2nd
December 1971 was a turning point in the history of the
Emirates. On this date a declaration was issued renewing
enforcement of the provisional constitution of the UAE
and the United Arab Emirates was declared a sovereign
Federal State comprising Aim Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman,
Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and later Ras Al Khaimah. The
UAE is governed by five constitutional and legislative
bodies which include the following:
The
Supreme Council of the Federation, the President and
the. Vice-President, the Council of Ministers, the Federal
. National Council (FNC) and the Federal Judiciary.
The
Supreme Council of the Federation is the highest political
authority in the country. It consists of all the Rulers
of the Emirates comprising the Federation and represents
collective leadership. The President and the Vice-President
of the State are elected by the Supreme Council from
its members.
The, jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of the Federation
is confined to major political, legislative and administrative
issues of the state.
The
President appoints the Prime Minister with the consent
of the Supreme Council. Deputy Premiers and Federal
Ministers are appointed as per decree by the President
upon a recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Cabinet
is the executive body running domestic and foreign affairs
concerning the state as per the Federal Constitution,
laws and under the supervision of the President and
the Supreme Council of the Federation.
The
Federal National Council (FNC) is set up with 40 members
representing the Emirates forming the Federation. The
FNC is the legislative assembly (Parliament) which is
as4gned the authority of discussing and approving all
federal draft laws and then referring them to the Supreme
Council for enactment, The FNC also exercises the power
of raising issues concerning. performance of the government,
discussing matters of interest to the public and monitoring
the conduct of the federal government.
The
judicial authority is assumed by the Federal Court which
consists of the Federal High Court, the Appeal Court
and the Federal Courts of First Instance. As per the
constitution, the judicial authority of each Emirate
may handle the judicial matters not assigned to the
Federal Court. However, it is possible as per a federal
decree issued upon the request of the respective Emirate,
to transfer whole or part of the judicial authorities
exercised by the respective Emirate's judiciary to the
Federal Court of First Instance.
On
the Arab and international levels, the UAE is a member
of the Arab Gulf Co-operation Council (AGCC) which comprises
in addition to the IJAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
the State of Bahrain, The Sultanate of Oman, the State
of Qatar and the State of Kuwait. The AGCC was formed
in 1981. The United Arab Emirates is also a member of
the Arab League, the United Nations and other international
organizations and agencies.
