The Afghan Parliament
The Afghan Parliament
The Afghan Parliament, known as the National Assembly, is a bicameral body (comprising two houses).
WOLESI JIRGA (HOUSE OF PEOPLE): This is the lower house and comprises 249 members. Elections to this body were held on Sept. 18, 2010. However, the result has been disputed and there are allegations of widespread fraud.
It is the Wolesi Jirga’s responsibility to make and pass laws.
Its members have a term of five years and 64 of the seats are reserved for women. The current house has 67 women members. The Kuchi nomads elect 10 members through a Single National Constituency.
MESHRANO JIRGA (HOUSE OF ELDERS): This is the upper house of Parliament and comprises 102 members.
One-third of the members are elected by district councils (one per province) for three-year terms, one-third by provincial councils (one per province) for four-year terms, and one-third are nominated by the president for five-year terms.
Half of the presidential nominees have to be women, two of them have to be representatives of disabled and two have to be Kuchi nomads.
The Meshrano Jirga is primarily an advisory body.
FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS OF VOTE FRAUD, A SPECIAL COURT IS LOOKING INTO THE ELECTION OF VARIOUS CANDIDATES. ITS RULING COULD DISQUALIFY SEVERAL OF THEM. THE INFORMATION HERE WILL BE UPDATED ACCORDINGLY.
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