Bahrain

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Bahrain Image File history File links Bahrain_coa. ... Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy (until 2002 emirate) with an executive appointed by the king, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and a bi-cameral legislature, with the Chamber of Deputies elected by universal suffrage, and the Shura Council appointed directly by the king. ...

Constitution King: Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah Prime minister Khalifah ibn Sulman al-Khalifah National Assembly Council of Representatives Consultative Council Political parties Elections Governorates Women's political rights Foreign relations

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The National Assembly is bicameral with the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, having 40 members elected in single-seat constituencies for a four year term. The upper house, the Shura Council, has 40 members appointed by the King of Bahrain, with the stated aim of giving a voice to minority communities and technocratic experts within the legislative process. Supporters of the system refer to long established democracies the United Kingdom and Canada operating with this bicameralism with an appointed upper chamber and an elected lower chamber. Opponents of this system point out that unlike the bicameral systems in the UK and Canada, the Bahraini system gives the unelected upper house equal or more legislative power than the elected lower house, allowing the King to control all legislation. Opponents also point out that the current system was imposed unilaterally by the King, violating the 1973 Constitution and a 2001 signed agreement with the Bahraini opposition. The position of king of Bahrain was created in February 2002 when the then emir of Bahrain Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah gave himself the title of king. ... Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifah (born January 28, 1950 in Ar-Rifa, Bahrain) (Arabic: حمد بن عيسى آل خليفة) is the current King of Bahrain (from 2002), having previously been its Emir (since 1999). ... In Bahrain, the Prime Minister is the head of government of the country. ... ‎Khalifah ibn Sulman al-Khalifah (born 1936) is the Prime Minister of Bahrain. ... The National Assembly is the name of both chambers of the Bahraini parliament when sitting in joint session, as laid out in the Constitution of 2002. ... The Council of Representatives (majlis an-nuwab), sometimes translated as the Chamber of Deputies, is the name given to the lower house of the Bahraini National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain. ... The Consultative Council (majlis al-shura) is the name given to the upper house of the National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain. ... Political parties from the former Communist Left to the Islamist Right sit in parliament in Bahrain, but are known technically as Political Associations or Blocs. ... The Kingdom of Bahrain, or Bahrain, is a borderless country in the Persian Gulf (Southwest Asia/Middle East, Asia). ... Women’s political rights have been a cornerstone of the political reforms initiated by King Hamad with for the first time women being given the right to vote and stand as candidates in national elections after the constitution was amended in 2002. ... Bahrain plays a modest, moderating role in regional politics and adheres to the views of the Arab League on Middle East peace and Palestinian rights. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... The National Assembly is the name of both chambers of the Bahraini parliament when sitting in joint session, as laid out in the Constitution of 2002. ... In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ... The Council of Representatives (majlis an-nuwab), sometimes translated as the Chamber of Deputies, is the name given to the lower house of the Bahraini National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain. ... The Consultative Council (majlis al-shura) is the name given to the upper house of the National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain. ... The position of king of Bahrain was created in February 2002 when the then emir of Bahrain Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah gave himself the title of king. ... In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ... The position of king of Bahrain was created in February 2002 when the then emir of Bahrain Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah gave himself the title of king. ...

2006 Elections (25 November 2006)

Bahrain will hold parliamentary elections on 25 November 2006 for the lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, and is currently in the midst of an election campaign. The four opposition parties that boycotted the 2002 election are taking part this time. Most observers predict a strong showing for Shia Islamists and the salafist-Muslim Brotherhoood alliance, while liberals and Leftists are likely to be further pushed towards the political margins. Al Wefaq National Islamic Society is Bahrains most largest political society. ... Asalah is the main Salafist party in Bahrain, and after 2002s general election is one of the most well represented in the Kingdoms parliament with seven MPs. ... Al Menbar Islamic Bloc is the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood in Bahrain. ... The Economists Bloc is a liberal political party in Bahrain represented by three MPs in parliament. ... The National Democratic Action is Bahrains largest Leftist political party, comprised of an alliance between former Maoists, socialists and Arab nationalists. ...

In September 2006, the Bandargate scandal was revealed, in which it was alleged that a secret organization of government officials were planning on rigging the elections to marginalize the Shia community. (See: Bandargate scandal) The Bandargate scandal refers to an alleged political conspiracy by the certain government officials in Bahrain to foment sectarian strife and marginalize the majority Shia community in the country. ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... The Bandargate scandal refers to an alleged political conspiracy by the certain government officials in Bahrain to foment sectarian strife and marginalize the majority Shia community in the country. ...

