Consultative Assembly of Qatar

The Consultative Assembly (Arabic: مجلس الشورى القطري, romanized: Majlis as-Shura; also known as the Shura Council) is the unicameral legislative body of the State of Qatar. During its first and last elections in 2021, it consisted of 45 members, made up of 30 elected representatives and 15 appointees of the Emir, but as of 2024 it has gone back to all 45 members being directly appointed by the emir. The body can call a vote of no confidence against the appointed Prime Minister, though this requires a two-thirds supermajority, which is also necessary to oppose legislative action carried out by the Prime Minister.

The Council was formed in April 1972 with 20 appointed members. In May 1972, the first consultative assembly meeting was held, during which Sayed Aziz bin Khalid Al Ghanim was elected as the assembly's first chairman. Aside from the 20 members who took part in the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani and foreign dignitaries were also in attendance.

Qatar's constitution, approved in April 2003 by popular referendum, has created a legislative body to be two thirds elected by universal suffrage, and one third appointed by the Emir. According to that constitution, the legislature will have three powers: to approve (but not prepare) the national budget; to monitor the performance of ministers through no-confidence votes; and to draft, discuss, and vote on proposed legislation, which becomes law only with the vote of a two-thirds majority and the Emir's endorsement. However, the Assembly held its first ever elections only in 2021, and in 2024 the constitution was revised and the Assembly officially went back to being fully appointed by the emir.

The consultative assembly has the following functions:

The responsibilities of the CMC within the broader institutional framework have been a focal point of discussion among officials and members of the public. Research conducted by the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) in 2015 reveals a lack of awareness among respondents about the extent of the CMC's impact on local daily life. According to the survey, 21% of participants believed the CMC exerted no influence at all, assigning a score of zero, while 18% perceived a moderate influence, rating it as five, and approximately 10% rated it as having full influence, giving it a score of ten.

This perceived limitation in the CMC’s authority was a recurring theme in a focus group discussion held at Qatar University. Participants cited the council's constrained powers as a primary reason for their hesitance to register and vote in elections. Such critiques have been echoed in media reports and by CMC members themselves. Sheikha bint Yousuf Al-Jufairi, who was re-elected in 2015 and chairs the CMC's Legal Committee, had previously emphasized the necessity of amending Law No. 12, which defines the CMC's functions, during her 2007 campaign. Similarly, Khalid Al Kuwari, a victorious candidate in 2003, highlighted the Council’s limited executive authority as contributing to low voter turnout. He also noted the lack of representation for the expatriate population, who are not considered in municipal discussions on public health, environmental concerns, and infrastructure needs despite being the majority in many urban areas. The expatriates, who share neighborhoods and facilities with Qatari citizens, remain excluded from consultation on these issues.

In 2006 it was announced that legislative elections would take place in 2007; according to a 1 April statement by then-First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, who later became Prime Minister of Qatar. That was postponed and an advisory committee was established to study the issue. The legislative council rescheduled the elections for June 2010. The election did not take place in 2010.

In November 2011, the Emir announced that the election would take place in 2013, but they were postponed prior to the retiring Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani transferring power to his son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Consultative Assembly's term was extended until 2016.