Bahrain · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in Bahrain, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- The 2002 Constitution
- As amended in 2012; Sharia is a principal source of legislation.
- Laws of the National Assembly and royal decrees
- Decree-laws are used extensively between sessions.
- Civil Code 2001 and Commercial Code 1987
- Egyptian-model codifications of obligations and commerce.
- Family Law 2009, extended 2017
- Codified personal status for both the Sunni and Ja'fari communities.
- Constitutional Court judgments
- Binding as to the validity of legislation.
The legislative process
Bills require passage by both chambers. Where they disagree, a joint sitting decides by majority with the Speaker of the appointed Consultative Council presiding and casting the deciding vote, which structurally favours the appointed chamber. The King ratifies and promulgates; a returned bill requires a two-thirds majority of the joint Assembly to be re-enacted. Decree-laws may be issued between sessions and must be submitted to the Assembly afterwards.
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