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LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS XXXV

3. The State Organs
The Government is composed of the Amir and the Council of
Ministers, the functions and powers of which include the following
matters: (i) Responsibility for carrying out the general policy of the
state both in internal and external matters, in accordance with laws,
decrees and regulations, (ii) The direction, co-ordination and
supervision of the works of the State ministries and public
organisations, (iii) Proposing and drafting laws, decrees and
regulations to be submitted to the Amir for consideration and
approval, (iv) The preparation of a general plan to develop the
national economy, and the adoption of the necessary measures for
its implementation in accordance with the law.1
Since 16 December 1973, the new National Assembly has
assumed its role as the only Legislative Body in the State.
The present Council of Ministers, as reconstituted on 15
December 1973, is composed of a Prime Minister, two ministers
of state and 10 other ministers for the portfolios of foreign affairs,
finance, defence, interior, justice, education, health, development,
information, municipalities, and labour. The said Cabinet meets
twice weekly to discuss the daily business and to supervise the
execution of the policy of the state in the internal and external
spheres.2

4. The Judiciary
The first regular court, with civil and criminal jurisdiction over
Bahrainis, was established in Bahrain in 1926. This was known as
the ‘‘Bahrain Court”. A year later, a ‘‘Small Court” was established
to deal with minor offences and petty civil suits. Moreover, there
existed beside those two courts, the Majlis al-’Urfi (a customary
tribunal of pearl merchants), which was dedicated to the settlement
of disputes connected with the diving industry. Majlis al- ’Urfi came
to be known later as Majlis al-Tijarah (a much broader tribunal of
professional merchants). The latter comprised a committee of
leading Bahraini merchants whose advice and recommendations
were often sought by the regular courts on matters involving local
trade practice or commercial custom. Later, the above mentioned
courts were complemented by the institution in 1937 of a ‘‘High

1. See Decree No. 1 for 1970 (al-Jaridah al-Rasmiyah No. 851,22 Jan. 1970),
establishing the Council of State, the functions and powers of which have now
devolved on the Council of Ministers. And see Decrees No. 2 and No. 3 for 1970
on the Administrative Organisation of the State, ibid.
2. See Decrees Nos. 1 & 2 for 1973, appointing the Prime Minister and his new
Cabinet, Official Gazette No. 1050, 13 December and No. 1052, 27 December
1973.

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