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Title_of_text

Royal Order No.A/90, of 1 March 1992, to promulgate the Constitution.

Main Region

First Region

Saudi Arabia
Constitutional law
1992-03-01
National
Constitution

Second Region

This so-called "basic system of government" is in effect Saudi Arabia's first constitution. It codifies (Art. 56) the King's power: he acts as prime minister and appoints deputy prime ministers and cabinet ministers. The King may now choose his Crown Prince from among a broader pool of relatives than before. He may also remove the Crown Prince. Some fundamental rights are expressly guaranteed for the first time. Private property cannot be expropriated, "except in the public interest" and in return for "fair compensation". Various provisions protect privacy, notably in correspondance and telecommunications. Private homes cannot be entered or searched "except in accordance with the Constitution". Article 28 of the Constitution stipulates that "the State shall assist all able persons in finding employment and shall make regulations to protect workers and employers". The State also undertakes to protect the rights of its "citizens and their families in case of emergency, sickness, disability or old age, and to support the social security system". Under article 43, anyone may "address the public authorities on any matter". Article 39 says that "the mass media, publications and all other means of expression shall observe the requirements of decency and the regulations of the State". Citizens and residents can institute legal proceedings, on an equal basis. Articles 7 and 8 uphold the Holy Qur'an, the Sunnah and the Islamic Sharia as the basis of law. The System of the Majlis al-Shoura establishes a Consultative Council (Shoura Council). The Provincial system regulates the governing of Provinces and Article 16 provides for a Province Council. An English translation of this Constitution may be found in the April 1992 edition of the Middle East Executive Reports, as well as in Vol. 8, Part 3 of the 1993 Arab Law Quarterly.

Implementing Text region

Electronic region

Monograph region

    Monograph title
    Constitutions of the Countries of the World
    Publisher
    Oxford University Press
    Place of publication
    New York
    Country
    United States of America
    Date
    2011-06

Serial region

    Serial title
    Umm Al-Qura
    Date
    1992-03-06
    Volume
    Vol. 69
    Number
    No. 3397
    Page range
    pp. 1-3