|
|
Saudi Arabia Government
Saudi Arabia is a monarchy. Its official name is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its constitution is the Holy Quran and the Muslim law, Sharia, which is based on the Holy Quran.
Directed by the Sharia, the King is the head of state and the Prime Minister. There is a Council of Ministers, which is appointed by the King and who help him in formulating and executing his policies. The King is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. All government officials, agencies and the ministers themselves are responsible to the King whose title is Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
The King is assisted in his duties by the Crown Prince who is the Deputy Prime Minister and also by the second Deputy Prime Minister.
The linchpin of Saudi government policy is the majlis, an open meeting where anyone can petition his leaders from the King down to the governors of the provinces and local leaders. In other words, the leaders are accessible to the people.
|
|
An Overview :
Country name: |
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
|
Government type: |
monarchy
|
Capital: |
Riyadh
|
Administrative divisions: |
13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
|
Independence: |
23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
|
National holiday: |
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
|
Constitution: |
governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993
|
Legal system: |
based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
Suffrage: |
adult male citizens age 21 or older
note: voter registration began in November 2004 for partial municipal council elections scheduled nationwide for February through April 2005
|
Executive branch: |
chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928) note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928) note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members
elections: note - in October 2003, Council of Ministers announced its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of local and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a period of four to five years; in November 2004, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs initiated voter registration for partial municipal council elections scheduled nationwide for February through April 2005
|
Legislative branch: |
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)
|
Judicial branch: |
Supreme Council of Justice
|
Political parties and leaders: |
none
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
none
|
International organization participation:Diplomatic representation in the US: |
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
|
Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Turki al-Faysal bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
|
Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador James Curtis OBERWETTER
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
fax: [966] (1) 488-3989
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
|
Flag description: |
green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932
|
|
|
|
