Constitution of the State of Kuwait
State of Kuwait · 144 stored articles
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Search statutory textsArticles 1 – 5032
- Article 3The official language of the State is Arabic.
- Article 4Kuwait is a hereditary Emirate in the descendants of the late Mubarak Al-Sabah. The Crown Prince shall be appointed within one year at most of the Emir's accession, and…
- Article 7Justice, liberty, and equality are the pillars of society, and cooperation and mutual compassion are a firm bond among citizens.
- Article 8The State shall safeguard the foundations of society and guarantee security, tranquility, and equal opportunities for citizens.
- Article 10The State shall care for the young, protect them from exploitation, and safeguard them against moral, physical, and spiritual neglect.
- Article 11The State shall guarantee assistance to citizens in cases of old age, illness, or incapacity for work. It shall also provide them with social insurance, social…
- Article 12The State shall preserve the Islamic and Arab heritage and contribute to the progress of human civilization.
- Article 13Education is a fundamental pillar of the advancement of society; the State bears its cost and nurtures it.
- Article 14The State shall foster the sciences, literature and the arts and encourage scientific research.
- Article 15The State shall attend to public health and to means of preventing and treating diseases and epidemics.
- Article 17Public property is inviolable, and its protection is a duty incumbent upon every citizen.
- Article 18Private property is inviolable. No one shall be prevented from disposing of his property except within the limits of the law, nor shall anyone be deprived of his…
- Article 22The law shall regulate, on economic foundations and with due regard to the rules of social justice, the relationship between workers and employers and the relationship…
- Article 23The State shall encourage cooperation and saving, and shall supervise the regulation of credit.
- Article 25The State shall ensure the solidarity of society in bearing the burdens arising from public disasters and calamities, and compensation for those suffering damage from…
- Article 26Public offices are a national service entrusted to those holding them, and State employees shall pursue the public interest in performing their duties. Foreigners shall…
- Article 27Kuwaiti nationality shall be determined by law. Nationality may not be forfeited or withdrawn except within the limits of the law.
- Article 28No Kuwaiti may be expelled from Kuwait or prevented from returning to it.
- Article 30Personal liberty is guaranteed.
- Article 30 مكررThe Speaker shall represent the Assembly before all courts of all levels and before the Court of Cassation in actions and applications brought by or against it, and…
- Article 32There shall be no crime and no punishment except on the basis of a law, and no punishment except for acts subsequent to the entry into force of the law providing for…
- Article 33This Article stipulated that (punishment is personal), in application of the Almighty’s words: “No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another.”
- Article 34The accused is innocent until his guilt is established in a lawful trial in which he is assured the guarantees necessary for exercising the right of defence. Inflicting…
- Article 36Freedom of opinion and scientific research is guaranteed, and every person has the right to express and disseminate his opinion orally, in writing or otherwise, in…
- Article 37Freedom of the press, printing and publication is guaranteed in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by law.
- Article 38Dwellings are inviolable; they may not be entered without the permission of their occupants, except in the circumstances specified by law and in the manner prescribed…
- Article 43 مكررA standing committee of five members, called the Priorities Committee, shall be formed, including the chairman of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee and the…
- Article 45Every individual may address the public authorities in writing and under his signature. Only duly constituted bodies and legal persons may address the authorities in the…
- Article 46Extradition of political refugees is prohibited.
- Article 47Defence of the homeland is a sacred duty, and performance of military service is an honour for citizens, regulated by law.
- Article 48Payment of taxes and public charges is a duty in accordance with the law. The law shall regulate the exemption of small incomes from taxes in a manner ensuring that the…
- Article 49Observance of public order and respect for public morals are a duty incumbent upon all residents of Kuwait. Part Four The Powers Chapter One General Provisions
Articles 51 – 10040
- Article 51Legislative authority shall be exercised by the Amir and the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution.
- Article 52Executive authority shall be exercised by the Emir, the Council of Ministers, and the ministers in the manner set out in the Constitution.
- Article 54The Amir is the Head of State, and his person is inviolable and may not be infringed upon.
- Article 55The Amir shall exercise his powers through his ministers. Article 56 (1) The Amir shall appoint the Prime Minister after the customary consultations and relieve him of…
- Article 58The Prime Minister and ministers are collectively responsible before the Amir for the general policy of the State, and each minister is also responsible before him for…
- Article 59The law referred to in Article Four shall specify the conditions necessary for the Amir to exercise his constitutional powers.
