The King, "Amir Al-Mumineen" (Commander of the Faithful),
shall be the Supreme Representative of the Nation and the Symbol
of the unity thereof. He shall be the guarantor of the perpetuation
and the continuity of the State. As Defender of the Faith, He
shall ensure the respect for the Constitution. He shall be the
Protector of the rights and liberties of the citizens, social
groups and organisations. The King shall be the guarantor of
the independence of the Nation and the territorial integrity
of the Kingdom within all its rightfull boundaries.
The Moroccan Crown and the constitutional rights thereof shall
be hereditary and handed down, from father to son, to descendants
in direct male line and by order of primogeniture among the
offspring of His Majesty King Hassan II, unless the King should,
during his lifetime, designate a successor among his sons apart
from the eldest one. In case of failing descendants in direct
male line, the right of succession to the Throne shall, under
the same conditions, be invested in the closest male in the
collateral consanguinity.
The King shall be considered minor until he turns sixteen. During
the King's phase of minority, a Regency Council shall assume
the powers of the constitutional rights of the Crown, with the
exception of those pertaining to the revision of the Constitution.
The Regency Council shall serve as an advisory board to the
King until he turns twenty. The Regency Council shall be presided
over by the First President of the Supreme Court. It shall include,
in addition to its Chairman, the President of the House of Representatives,
the President of the House of Counsellors, the Chairman of the
Rabat and Salé Ulama Council (of scholars), and ten dignitaries
appointed with the King's own accord. Rules of procedure of
the Regency Council shall be governed by an organic law.
The King shall be entitled to a Civil List.
The person of the King shall be sacred and inviolable.
The King shall appoint the Prime Minister. Upon the Prime Minister's
recommendation, the King shall appoint the other Cabinet members
as he may terminate their services. The King shall terminate
the services of the Government either on his own initiative
or because of their resignation.
The King shall preside over Cabinet meetings.
The King shall promulgate a definitively adopted law within
the thirty days following its receipt by the Government.
The King may dissolve the two Houses of Parliament or one thereof
by Royal Decree, in accordance with the conditions prescribed
in Articles 71 and 73.
The King shall have the right to deliver addresses to the Nation
and to the Parliament. The messages shall be read out before
both Houses and shall not be subject to any debate.
The King shall, by Royal Decrees, exercise the statutory powers
explicitly conferred upon him by the Constitution. Royal Decrees
shall be countersigned by the Prime Minister, with the exception
of those provided for in Articles 21 (Paragraph 2), 24 (paragraphs
1, 3 and 4), 35, 69,71, 79, 84, 91, 99 and 105.
The King shall be the Commander-in-chief of the Royal Armed
Forces. He shall make civil and military appointments and shall
reserve the right to delegate such a power.
The King shall accredit ambassadors to foreign nations and international
organisations. Ambassadors or representatives of international
organisations shall be accredited to him. The King shall sign
and ratify treaties. However, treaties committing State finances
shall not be ratified without having been approved under the
law. Treaties likely to affect the constitutional provisions
shall be approved in accordance with the procedures prescribed
for the modification of the Constitution.
The King shall preside over the Supreme Council of the Magistracy,
the Supreme Council of Education and the Supreme Council for
National Reconstruction and Planning.
The King shall appoint magistrates in accordance with the conditions
prescribed in Article 84.
The King shall exercise the right of granting pardon.
Should the integrity of the national territory ever be under
threat or should any event interrupt the course of action of
the constitutional institutions, the King shall, after consulting
with the President of the House of Representatives and the president
of the House of Counsellors as well as the Chairman of the Constitutional
Council, and addressing the Nation, have the right to declare
a State of Emergency by Royal Decree. Notwithstanding all contrary
provisions, he shall hence assume the responsibility of taking
all the necessary measures for the country's defence and the
restoration of a normal functioning of constitutional institutions
and State affairs. The State of Emergency shall not entail the
dissolution of the Parliament. The State of Emergency shall
be terminated according to the same procedure followed in the
proclamation thereof.
|