Info

Qatar

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

BD003

BD005

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	g. Inherited monarchy
Comments:	The rule of the State is hereditary in the family of Al Thani and in the line of the male descendants of Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Bin Abdullah Bin Jassim. The Emir is the head of State. His person shall be inviolable and he must be respected by all.
Source:	Constitution, art. 8 & 64
Verified:	2009/11/11

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	e. Appointed
Comments:	The Emir shall appoint the Prime Minister, accept his resignation and remove him from office by an Emiri order; and the resignation of the Prime Minister or his removal from office shall entail all Ministers. In the event of acceptance or resignation or removal from the office, the same Council shall continue to run urgent matters until such time the new Council is appointed.
Source:	Constitution, art. 72
Verified:	2009/11/11

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:	The Emir is the head of State. His person shall be inviolable and he must be respected by all.
Source:	Constitution, art. 64
Verified:	2009/11/11

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:	Al Shoura Council consists of 45 members.
Source:	Constitution, art. 76-77
Verified:	2009/11/11

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	l. Not applicable
Comments:	The Constitution states that 30 out of the 45 members of the Al Shoura Council are to be elected by direct, general, secret ballot and the Emir shall appoint the remaining 15 from amongst the ministers or other persons. In reality, Qatar holds only nation-wide elections for the Central Municipal Council, which has limited consultative powers aimed at the improvement of municipal services. The last (partial) legislative elections took place in 1970.
Source:	Constitution, art. 77 CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/qa.html
Verified:	2009/11/11

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Legislative Framework

LF001

LF003

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source:	International IDEA Voter Turnout Website (http://www.idea.int/vt/)
Verified:	2006/11/21

LF007

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Electoral Management

EM001

EM002

EM004

EM005

EM006

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Voter Education

VE001

VE002

VE003

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Voter Registration

VR001

VR002

VR004

VR008

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Voting Operations

VO003

VO004

VO005

VO011

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

PC003

PC008

PC012

PC015

PC017

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Vote Counting

VC004

VC011

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Media and Elections

ME037

ME059

ME062

ME080

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Direct Democracy

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	C:75 "The Emir shall seek public opinion on important issues pertaining to the interests of the State in a referendum. The subject of such referendum shall be deemed acceptable if acknowledged by the majority of voters; and the results of the referendum shall be binding and effective from the date of its announcement. The results shall be published in the official Gazette."
Source:	The 2003 Constitution of Qatar, art. 75 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	C:75 "The Emir shall seek public opinion on important issues pertaining to the interests of the State in a referendum. The subject of such referendum shall be deemed acceptable if acknowledged by the majority of voters; and the results of the referendum shall be binding and effective from the date of its announcement. The results shall be published in the official Gazette."
Source:	The 2003 Constitution of Qatar, art. 75 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/12/31

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD129

Binding referenda

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD130

National referenda deal with

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26

DD131

Direct Democracy at sub-national level

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/26