The Government
The Constitution, issued by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, establishes the system of government, public duties and rights and steps of accession to power, in which Article Five states that the system of government is a sultanate (royal) within the male descendants of Sayed Turki bin Said bin Sultan, provided that the selected person for the post is a wise adult Muslim, and the legitimate son of Omani Muslim parents.
The organisational structure of government comprises the following: Head of State and Supreme and Final Authority His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the symbol of national unity; a cabinet, in which His Majesty the Sultan is aided by a Council of Ministers in the drawing up and execution of the general policy of the State; a Defence Council, which is presided over by, and meets at the invitations of His Majesty the Sultan, and includes eight members selected according to their ranks within the Armed Forces; a Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council, also presided over by His Majest the Sultan, deals with the preparation of the country's financial policy and the annual budget. In addition, there are a number of higher committees, sub-councils and public bodies, including the Higher Committee of Conferences; the Civil Service Council; the High Committee of Vocational Training & Labour; the Sultan Qaboos University Council; the Tenders Council; the Omani Charity Authority; the General Organisation for Sport and Cultural Youth Activities; and the Vocational Training Authority.
Meanwhile, the Oman Council comprises the State Council and the Majlis Ash'Shura with the former body responsible for preparing studies on executive development plans and programmes and helping to promote investment in different production and service sections, as well as resource development. The Majlis Ash'Sura, for its part, enjoys a broad brief and the daily lives of citizens. It has the right to review economic and social draft resolutions presented by concerned ministries prior to their approval. It also has the right to prepare national development plans and to review issues relating to services, facilities and preservation of the environment.
|
