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Egypt has offered humanity the oldest political system ever. Along the River Nile’s
bank, the first central, unified state in the world was formed. Egypt had the precedence
in creating the life of a whole nation through the formation of organizational frameworks
that had an important role in maintaining the values of democracy and freedom. Egypt’s
permanent constitution (issued in September 1971and later amended on May 22 1980)
regulates the State’s political system and determines general authorities and reference
terms. The Egyptian constitution hereby enforces the pillars of the democratic,
parliamentary system, stresses the supremacy of the law and the independence of
judicial authorities based on the basic fundamentals of Islamic Sharia’a (Islamic
laws) and Arabic as the official language of Egypt. The Egyptian political system
entails six authorities: legislative, executive, judiciary, press, political parties,
local administration and civil society organizations.
First: Legislative Authorities
1- The People’s Assembly (Parliament): The People’s Assembly
exercises the legislative power and approves the State’s general policy. The assembly’s
current term involves 454 members, 10 of whom are appointed by the Egyptian President.
The elected members to The People’s Assembly must be at least 350 members. At least
half of the Assembly’s members must belong to workers and peasants. The duration
of the People’s Assembly term is five years starting from the date of its first
meeting. Elections for the renewal of the Assembly shall take place within the sixty
days preceding the termination of its term. During the latest parliamentary elections
in October/November 2004, Egypt has applied judicial supervision on all polling
stations throughout the three stages of the elections. The People’s Assembly carries
out its legislative and supervisory missions through 18 committees which are: Constitutional
and Legislative, Planning and Budgeting, Economic Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Arab
Affairs, Defense and National Security, Suggestions and Complaint, Man Power, Industry
and Energy, Agriculture and Irrigation, Education and Scientific Research, Religious,
Social and Waqfs (Endowments), Culture, Media and Tourism, Health and Environment
Affairs, Transport and Communication, Housing, Public Utilities and Construction,
Local Government and Public Organization and Youth Committees.
The Central Auditing Agency (CAA), as an independent public corporate body ensuring
control over governmental funds and those of other public bodies, assists The People’s
Assembly in financial monitoring at both the legal and auditing levels.
For more information on the Egyptian Parliament, please visit People's Assembly Website
2- The Shura Council (Consultative Assembly): The Shura Council
is entitled to study and propose whatever it sees can maintain the national unity
and social peace and protect basic constituents of the community. The current Shura
Council is composed of 264 members. The term of membership is six years. 50% of
the members are to be re-elected or re-appointed after 3 years. Latest elections
were undertaken in June 2004 under complete judicial supervision.
For more information on the Shura Council, please visit Shura Council Website
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Second: Executive Authority
1-The President:
The President of Egypt undertakes the executive authority in his capacity as the
person ensuring the sovereignty of the Egyptian people, respect for the law and
Constitution as well as the protection of national unity. The presidential term
lasts for six years starting from the date of announcing the referendum results.
The President may be re-elected for other terms. The public-policy making process
is being undertaken and its implementation supervised by the President cooperatively
with the Cabinet of Ministers. The President is also the Supreme Commander of the
Armed Forces and Head of both the Supreme Police Council and the National Defense
Council.
2- The Government:
The Egyptian Government, represented by Cabinet of Ministers, is the highest administrative
and executive body managing the State's affairs including: - Directing, coordinating
and monitoring the performance of ministries and public authorities - Drafting public
budget and state plan - Concluding and granting loans based on the presidential
laws and decrees, the government, in conjunction with the President, lays down the
State's public policy and supervises its implementation. The government also works
on the implementation of laws, maintaining national security and protecting citizens'
rights and interests. The Central Authority for Public Mobilization and Statistics
and the Central Authority for Organization and Administration are bodies assisting
the government.
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Third: Judicial Authority
The Egyptian constitution stipulates that the judiciary is an independent body
that courts undertake; and judges, who are also independent, issue verdicts based
on the law. No authority, whatsoever, is allowed to interfere in judicial affairs.
The judicial authority is composed of a diversity of courts (partial, primary, courts
of appeal and cassation), administrative judiciary (state-council) and the Supreme
Constitutional Court. The Egyptian judiciary plays a key role in monitoring the
constitutionality of laws and interpreting their provisions. Moreover, it also effectively
helps enforce democracy in Egypt through having an important role in forming political
parties, protecting this way the rights, freedom and values of the Egyptian society
and people.
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Fourth: Press
The Egyptian press is an independent popular authority. It assumes its mission
according to the provisions of the law and the Constitution, guaranteeing the freedom
of press and prohibiting press censorship.
The Supreme Press Council. It is an independent entity headed
by the Shura Council Speaker. It administers the press affairs in such a way as
to secure its freedom and independence within the framework of the law. The Egyptian
press comprises state-owned papers published by national press institutions and
independent papers published by political parties and nominal public or private
persons.
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Fifth: Political Parties
As of June 1977 when the political parties law of the establishment and organization
of political parties in Egypt was issued, the number of Egyptian political parties
increased from five parties in 1977 to 24 parties, currently exercising their political
rights freely and within a comprehensive legal and political framework.
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Sixth: Local Administration
Egypt is divided into 29 governorates, each of which comprises a number of administrative
units, cities and villages, in addition to the city of Luxor with its special status.
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