GOVERNMENT
The ruling Al Thani family continued to hold power following the declaration of independence in 1971. The head of state is the Emir, and the right to rule Qatar is passed on within the Al Thani family. Politically, Qatar is evolving from a traditional society to one based on more formal and democratic institutions to meet the requirements of social and economic progress. The country's constitution formalizes the hereditary rule of the Al Thani family, but it also establishes an elected legislative body and makes government ministers accountable to the legislature. In current practice, the Emir's role is influenced by continuing traditions of consultation, rule by consensus, and the citizen's right to appeal personally to the Emir. The Emir, while directly accountable to no one, cannot violate the Shari'a (Islamic law) and, in practice, must consider the opinions of leading notables and the religious establishment.
The opinions of the people are institutionalized in the Advisory Council, an appointed body that assists the Emir in formulating policy. However, it is likely that the first elections for this body will occur in 2008. Elections in 1999 in which men and women participated resulted in the formation of a municipal council. One woman candidate was elected to the municipal council in 2003. Municipal elections were held for the third time in April 2007.
The influx of expatriate Arabs has introduced ideas that call into question the tenets of Qatar's traditional society, but there has been no serious challenge to Al Thani rule. As the most visible sign of the move toward openness, the Al Jazeera satellite television station based in Qatar is considered the most free and unfettered broadcast source in the Arab world. In practice, however, Al Jazeera rarely criticizes the ruling Al Thani family.
Principal
Government Officials
Amir, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and Minister of Defense--HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Heir Apparent, Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces--HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs--HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabir Al Thani
Minister of Energy and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister--Abdullah al-Attiyah
Ambassador to the U.S.--vacant
Qatar
maintains an embassy in the United States at 4200 Wisconsin Ave.
NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20016 (tel. 202-274-1600) and a
consulate in Houston at 4265 San Felipe Street, Suite 1100, Houston,
Texas 77207 (tel. 713-968-9840). Qatar's Permanent Mission to
the United Nations is at 747 Third Ave., 22nd floor, New York,
NY 10017 (tel. 212-486-9335).
Type:
Constitutional Emirate.
Independence: September 3, 1971.
Constitution: 1970 Basic Law, revised 1972.
Branches: Executive--Council of Ministers. Legislative--Advisory
Council (appointed; has assumed only limited responsibility to
date). Judicial--independent.
Subdivisions: Fully centralized government; nine
municipalities.
Political parties: None.
Suffrage: Universal over age 18, since 1999.