- Article 60Before exercising his powers, the Amir shall take the following oath at a special sitting of the National Assembly: I swear by Almighty God to respect the Constitution…
- Article 61In the event of his absence outside the Emirate and the inability of the Crown Prince to deputize for him, the Emir shall appoint, by an Emiri order, a deputy to…
- Article 62The Deputy Amir must satisfy the conditions prescribed in Article 82 of this Constitution. If he is a minister or a member of the National Assembly, he shall not…
- Article 64The provisions stipulated in Article 131 of this Constitution shall apply to the Deputy Emir.
- Article 65The Amir has the right to propose laws and the right to ratify and promulgate them. Promulgation shall take place within thirty days from the date they are submitted to…
- Article 66A request for reconsideration of a bill shall be made by a reasoned decree. If the National Assembly approves it a second time with the approval of two-thirds of the…
- Article 67The Amir is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and he appoints and dismisses officers in accordance with the law.
- Article 68The Emir shall declare defensive war by decree; offensive war is prohibited.
- Article 71If, between sessions of the National Assembly or during its dissolution, circumstances arise requiring the urgent adoption of measures that cannot tolerate delay, the…
- Article 72The Amir shall, by decrees, issue the regulations necessary to implement laws, without amending or suspending them or granting exemption from their implementation. The…
- Article 73The Amir shall issue, by decrees, police regulations and the regulations necessary for organizing public services and departments in a manner not contrary to the laws.
- Article 74The Amir shall appoint civil and military officials and diplomatic representatives to foreign States and dismiss them in accordance with the law, and shall receive the…
- Article 75The Amir may, by decree, pardon a punishment or reduce it. A general amnesty, however, may only be granted by law, and shall concern offences committed before the…
- Article 76The Amir shall confer decorations of honor in accordance with the law.
- Article 77Currency shall be minted in the name of the Emir in accordance with the law.
- Article 79No law shall be issued unless it has been approved by the National Assembly and ratified by the Amir.
- Article 81Electoral districts shall be determined by law.
- Article 82A member of the National Assembly must: a :- Be of original Kuwaiti nationality in accordance with the law. b :- Meet the qualifications of an elector under the Election…
- Article 83The term of the National Assembly is four Gregorian years from the date of its first meeting, and renewal shall take place during the sixty days preceding the end of…
- Article 84If the seat of a member of the National Assembly becomes vacant before the end of his term, for any reason whatsoever, a replacement shall be elected within two months…
- Article 85The National Assembly shall have an annual session of not less than eight months, and this session may not be closed before the budget is approved.
- Article 86The Assembly shall hold its ordinary session upon an invitation from the Amir during October of each year. If the decree of convocation is not issued before the first of…
- Article 88The National Assembly shall be called by decree to an extraordinary meeting if the Amir considers this necessary or at the request of a majority of the Assembly's…
- Article 89The Amir shall declare the closure of ordinary and extraordinary sessions.
- Article 90Every meeting held by the Assembly at a time or place other than those prescribed for its meeting shall be invalid, and resolutions adopted therein shall be void by…
- Article 91Before a member of the National Assembly assumes his duties in the Assembly or its committees, he shall take the following oath before the Assembly in a public sitting:…
- Article 92At its first sitting, and for a term equal to its own, the National Assembly shall elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker from among its members. If either position…
- Article 93During the first week of its annual meeting, the Assembly shall form the committees necessary for its work. These committees may exercise their powers during the…
- Article 94The sittings of the National Assembly shall be public, and may be held in secret at the request of the Government, the Speaker of the Assembly or ten members. Discussion…
- Article 95The National Assembly shall determine the validity of the election of its members, and an election shall not be deemed invalid except by a majority of the members…
- Article 96The National Assembly has the authority to accept resignation from its membership.
- Article 98Each Cabinet shall, immediately upon its formation, submit its programme to the National Assembly, and the Assembly may make such observations as it considers…
- Article 99Every member of the National Assembly may address questions to the Prime Minister and to the ministers to clarify matters falling within their competence. The questioner…
- Article 100Every member of the National Assembly may address interpellations to the Prime Minister and to ministers concerning matters within their respective competence.…
Articles 101 – 15045
- Article 101Every minister is responsible to the National Assembly for the acts of his ministry. If the Assembly resolves that it has no confidence in a minister, he shall be deemed…
- Article 102The Prime Minister shall not hold any ministerial portfolio, and the question of confidence in him shall not be raised in the National Assembly. Nevertheless, if the…
- Article 103If the Prime Minister or a minister leaves his office for any reason, he shall continue to conduct the urgent business of his office until his successor is appointed.
