Morocco's Constitutional Economic and Social Councils, and Other Administrative Powers
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Morocco was once, long ago, a French territory and declared their independence toward the end of the late 1950’s (CIA Factbook). Their laws, constitution, and administrative set ups are based on a combination of French Civil laws, Spanish Civil Law, Muslim, and Jewish customs and the country is a constitutional, democratic and social monarchy. The King of Morocco, King Mohammed VI, is the one and only Supreme Representative and he ensures that respect for the Constitution and the Constitutional Council, the Social and Economic Council, and other Administrative power is instilled in all of Morocco’s citizens.
Morocco’s constitution was first put into place in the early 70’s and was revised in September of 1992, and amended in September of 1996 in order to create a bicameral legislature (WorkMill). The country has its own administration to maintain the constitution and the rules of the country. The Moroccan Constitutional Council is an enormously powerful authority within the country and consists of six members that are appointed by the King and serve on the council for a total of nine years. There are also six other members that serve for nine years as well, but half of them are appointed by the President of the House of Representatives and the other six members are chosen by the President of the House of Counselors. A third of each category of members is replaced every three years on a rotating schedule so the council will not be biased at any one particular time and to ensure fairness in all decisions. Unrefined laws are first brought to the Constitutional Council before they’re allowed into passage and are put under the scrutiny of the specific Rules of Procedure for each House.
The Constitutional Council, among it’s other duties, is also responsible for determining the legitimacy of elections for the members of Parliament as well as for electorate body business and its actions. The Council usually has one month to decide on these types of issues, but in certain times urgency, the Moroccan Government has been known to set a timeframe of eight days or less. All of the Constitutional Council’s decisions are officially enforced by Morocco’s judicial and legal authorities, such as the police and the courts. Issues that are unconstitutional are not enforced nor are they announced to the general public (Features Guide). Morocco also has a House of Counselors included in their Parliament. Members are obliquely elected by the local and national Electoral College that consists of people who are actively involved in trade unions and local area councils, and local professional associations. A responsibility of the House of Counselors is to vote for cautioning or censuring discernments against the Moroccan Government (Arab Parliaments).
Morocco’s Economic and Social Council is another authority of the country. It is usually conferred to by the Moroccan Government, House of Representatives, along with the House of Counselors about any issues that are of economic and social concern. The Council gives its outlook on these issues and makes sure that they are within the general rules that affect the nation’s economy, social, and training agendas (Features Guide).
In terms of administrative power in Morocco it is structured into two main categories which are the local communities and assemblies. The major objectives of the assemblies are to determine the taxes and obligations for particular regional improvement programs and the ways the programs will be implemented. Some of these programs include but are not limited to maintaining/extending of the country’s roads, relocation of industrial projects, and the development of local public services. Morocco’s Administrative power is also in charge of managing human rights and concerns within the country, they are often forced break up protests, rallies, sit-ins, and meetings of citizens who are seen in the eye of the government as “disturbing public order”, even if these events are peaceful, nonabrasive, and not in anyway hostile. In some instances citizens are actually arrested and some are eventually set free while others are charged in the courts (World Report).
References: 1.) Arab Parliaments http://www.arabparliaments.org/countries/country.asp?cid=12 10 October 2007
2.) CIA Factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.html 10 October 2007
3.) Features Guide http://www.llrx.com/features/morocco.htm 11 October 2007
4.) WorkMill http://www.workmall.com/wfb2001/morocco/morocco_government.html 20 October 2007
