Legislative Council of Brunei

The Legislative Council of Brunei (Malay: Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Brunei (مجليس مشوارت نڬارا بروني)) or the "Legco" is a national unicameral legislature of Brunei. The Council holds its sitting annually in March at Legislative Council Building in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Legislative Council of Brunei

Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Brunei

مجليس مشوارت نڬارا بروني
Type
Type
Leadership
Speaker
Abdul Rahman Mohamed Taib[1]
since 11 February 2015
Structure
Seats33
Length of term
5 years
Meeting place
Legislative Council Building,
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Website
Legislative Council of Brunei
Brunei
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Brunei
Legislative Council of Brunei building

History

The Council was established in 1959 by virtue of Article 23 of Brunei's Constitution of 1959. Its first sitting was held at Lapau on 21 October 1959. In 1984, the Council managed to hold 32 meetings; the last one being the 21st Meeting held on 12 February 1984. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah dissolved the Council on the following day. Hence, legislative powers were fully vested in the Sultan.

Brunei had no legislature until 25 September 2004, when the Sultan decided to reinstate the Council using the old system. Brunei, once again, had a legislature. The Sultan disestablished the Council on 1 September 2005 and, on the following day, reestablished the Council based on the amended version of Brunei's Constitution.

Roles

Since 1959, the Council has played significant roles towards Brunei; not only to consider and approve budgets and revenue estimates, but also to advise the Sultan on the drive of the Government, to review policies implemented by the Government and to pass bills and motions brought by the Government and other members of the Council.

Speakers of Legislative Council
'Yang Di-Pertua Majlis Mesyuarat Negara' Term in Office
Ibrahim Mohammad Jahfar 1960-1961
Pengiran Pekerma Setia Diraja Sahibul Bandar Pengiran Ali Pengiran Mohammad Daud 1961-1962
Pengiran Paduka Tuan Sahibul Karib Pengiran Abu Bakar Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Mohammad Salleh 1962-1971
Pengiran Anak Mohammad Alam 1971-1974
Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Abu Bakar Pengiran Omar 1974-1981
Pengiran Indera Mahkota Pengiran Anak Dr. Kemaluddin al-Haj 1981-1984, 2004-2011
Pehin Isa Ibrahim[2] 2011-2015
Abdul Rahman Mohamed Taib[3] 2015-present

Membership

The Council comprises the Sultan, the Crown Prince,[4] cabinet ministers and three types of members: members with titles, members representing districts, and members among outstanding Bruneians. All members, other than the Sultan, are appointed by the Sultan in accordance with Article 24 of Brunei Constitution.

Since 13 January 2017, the Council has 33 members, including 13 cabinet ministers.[5]

Legislative procedure

The Council follows the practice of other Commonwealth parliaments. All bills presented in the Council go through three readings. All bills, however, must obtain prior approval from the Cabinet prior to their presentation in the Council. Once a bill is passed, a bill must obtain Royal Assent in order to turn such bill to an Act.

See also

References
  1. https://data.ipu.org/content/brunei-darussalam?chamber_id=13582
  2. http://www.majlis-mesyuarat.gov.bn/JMM%20Images/6th_aipa_caucus/report/report_of_6th_aipa_caucus_final_url%20-%20Copy.pdf
  3. http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2398_A.htm
  4. He is a member of Cabinet of Brunei. Therefore, he is a member of the Council.
  5. "Pelantikan Keahlian Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Baharu". Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Department of Information, Brunei. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.

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