Presidium of the Arab Congress

The Presidium of the Arab Congress (Arabic: رئاسة المؤتمر العربي ri’āsat al-mu’tamr al-‘arabī) is a permanent nine-member council elected by both chambers of the Arab Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government of the Arab Union. The Presidium of the Arab Congress is responsible for opening and moderating all joint sessions of the Arab Congress (sessions including both chambers simultaneously) including joint plenary sessions, with the Presidium chairperson acting as speaker, similar to the president of one of the chambers during a single-chamber session, who during joint sessions speak on behalf of their chamber to the Presidium.

Elected at a joint plenary session of the Arab Congress (a session of both chambers with all members present), the Presidium of the Arab Congress functions as the highest legislative authority in the Arab Union in between joint plenary sessions of the Arab Congress; all legislative proceedings and resolutions are officially provisional until ratified or vetoed by the Arab Congress at subsequent joint plenary sessions, during which the Presidium's activities since the last joint plenary session are scrutinised. Joint plenary sessions must take place at least annually, although often occur twice a year or more due to urgent developments requiring quick resolution.

After reviewing the presidium's activities since the last joint plenary session and either ratifying or vetoing its resolutions, the current presidium is dissolved by the Arab Congress and a new one elected until the next joint plenary session (the new Presidium can consist of the same membership as the last one, a mixture of old and new members, or a completely new membership). Immediately following the formation of a new Presidium of the Arab Congress, the Presidium membership appoints one of its members as chairperson, who is responsible for leading the Presidium of the Arab Congress as well as liaising between both chambers of congress outside of joint sessions. Presidium membership is not open to the elected president of either one of the chambers of congress (same as a "speaker of the house" in other legislative assemblies), nor to members of the federal government's executive or judicial branches, the former of which ensures the Presidium's impartiality concerning the two chambers and the latter the legislative branch's independence of both the executive and judicial branches of government.