Palestine · Government
Government and administration in Palestine
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of state — President of the State of Palestine
- Also chairs the PLO Executive Committee; issues decree-laws.
- Executive — Council of Ministers led by the Prime Minister
- Appointed by the President.
- Legislative — Palestinian Legislative Council
- Not functioning since 2007; dissolution declared in 2018.
- Judicial governance — High Judicial Council
- Judicial appointments and administration; repeatedly restructured by decree.
- Oversight — Anti-Corruption Commission and Independent Commission for Human Rights
- Investigation and human rights monitoring.
How legislation is made
The Basic Law contemplates bills passing the Legislative Council in three readings and being promulgated by the President. Since 2007, with the Council not sitting, legislation has been issued as presidential decree-law under Article 43, published in the Official Gazette al-Waqa'i al-Filastiniyya. Because Article 43 requires later presentation to the Council, the standing of the accumulated body of decree-laws is itself a live constitutional question.
Enforcement institutions
- Palestinian Civil Police
- Operating in Area A and, separately administered, in Gaza.
- Public Prosecution
- Under the Attorney General; directs criminal investigation.
- Anti-Corruption Commission
- Investigates and refers cases to the Corruption Crimes Court.
- Land Authority
- Registration; large areas remain unregistered under the settlement-of-title process.
- Independent Commission for Human Rights
- National human rights institution established by presidential decree.
Government bodies and regulators
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