| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Barlaman / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Majliss-annouwab / House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Majlis al-Mustacharin / House of Councillors
|
| NATURE |
| Nature of the mandate |
· Free representation (Art. 30 of the 2011 Constitution) |
| Start of the mandate |
· When the results are declared |
| Validation of mandates |
· No validation, except in the event of challenge. In this case, the Constitutional Council rules on the regularity of the election (Art. 79 (1) of the Constitution).
· Procedure (Art. 79 (7) of the Constitution, Art. 48 and 49 of the Organic Law on the Composition of and Election to the House of Representatives)
|
| End of the mandate |
· On the day when the legal term of the House ends - or on the day of early dissolution (Art. 3 (2) of the Organic Law on the Compostion of and Election to the House of Representatives; for dissolution, see Art. 70 and 71 (2) of the Constitution) |
| Can MPs resign? |
Yes |
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the President of the House of Representatives
|
| Can MPs lose their mandate ? |
Yes |
(a) Revocation before expiry of mandate
(b) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter:
(c) Loss of mandate by judicial decision: loss of mandate for ineligibilities or incompatibilities (Art. 12, 14 and 15 of the Organic Law on the Composition of and Election to the House of Representatives)
|
| STATUS OF MEMBERS |
| Rank in hierarchy |
|
| Indemnities, facilities and services |
· Official passport
· Basic salary: DH 30,000
+ Additional allowance
· Exemption from tax
· Pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat for parliamentary groups
(b) Official housing
(c) Official car: allowance for Board members and Committee Chairpersons
(d) Security guards
(e) Postal and telephone services:
(f) Travel and transport: 50% reduction on tickets |
| Obligation to declare personal assets |
Yes |
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability |
· The concept exists (Art. 37 (1) of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament as long as it falls within the exercise of their parliamentary mandate.
· Exceptions: opinions which call into question the monarchy or Islam or which constitute disrespect for the King |
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability |
· The concept exists (Art. 37 (2) and (3) of the Constitution).
· It covers all offences with the exception of opinions which call into question the monarchy or Islam or which constitute disrespect for the King, and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched.
· Exceptions:
- When Parliament is in session, an MP can be prosecuted or arrested for flagrante delicto crimes or offences.
- When Parliament is in recess, an MP can be arrested for cases involving flagrante delicto, authorized prosecution or final sentencing.
· Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate. It does not automatically cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election, but these may be suspended (Art. 37 (4) of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 37 (2) and (3) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the House; the Bureau of the House (arrests during recesses)
· Parliament can suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members (Art. 37 (4) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the House of Representatives
- Procedure (Art. 37 (4) of the Constitution) |
| EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE |
| Training |
Following the elections of 25 November 2011, the Secretary General prepared a guide as well as a set of important documents constituting an MP's briefcase, which was distributed to all members of parliament at the start of the parliamentary term.
Furthermore, a training/induction session in parliamentary procedure and practice for MPs was organized by the parliamentary groups. |
| Participation in the work of the Parliament |
· Members of parliament must be present for the plenary sittings, committee sittings and at the inaugural session, which is presided over by His Majesty the King the second Friday in October each year.
· Sanctions are provided for cases of unjustified absence for plenary sittings and are set forth in the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives. |
| Discipline |
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| Code (rules) of conduct |
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| Relations between MPs and pressure group |
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