UAE Gov And Constitution Flashcards
How many governments are there in UAE?
One federal and seven local
Ten main areas of constitution:
- Federation, it’s constituencies and principal aims
- Fundamental social and economic basis of federation
- Public freedom, rights and duties
- Federal authorities
- Federal legislations, decrees and authorities in charge of
- Emirates
- Allocation of legislative, executive and international jurisdiction between federation and emirates
- Financial affairs and federation
- Armed forces and servility forces
- Final and transitional provisions
The federation, it’s constituencies and principal aims are:
UAE is independent, sovereign, federal state.
Consist of emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, UAQ, RAK and Fujairah.
Independent Arab countries may join uae as long as agree unanimously
Once join, set seats in FNC in addition to number provided in constitution
Islam official language, shariah principal source or legislation, Arabic is official language
Economic and customs union and regulate stages of this for union
Freedom to transfer capital and move goods throughout union and may not be restricted - otherwise abolished
Foreign policy support Arab and Islamic causes, interest, friendship and cooperation with all nations and peoples based on UN and international standards
Fundamental social and economic basis of union:
Equality, justice, safety and security and equality of opportunity for all citizens. Mutual cooperation and respect shall b bond between them.
Family is basis of society based on religion, ethics and patriotism. Guarantee its existence, safeguard it and protect it from corruption.
Education shall be primary means of social development. Compulsory in primary state and free at all stages within union. Eradicate illiteracy and spread education at various levels.
Private property protected by law and no one deprived of it except if public interest based on law and fairly compensated
Public property shall be protected by everyone from attack and punishable under certain circumstances in law
Freedom, rights and public duties:
All persons equal before the law. No discrimination between citizens based on race, nationality, religious belief or social position
Personal freedom for everyone. Cannot be arrested, searched, detained or imprisoned except by law. No torture or indignity imposed on them.
Punishment to individual so innocent until trial that is just and legal deems guilty. Appoint own lawyer and describe in law when obligatory to have one. Physical and mental abuse is illegal.
Freedom of movement and resident without limits of law
Freedom to have opinion and express orally, writing or other means based on law
Freedom to hold religious ceremonies based on customs is safeguarded as long as according to public order and morals
UAE federal authorities:
Supreme council -> president and deputy then split into three
- federal national council
- Council of ministers or Cabinet
- Federal judiciary
Federal supreme council:
Highest constitutional authority
Rulers of all emirates or those acting for them (excused from attending)
Highest legislative and executive authority
Each emirate has a single vote
Current president and his deputy:
Supreme council elect from among themselves a president and vice president
Vice president exercise powers of president in absence
5 year terms and capable of reelection to same office
Oath: “I swear by almighty god that I will be faithful to the UAE, that I will respect its constitution and its laws, that I will protect the interests of people of Union, that I will discharge my duties faithfully and loyally and that I will safeguard the independence of the Union and it’s territorial integrity.”
Cabinet or council of ministers:
Chairman of council of ministers, deputy and a number of ministers
Executive branch
Internal and external affairs of federation as per laws and constitution
Supervision of president and federal supreme council
Members: prime minister, 2 deputy prime ministers, minsters of UAE, an active general secretariat of a number of employees to assist in conduct of work.
Federal national council:
40 members
Distributed as follows:
Abu Dhabi - 8 seats
Dubai - 8 seats
Sharjah - 6 seats
RAK - 6 seats
Ajman - 4 seats
UAQ - 4 seats
Fujairah - 4 seats
A member represents the people of union and not merely emirate rep in council
Consultative council - parliamentary body
Member of international parliamentary union and Arab parliamentary union
Main functions of FNC:
Passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws including financial bills
Examining the Annual General Budget draft law and draft law of final accounts
Discussing international treaties and agreements
Discussing general subject pertaining to affairs of federation and offering recommendations
Key developments in political system:
Elections of FNC and creation of electoral college were landmark steps designed to enhance public participation in UAE political system
Instead of nominating all 40, just 20 elected by electoral college and 20 nominated
Further empower FNC and increase its scope of influence and coordination with cabinet
Exclusive legislative and executive jurisdiction in following matters:
Foreign affairs
Defence and armed forces
Protection of state security internal and external
Security, order and jurisdiction in permanent capital of union
Union official and union judges
Union finances and taxes, duties, fees
Union public loans
Postal, telegraph, telephone and wireless services
Construction, maintenance and improvement of union roads which supreme council has determined to be truck roads. Organisation of traffic on such roads.
Air traffic control and issue of licenses to aircraft and pilots
Education
Public health and health services
Currency notes and coins
Weights, measures and standards
Electricity devices
Union nationality, passports, residence and immigration
Union property and all matters relating to
Census matters and statistics relevant to union purposes
Union info
Federation shall solely b in charge of enacting laws on following matters:
Work relation and social securities
Real estate ownership and expropriation for public interest handover of criminals
Banking
Insurance of all kinds
Protection of fauna and flora
Major legislations related to penal code
Civil and commercial trans code
Companies law
Code of procedures before civil and penal courts
Protection of moral, technical and industrial prop rights
Copyrights
Printings and publication rights
Import of weapons and munitions unless same was for use of Armed or security forces of any emirate - other aviation affairs which are not within federation exec competencies
Determination of territorial waters and orgs navigation overseas
Organisation and method establishing financial free zones and scope of excluding same from implementation of federal legislations provisions
Emirates:
Member emirates may conclude limited agreements of local and administrative nature with neighbouring state or regions, provided that such agreements are not inconsistent with interest of union or with union laws and provides supreme council of union is informed in advance.
If council objects to ratification of agreements it shall be obligatory to suspend the matter until Supreme Court of union has ruled on objections as quickly as possible.
Emirates may retain membership in OPEC org and org of Arab petroleum exporting countries and may join them.
Judiciary in the Union and Emirates:
Federal Supreme Court, federal courts, public prosecution
Justice is basis of authority
Judges shall be independent and subordinate to no authority but law and their own consciences in performance of duties
One of five bodies that comprise federal authorities of uae gov
Independence of emirati judiciary supports country stability and wellbeing
UAE judiciary entirely independent and judges are subject to no authority other than law and conscience. Cases handled by courts fairly and without interference from any power.
Everyone deserves a fair trial which is protected by law
Independent jurisdictions (not by federal restricted part):
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
RAK
Sharjah
