Page 52 - The Arabian Gulf States_Neat

i
:
In THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE ARABIAN GULF STATES
chairmanship of the Supreme Council, signing decrees, laws and
treaties, appointing the Prime Minister, and some other wide
ceremonial functions.
The first Cabinet of the Union, comprising 18 ministers, was
formed and sworn in on 9 December 1972. It comprised a Prime
Minister and members selected from the nationals of the various
Emirates, in accordance with a proportion agreed upon. Articles
55-67 of the Constitution describe the powers and functions of the
Cabinet. In general, the Cabinet is empowered, under the
supervision of the Supreme Council, “to take control of and operate
•j all internal and external affairs which appertain to the Union, in
accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and the federal
laws”, (Art. 60). The Prime Minister and his Cabinet are collectively
responsible, in the execution of the general policy of the Union, to
the President and the Supreme Council. In the same manner, each
minister is also individually responsible to the President and the
Supreme Council for his position as well as the affairs of his own
ministry, (Art. 64).
.
4. The Judiciary
(a) The Union: The Provisional Constitution deals with the
Judiciary in the Union and the Emirates under Chapter 5, which
comprises Articles 94-109. According to Article 94, “judges shall be
independent” in the exercise of their powers, and that no person
shall “interfere” in the administration of justice. Article 95
provides for the constitution of a High Federal Court, as well as
federal courts of first instance. The jurisdiction of the High Federal
Court, as specified in Article 99, includes the following: (a) All
disputes among the member Emirates of the Union, as well as
disputes between one Amirate or more and the Government of the
Union, (b) Disputes giving rise to conflict of Union laws or conflict
of such laws with the Constitution, (c) The interpretation of
sd constitutional provisions, at the request of the Amirate concerned,
: (d) The trial of ministers and high ranking officials of the Union who
are charged by the Supreme Council of irregularities or
maladministration.
Further, one federal court of first instance or more may be
established in the capital of the Union or in any of the capitals of the
Emirates. The jurisdiction of such a federal court or courts
includes: (i) Disputes of civil, commercial and administrative nature
between “the Union and individuals”, (ii) Crimes committed within
the boundaries of the permanent capital of the Union, (iii) Personal
status matters and other cases of civil and commercial nature, which