- Article 105The National Assembly shall select a committee from among its members to prepare a draft reply to the Amiri Address, containing the Assembly's observations and wishes.…
- Article 106The Amir may, by decree, postpone the meeting of the National Assembly for a period not exceeding one month. Postponement may not be repeated during the same session…
- Article 107The Amir may dissolve the National Assembly by a decree stating the reasons for dissolution, provided that the Assembly may not be dissolved again for the same reasons.…
- Article 108A member of the Assembly represents the nation as a whole, safeguards the public interest, and is subject to no authority of any body in his work in the Assembly or its…
- Article 109A member of the National Assembly has the right to propose laws. Any bill proposed by a member and rejected by the National Assembly may not be submitted again during…
- Article 110A member of the National Assembly is free in the opinions and ideas he expresses in the Assembly or its committees, and may not be held accountable for them under any…
- Article 111During the session, except in cases of flagrante delicto, no investigation, search, arrest, detention or any other criminal procedure may be taken against a member…
- Article 112Upon a request signed by five members, a general subject may be put before the National Assembly for discussion to clarify the Government's policy concerning it and…
- Article 114The National Assembly shall have the right at any time to form committees of inquiry or to delegate one or more of its members to investigate any matter falling within…
- Article 115Among its annual committees, the Assembly shall form a special committee to examine petitions and complaints sent by citizens to the Assembly. The committee shall seek…
- Article 116The Prime Minister and the ministers shall be heard in the National Assembly whenever they request to speak. They may seek the assistance of such senior officials as…
- Article 117The National Assembly shall establish its internal rules, including the procedures governing the conduct of business in the Assembly and its committees, the rules of…
- Article 118Maintaining order within the National Assembly falls within the competence of its Speaker. The Assembly shall have a special guard acting on the orders of the Speaker of…
- Article 119The remuneration of the Speaker of the National Assembly, his deputy and its members shall be determined by law. If this remuneration is amended, the amendment shall not…
- Article 120Membership of the National Assembly may not be combined with holding public office, except in the cases in which such combination is permitted under the Constitution. In…
- Article 122Members of the National Assembly shall not be awarded decorations during their term of membership. An exception shall be made for a member who holds a public office that…
- Article 123The Council of Ministers shall oversee the affairs of the State, formulate the government's general policy, follow up its implementation, and supervise the conduct of…
- Article 124The law shall determine the salaries of the Prime Minister and the ministers. All provisions concerning ministers shall apply to the Prime Minister unless otherwise…
- Article 125Anyone appointed to ministerial office must satisfy the conditions prescribed in Article 82 of this Constitution.
- Article 126Before assuming their powers, the Prime Minister and the Ministers shall take before the Amir the oath provided for in Article 91 of this Constitution.
- Article 127The Prime Minister shall preside over the sittings of the Council and supervise the coordination of work among the various ministries.
- Article 128The deliberations of the Council of Ministers are confidential. Its decisions shall be adopted in the presence of a majority of its members and with the approval of a…
- Article 129The resignation of the Prime Minister or his removal from office shall entail the resignation of all other ministers or their removal from office.
- Article 130Each minister shall supervise the affairs of his ministry and implement the Government's general policy therein. He shall also determine the ministry's directions and…
- Article 132A special law shall define the crimes committed by ministers in the performance of their official duties and specify the procedures for accusing and trying them and the…
- Article 133The law shall regulate public institutions and municipal administrative bodies in a manner ensuring their independence under the direction and supervision of the State.…
- Article 134Public taxes may be established, amended or abolished only by law. No person shall be exempted from paying all or part of them except in the cases prescribed by law. No…
- Article 135The law shall specify the provisions concerning the collection of public funds and the procedures for their disbursement.
- Article 136Public loans shall be contracted by law. The State may lend or guarantee a loan by law or within the limits of the appropriations allocated for this purpose in the…
- Article 137Public institutions and local public juridical persons may lend or guarantee a loan in accordance with the law.
- Article 138The law shall specify the provisions governing the preservation and administration of State property, the conditions for its disposal, and the limits within which any of…
- Article 139The fiscal year shall be determined by law.
