Jonah Patel
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy ruled by the House of Saud, with the King—currently Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud—serving as both head of state and government. While the country has no written constitution, the Quran and Sunnah are considered the de jure constitution, and the country's Basic Law, established in 1992, is seen as a de facto constitution. The Basic Law states that the king must comply with Sharia (Islamic law) and the Quran, and while political parties are banned, all citizens of full age have the right to meet and petition the king directly through traditional tribal meetings known as the majlis.
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What You'll Learn
Saudi Arabia's monarchy is based on Islam
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, with the vast royal family, the Al Saud, dominating the political system. The country's de facto constitution, the Basic Law, was adopted by royal decree in 1992. This law states that the king must comply with Sharia (Islamic law) and the Quran, with the Quran and the Sunnah (the traditions of Muhammad) being the country's constitution.
The country's governance is officially proclaimed to be conducted on the basis of Islamic law (Sharia). The king is at the top of the legal system and acts as the final court of appeal and dispenser of pardons. The Quran and the Sunnah are declared as the official constitution of the country.
The country's legal system is based on Islamic law, with all laws being based on a literal interpretation of the Quran. Sharia is the primary source of legislation in Saudi Arabia, and the country's system of government has always been based on an Islamic system of popular consultation. The views of important religious figures, such as the ulema (religious scholars), are considered when making policy decisions.
The country's status as a monarchy was established by its close ties with and support for the Wahhabi religious establishment. The ultraconservative Wahhabi religious movement within Sunni Islam has been called "the predominant feature of Saudi culture". The country's monarchy is hereditary, with the numerous descendants of the kingdom's founder, King Abdulaziz, making up the royal family.
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The Quran and Sunnah are the constitution
Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the Saud dynasty, a family whose status was established by its close ties with and support for the Wahhabi religious establishment. The Quran and Sunnah are declared to be the de jure constitution of the country. The kingdom's governance is officially proclaimed to be conducted based on Islamic law (Sharia).
The Quran and the Constitution are mutually supportive supreme texts. Numerous forms of government, cultural traditions, and economic systems are compatible with both texts. Muslim nations are free to promulgate specific constitutions that reflect their social, political, and economic preferences rooted in history and culture. Interpreters, however, should refrain from projecting personal agendas into the meaning of the Quran.
The Sunnah, or the "Constitution of Medina," was a document drawn up by the Prophet Muhammad upon entering the city of Medina as its undisputed leader and governor. This document governed the relations between the Muhajirun, the Ansar, and the various Jewish clans and tribes of Yathrib. The Prophet pledged to honour certain rights for them and demanded that they fulfil certain obligations.
Classical scholars have authored numerous books on how the Sunnah determines how to deal with economic matters, enact foreign policy, and how the Caliph should run the Islamic state. An aspect of the political Sunnah that is often overlooked is the Prophet's contribution to constitutional law.
Saudi Arabia has a Basic Law, which is similar to a constitution and was adopted by royal decree in 1992. This document provides guidelines for how the government is to be run and sets forth the rights and responsibilities of citizens. However, there is no legally binding written constitution, and the Quran and Sunnah remain subject to interpretation.
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The king is the head of state and government
Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the House of Saud, or the Al Saud dynasty—a family whose status was established by its close ties with and support for the Wahhabi religious establishment. The current ruler, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, ascended to the throne in January 2015.
While the Quran and Sunnah are considered the country's de jure constitution, there is no written constitution in Saudi Arabia. Instead, the country's governance is based on Islamic law (Sharia), with the Quran and Sunnah interpreted by the Council of Senior Scholars. In 1992, the king issued the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia, a document outlining guidelines for how the government should be run and establishing the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
The king governs with the help of the Council of Ministers, or the Cabinet, which consists of 22 government ministries. Each ministry specializes in a different area of governance, such as foreign affairs, education, and finance. The king also appoints a Crown Prince to assist with his duties and serve as the second-in-line to the throne.
While Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, major policy decisions are not made solely by the king. Instead, decisions are made through a consensus within the royal family and by considering the views of important members of Saudi society, including religious scholars (ulama), leading tribal sheiks, and heads of prominent commercial families.
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The country has no separate legislative body
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, with power shared only among members of the Saudi royal family and certain leaders of the Wahhabist sect of Islam. The country has no separate legislative body, and all power is exercised by the king, who is also the head of the state and government. The king combines legislative, executive, and judicial functions and is the final court of appeal and the dispenser of pardon.
The country's de facto constitution, the Quran and the Sunnah, are subject to interpretation by the Council of Senior Scholars, the Saudi religious establishment. However, the power of this religious establishment has been significantly eroded in the 2010s. While there is a document called the Basic Law of Government (or simply, the Basic Law) that provides guidelines for how the government is to be run and sets forth the rights and responsibilities of citizens, it is not a legally binding written constitution.
The king governs with the help of the Council of Ministers, or the Cabinet, consisting of 22 government ministries. Each ministry specializes in a different part of the government, such as foreign affairs, education, and finance. The king is also advised by a legislative body called the Consultative Council (Majlis Al-Shura), which proposes new laws and amends existing ones. It consists of 150 members appointed by the king for four-year terms that can be renewed.
While the country has no separate legislative body, the Allegiance Council is responsible for determining the new king and crown prince. All citizens of full age have the right to attend, meet, and petition the king directly through the traditional tribal meeting known as the majlis. The government is dominated by the vast royal family, the Al Saud, which has often been divided by internal disputes and factions. Political participation outside the royal family is limited.
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The Allegiance Council determines the king and crown prince
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, with the Quran and the Sunnah (the traditional body of reports describing the words and actions of the Prophet Muhammad during his lifetime) serving as the de jure constitution of the country. The country's king is also the prime minister and head of government, and he has absolute power.
The Allegiance Council is a body that determines the king and crown prince of Saudi Arabia. It was established in 2006 by King Abdullah through the Allegiance Institution Law, which gave members of the Al Saud family a greater say in selecting a new king and crown prince. The Council is made up of representatives from each branch of the Al Saud family, including the surviving sons and grandsons of the kingdom's founder, King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud.
The Allegiance Council selects the crown prince from one to three candidates nominated by the king. If the Council rejects all the king's nominees, it can nominate its own candidate from the sons or grandsons of Ibn Saud. The nominee who secures the majority of votes becomes the crown prince.
In the event of the king's incapacity or death, the Allegiance Council can elevate the crown prince to the position of king. If both the king and crown prince are incapacitated or deceased, the Council forms a five-member Transitory Ruling Council to temporarily govern the kingdom. Within seven days, the Council chooses the most suitable candidate from the sons or grandsons of the kingdom's founder and calls for a pledge of allegiance to the new king.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy.
In an absolute monarchy, the monarch has absolute power. In Saudi Arabia, this means that the king is the head of state and government, and power is shared only among members of the royal family and certain leaders of the Wahhabist sect of Islam.
Saudi Arabia does not have a written constitution, but it does have a "Basic Law" which is similar to a constitution. The Qur'an and the Sunnah are also considered the de jure constitution of the country.
While the king is the head of government, in practice, major policy decisions are made outside of formal governmental structures and are influenced by the views of important members of Saudi society, including religious scholars, leading tribal sheiks, and heads of prominent commercial families.
