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Introduction
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a monarchy with a political system rooted in Islam's cherished traditions and rich culture. Its rules and regulations are governed by the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah (teachings and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) which call for peace justice, equality, consultation and respect for the rights of the individual.
Since the beginning of the first Saudi state in the 18th century through the founding of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the late King Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud on September 23, 1932, the Shari'ah (Islamic law) has been the pillar and source of Saudi Arabia's basic system of government. It identifies the nature of the state, its goals and responsibilities, as well as the relationship between the government and its citizens.
Recognising that his young nation would need to adapt to the changing times in order to thrive and prosper, King Abdul Aziz built the foundation for a constitutional regime, thus establishing a modern government where once tribal rulers had reigned.
A royal decree in 1953 established Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers. During the 1950s and 1960s, 20 government ministries were founded. The Council of Ministers in conjunction with the King, formed the executive and legislative branches of the government. This was the first step taken towards formalising the long-established Islamic system of popular consultation which has always been practiced by Saudi rulers. In the Majlis, weekly meetings which are open to all, members of the general public can approach the King and leaders at the local, provincial and national levels to discuss issues and raise grievances.
Beginning in the early 1970s, Saudi Arabia launched highly successful five-year development plans to set up a modern physical, social and human infrastructure. The rapid modernisation of Saudi Arabia led to a re-evaluation of the country's political and administrative system. Just as had his father before him, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz felt the need to revitalise the existing political system. The primary goal was to streamline the system to deal with the requirements of the nation in the 21st century. Taking into consideration the Kingdom's role in the Islamic world as well as its traditions and social fabric, the changes were made in total adherence to the Islamic religion.
In 1992, King Fahd introduced a new Basic Law for the System of Government, Majlis Al-Shoura (Consultative Council) and the Provincial System. The following year, he announced bylaws for the Council of Ministers System. .
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