A large number of women candidates are contesting the poll, with one female candidate, Lateefa Al Gaood, winning her seat by default even before polling began when her two opponents withdrew their candidacies. This makes her one of the Gulf's female candidate to serve in an elected parliament in the Gulf. Critics have accused the government of engineering her victory because it wanted to see a female candidate succeed and they are aware that it is highly unlikely any woman will be elected in the voting. Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...

Among the most qualified candidates is the former Harvard academic, Dr Munira Fakhro, who teaches at the University of Bahrain. A leading member of the Supreme Council for Women and co-author of the Arab Human Development Report, Dr Fakhro is standing for the Leftist Al Waad in suburban Isa Town. Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and a member of the Ivy League. ... Munira Fakhro, Bahraini academic and leftist political activist. ... // The Establishment and Development The roots of the University go back to the late sixties when the Higher Institutes for male and female teachers were established. ... The Supreme Council for Women is Bahrain’s advisory body to the government on womens issues. ... The Arab Human Development Report is published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). ... The National Democratic Action is Bahrains largest Leftist political party, comprised of an alliance between former Maoists, socialists and Arab nationalists. ... The Bahrain National Stadium in Isa Town Isa Town (Madinat Isa) is a middle class suburb of Bahrains capital, Manama. ...

Parliamentary speaker, Khalifa Al Dhahrani, is likely to be re-elected in his constituency, although his ambition to remain head of the parliament is likely to be challenged after his previous performance was criticised for failing to control radical Islamist MPs in the debating chamber. Al Wefaq leader Ali Salman may run for speaker post elections, as it is predicted that his party will be the largest in the new parliament. Khalifa Al Dhahrani is the chairman of the Council of Representatives of Bahrain and is therefore the most senior MP in parliament. ... Al Wefaq National Islamic Society is Bahrains most largest political society. ... Ali Salman is the president of the Al-Wefaq political society in Bahrain. ...

2002 elections

The elections in 2002 were the first since the late emir Shaikh Isa ibn Salman al-Khalifa dissolved the first elected parliament in 1975 and abrogated the 1973 Constitution (see: History of Bahrain). Isa ibn Salman Al-Khalifa (June 3, 1933 - March 6, 1999) was emir of Bahrain from 1960 until his death. ... // The Dilmun Era The history of Bahrain goes back more than five thousand years to its role as the centre of the ancient civilisation of Dilmun, which dominated the trade routes between Sumeria and the Indus Valley. ...

On 24 October 2002, men and women went to the polls in Bahrain to vote in parliamentary elections for the new National Assembly. The poll was the first national election in which women had the right to vote and stand as candidates (see Women's political rights in Bahrain for more details). The 2002 elections were at the core of democratic reforms launched by King Hamad when he became King in 1999. The Kingdom's political associations are gearing up to contest the general elections in September 2006. October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Opinion polls are surveys of opinion using sampling. ... Women’s political rights have been a cornerstone of the political reforms initiated by King Hamad with for the first time women being given the right to vote and stand as candidates in national elections after the constitution was amended in 2002. ... Democracy is a form of government under which the power to alter the laws and structures of government lies, ultimately, with the citizenry. ... Reformism (also called revisionism or revisionist theory) is the belief that gradual changes in a society can ultimately change its fundamental structures. ...

The largest opposition party Al Wefaq called for the restriction of the rights of elected MPs, campaigning for their legislative powers on issues related to the rights of women and children to be given to unelected clerics. In November 2005 they began a campaign for Bahrain's constitution to be amended to reflect this. Al Wefaq National Islamic Society is Bahrains most largest political society. ... Bahrain has had two constitutions in its modern history. ...

According to Rulers in parliamentary elections at 24 October 2002 the Sunni Islamists and independents won 16 of 40 seats. Turnout was 53.2%. In a second round held on October 31, the independents won 12 seats and the Islamists 9. The secular representatives or independents secure a total of 21 of the 40 seats. No women candidates were elected. October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ... October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining. ...

Candidates ran as individuals in the 2002 elections, but are organised in parliament as members of de facto political parties known as 'political societies'.

The Council of Representatives (majlis an-nuwab), sometimes translated as the Chamber of Deputies, is the name given to the lower house of the Bahraini National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain. ...

External links

• Adam Carr's Election Archive
• Women warned of 'dirty' poll fight, Gulf Daily News, 13 October 2005