- Article 140The State shall prepare the draft annual budget encompassing the State's revenues and expenditures and submit it to the National Assembly at least two months before the…
- Article 141The budget shall be discussed in the National Assembly chapter by chapter. No public revenue may be allocated to a particular purpose of expenditure except by law.
- Article 143The Budget Law may not contain any provision that would create a new tax, increase an existing tax, amend an existing law, or avoid the enactment of a special law on a…
- Article 144The general budget shall be enacted by law.
- Article 145If the budget law is not promulgated before the beginning of the financial year, the old budget shall remain in operation until its promulgation, and revenues shall be…
- Article 146Every expenditure not included in the budget or exceeding the estimates contained therein must be authorized by law, as must the transfer of any amount from one budget…
- Article 147Under no circumstances may the maximum expenditure estimates set out in the Budget Law and the laws amending it be exceeded.
- Article 148The law shall specify the independent and annexed public budgets, and the provisions relating to the State budget shall apply to them.
- Article 149The final account of the State's financial administration for the past year shall be submitted to the National Assembly within the four months following the end of the…
- Article 150The Government shall submit to the National Assembly a statement on the financial condition of the State at least once during each of its ordinary sessions.
Articles 151 – 20027
- Article 151A financial audit bureau shall be established by law, which shall guarantee its independence. It shall be attached to the National Assembly and shall assist the…
- Article 153No monopoly shall be granted except by law and for a specified period.
- Article 154The law shall regulate currency and banks and determine measures of length, measures of capacity and weights.
- Article 155The law shall regulate matters concerning salaries, pensions, compensation, subsidies and bonuses charged to the State Treasury.
- Article 156The law shall establish the provisions relating to the budgets of local institutions and bodies possessing public juridical personality and to their final accounts.…
- Article 157Peace is the objective of the State. The safety of the homeland is a trust incumbent upon every citizen and is part of the safety of the greater Arab homeland.
- Article 158Military service shall be regulated by law.
- Article 159The State alone shall establish the armed forces and public security bodies in accordance with the law.
- Article 160General or partial mobilisation shall be regulated by law.
- Article 161A Supreme Defence Council shall be established to undertake defence affairs, preserve the safety of the homeland and supervise the armed forces in accordance with the…
- Article 162The honour of the judiciary, and the integrity and justice of judges, are the foundation of governance and a guarantee of rights and freedoms.
- Article 163No authority shall have power over a judge in his adjudication, and interference in the course of justice is under no circumstances permissible. The law guarantees the…
- Article 164The law shall organize the courts of their various types and degrees and specify their functions and jurisdictions. Except under martial law, the jurisdiction of…
- Article 166The right of litigation is guaranteed to all people. The law shall specify the procedures and arrangements necessary for exercising this right.
- Article 167The Public Prosecution shall conduct public prosecutions in the name of society, supervise judicial police affairs, and ensure the application of penal laws, the pursuit…
- Article 168The judiciary shall have a Supreme Council regulated by law, which shall specify its powers.
- Article 169The law shall regulate the adjudication of administrative disputes by a special chamber or court whose organization and manner of exercising administrative jurisdiction…
- Article 170The law shall organize the body responsible for giving legal opinions to ministries and public departments and for drafting bills and regulations, and shall also…
- Article 171A Council of State may be established by law, with competence for the functions of administrative adjudication, legal opinions, and drafting stipulated in the preceding…
- Article 172The law shall regulate the manner of deciding disputes over jurisdiction between judicial bodies and conflicts of judgments.
- Article 175No amendment may be proposed to the provisions concerning Kuwait's Amiri system or the principles of liberty and equality prescribed in this Constitution, unless the…
- Article 176No amendment to the Emir's powers set out in the Constitution may be proposed during the period of deputizing for him.
- Article 177The application of this Constitution shall not prejudice the treaties and agreements by which Kuwait is bound with states and international bodies.
- Article 178Laws shall be published in the Official Gazette within two weeks of the date of their promulgation and shall take effect one month after the date of their publication.…
- Article 179The provisions of laws shall apply only to what occurs from the date of their entry into force, and shall have no effect on what occurred before that date. In matters…
- Article 180Everything prescribed by the laws, regulations, decrees, orders and decisions in force upon the entry into force of this Constitution shall remain effective unless…
- Article 181No provision of this Constitution may be suspended except while martial law is in force, within the limits specified by law. Under no circumstances may the convening of…