Kuwait : Complete Profile - What is GIS - World Health Organization

Health Systems Profile- Kuwait Regional Health Systems Observatory- EMRO
2.4 Political/ Administrative Structure
Basic political /administrative structure and any recent reforms
Kuwait is a hereditary emirate and the ruling emir comes from the descendants of
Mubarak al-Sabah. The current emir is Sheikh Jabr al-Ahmed al-Jabr al-Sabah, who
succeeded his uncle in December 1977. The emir appointed Sheikh Saad Abdullah al-
Salem al-Sabah as his crown prince and prime minister; however, the position was, for
the first time in Kuwaiti history, separated in July 2003, when the emir’s half-brother and
long-serving foreign minister, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jabr al-Sabah, became prime
minister. Members of the ruling family hold key cabinet posts, including the defense,
interior and information portfolios. Laws passed by emiri decree must subsequently be
ratified by the National Assembly (parliament). Parliament can also initiate legislation.
The make-up of the cabinet is at the emir’s discretion, although members are appointed
by the prime minister. At least one elected member of parliament must be included in
the government. The 15-member cabinet formed in July 2003 included six members of
the ruling family.
The first National Assembly was elected in 1963; it is supposed to sit for four year terms.
However, the emir has dissolved the Assembly on three occasions (1976-82, 1986-92
and 1999). In the 1999 case, this was done entirely constitutionally and elections were
held shortly afterwards. A campaign to allow women to vote and stand for office has so
far failed to win sufficient parliamentary support. Cabinet members automatically
become members of the Assembly, unless they have already been elected, making a
total of 64 entitled to vote in the present parliament. In recent years the Assembly has
been pressing the government for greater transparency in financial matters. Members
have demanded a greater role in oil policy and more oversight of defense contracts.
Relations have been strained by MPs’ insistence on their right to question ministers,
most recently in July 2002.
The constitution provides for judicial independence by stating that “judges shall not be
subject to any authority”. It also states that sharia (Islamic law) is “a main source of
legislation”. In practice, all judges are appointed by the emir and those who have
Kuwaiti citizenship become judges for life. Some noncitizens are also appointed as
judges on the pardon or commute all sentences. 3
Key political events/reforms
The Kuwaiti Constitution was promulgated on November 16, 1962, but several articles
have been suspended by the Emir over the years. The Constitution declares that Kuwait
is a sovereign Arab state, ruled by an Emir heir to Mubarak as Sabah (died 1915). The
Emir has executive power, exercising this through the Council of Ministers. The Emir
appoints the Prime Minister, and appoints and dismisses ministers on the
recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is usually the Crown Prince.
The most important positions in the government, like foreign affairs, defence, interior,
finance and oil are filled with members from the ruling Sabah clan.
The Emir also formulates laws, but all laws will have to be national assembly, Majlis. The
legal system was codified in 1960, and there are strong traces of influence from Sharia.
Even if it is liberal in some fields, as for women's position in the social context, it is
marked by much conservatism in other fields, like control of moral behaviour. The Emir
is also in charge of establishing public institutions.
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