status in accordance with the provisions of this law within a year from the date of its implementation.