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Chapter Nina

                 for a hierarchy of courts which culminates in I ho Union Supreme
                 Court.'37 This court is a constitutional court comparable to the
                 Bunclesverfassungsgericht of the Federal Republic of Germany. It
                 adjudicates on disputes between the central authorities as well as
                 between these and the local authorities. Above all it acts as the
                 watchdog, ensuring that the constitution is adhered to and reigns
                 supreme. This court is also the highest court of appeal,  138  The
                 independence of its judges and their immunity from removal from
                 office is guaranteed in the relevant articles of the constitution.
                    Below the Supreme Court of the UAE the constitution stipulates
                 the establishment of one or more Primary Tribunals which have
                 jurisdiction in civil, commercial and administrative disputes be­
                  tween the Slate and citizens and in cases pertaining to the permanent
                 capital.130 The Primary Tribunals are expected to be courts of appeal
                 above the local judicial authorities, but the constitution also
                 prepared the ground for transfering all or part of the jurisdiction of
                 local courts to the Primary Tribunals. Little guidance can be found in
                 the constitution on the relationship between local and Union courts.
                   The division of the legislative, executive and judiciary powers
                 between the authorities of the Union is not meticulously defined,
                 because this is not the primary objective of this provisional
                 constitution. It was intended as the modus vivendi which was most
                 acceptable to the seven Rulers and also not unacceptable to the local
                 tribal population and the rest of the inhabitants of the UAE. The
                 emphasis is on providing the basis for integrating seven Emirates
                 and weaving the fabric of a united State. This is why in an analysis of
                 the distribution of powers the figure of the President emerges as the
                 authority actually holding or being able to command more power
                 than any of the other authorities. The tribal society can trust its own
                 means to counterbalance excessive authoritarian tendencies on the
                 part of a powerful central figure. Thus the constitution’s emphasis on
                 unification and centralisation, even at the expense of a neater
                 division between the powers, is not out of tune with the political
                 expectations of the society, particularly if the central figure is a
                 charismatic leader.

                 6 Ten years of Federation

                 The provisional constitution remains in force
                 Although the provisional constitution stipulates in the preamble that
                 a permanent constitution should be prepared, ten years later it is still

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