Council of Ministers (Arab Union)

The Council of Ministers (Arabic: مجلس الوزراء majlis al-wuzrā’) is the chief executive body of the federal government of the Arab Union. According to the 1999 constitution, the Council of Ministers is appointed by the President of the Arab Union and responsible to both chambers of the Arab Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It functions as the cabinet of the Prime Minister, who chairs the Council of Ministers and nominates individuals to chair particular ministries or state committees who are confirmed by the President.

Duties and responsibilities
The President of the Arab Union appoints a sitting member of either chamber of the Arab Congress, on advice of the Presidium of the Arab Congress (which is elected by and represents both chambers), to serve as chair of the Council of Ministers, who is subsequently declared Prime Minister of the Arab Union; all sitting members of congress are eligible for nomination, with the exception of the nine members of the Presidium–as the nominee is chosen by vote, the Prime Minister is invariably a member (typically the leader or another senior member) of the political party or coalition with the most congress seats. The Prime Minister once appointed may then nominate members to the Council of Ministers, who are formally appointed by the President and thenceforth responsible for overseeing administration of their particular ministry or executive committee. The Council of Ministers consists of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, ministers who chair the ministries responsible for executive administration in a particular domain, and the chairpersons of state committees attached to the Council of Ministers. Only the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister must be sitting members of Congress, with most other members not holding a congress seat simultaneously.

In addition to its executive powers, the Council of Ministers has a central role in policymaking as it may propose legislation to the Council of Deputies, the lower chamber of the Arab Congress, which submits passed resolutions to the upper chamber, the Council of Republics. Nevertheless, Congress retains the power to dissolve the Council of Ministers and force the resignation of the Prime Minister by a vote of no confidence. The President may also dissolve the Council of Ministers and/or remove the Prime Minister via executive order. The dismissal of a prime minister (with or without his/her cabinet) mandates a new bicameral congressional election, whether the dismissal is via a presidential executive order or a no-confidence vote; the newly organised Arab Congress then nominates a new prime minister to form a government, who is then confirmed by the President and appointed Prime Minister of the Arab Union.