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Federal Supreme Council

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The Federal Supreme Council (Arabic: المجلس الأعلى للاتحاد, lit. 'Supreme Council of the Union'), also known as the Supreme Council of Rulers,^[1] is the highest constitutional authority in the United Arab Emirates, being the highest legislative and executive body.^[2] It replaced the earlier Trucial States Council upon the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971^[3] and establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation. It is the highest federal authority in terms of hierarchy in the five federal authorities prescribed in the Constitution followed by the president and the vice president, federal cabinet, Federal National Council and the federal judiciary.

History[edit]

Trucial States Council was established as an informal consultative body and held its first meeting on 23 March 1952^[4] to bring the rulers closer together with the possibility of their forming some political or economic association in the future.^[5][6] It came into being following the British recognition of Fujairah as an independent emirate within the Trucial States.^[7] The council met twice a year under the chairmanship of the British representativeinDubai and held 30 such meetings between 1952 and 1968.^[8][9][10] In 1964, Adi Bitar was appointed as a legal adviser to the council. In 1965, the Trucial Coast Development Council was established. In 1966, the British political agency withdrew itself from presiding over the meetings and Sheikh Saqr al-Qasimi was elected as the president. He was soon replaced by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi.^[11]

After the Union in 1971, the Trucial States Council consisted of the six rulers of the Emirates who signed the Constitution and was renamed as the Federal Supreme Council. It elected Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, emir of Abu Dhabi, as president and appointed a federal cabinet. On 23 December 1971, the Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah sent a letter to the Council requesting to join the union. The Council agreed to the request and the Ras al-Khaimah was admitted to the Union on 10 February 1972.

Council meetings[edit]

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The Federal Supreme Council meets four times each year and its meetings are often on an informal basis and attend meetings of the Board, consisting of the seven rulers of the emirates or those acting in their emirate in the case of their absence. Each has one vote in the council's resolutions.

Council functions[edit]

The Supreme Council of the Union has the following functions:

1. The general policies in all matters entrusted to the Union by this Constitution consider what achieves the objectives of the Union and the common interests of the member Emirates.
2. The ratification of the various federal laws before they are issued, including the laws of the annual general budget of the Union and the final account.
3. The ratification of the decrees on the subject matters under the provisions of this Constitution for the ratification or approval of the Federal Supreme Council before the issuance of these decrees by the president.
4. Ratification of institutions and agreements are ratified by decree.
5. To approve the appointment of the prime minister and the cabinet and the acceptance of their resignation and removal from office upon the proposal of the president.
6. To approve the appointment of the president and Judges of the Federal Supreme Court and the acceptance of their resignations and dismissal in the circumstances prescribed in the Constitution. Are all decrees.
7. High control over the affairs of the Union in general.
8. Any other functions stipulated in this Constitution or federal laws.

Current members[edit]

The Federal Supreme Council consists of the seven rulers of each emirate:^[12]

Current member		Since	Status	Title	Emirate
Portrait	Name
	Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan	2022	Ruler of Abu Dhabi	President	Abu Dhabi
	Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum	2006	Ruler of Dubai	Vice President, Prime Minister	Dubai
	Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi	1972	Ruler of Sharjah	Member of the Federal Supreme Council	Sharjah
	Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi	1981	Ruler of Ajman	Member of the Federal Supreme Council	Ajman
	Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi	1974	Ruler of Fujairah	Member of the Federal Supreme Council	Fujairah
	Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla	2009	Ruler of Umm al-Quwain	Member of the Federal Supreme Council	Umm al-Quwain
	Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi	2010	Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah	Member of the Federal Supreme Council	Ras al-Khaimah

References[edit]

a.^ The Constitution provides that the Emirs of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have a veto
تاريخ الإمارات العربية المتحدة
المجلس الأعلى للاتحاد
Supreme Council/ Politics of the United Arab Emirates

External links[edit]

• Official website (in English)