Egypt · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in Egypt, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- The Constitution
- Supreme; enforced by the Supreme Constitutional Court.
- Principles of Islamic Sharia
- Article 2 makes them the principal source of legislation; justiciable before the SCC.
- Legislation
- Statutes of the House of Representatives; presidential decree-laws when it is not in session, requiring later ratification.
- The Civil Code 1949
- Al-Sanhuri's code; the backbone of obligations, contract and property.
- Custom and equity
- Article 1 of the Civil Code directs judges to custom, then Sharia principles, then natural justice, where no text applies.
The legislative process
Bills originate with the government, the President or members of the House of Representatives. They are examined in committee and passed by the House; the President may return a bill once, which the House can override by a two-thirds majority. Where the House is not in session the President may issue decree-laws that have the force of law but lapse unless ratified at the next session. Bills touching the judiciary must be put to the relevant judicial body for its opinion first.
Found something out of date on Egypt · Legislation?
Corrections are reviewed against the primary source before anything changes.