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House of Representatives Senate

House of Representatives

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes
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Parliamentary mandate

Start and end of mandate

Start of the parliamentary mandate for newly elected members
When the election results are declared
Start of the parliamentary mandate for appointed members
Not applicable
End of the parliamentary mandate
On the last day of the chamber’s term (including in the case of early dissolution)

Speaker

Mode of designation of the Speaker
The Speaker is elected from among the members of parliament/chamber
Authority that designates the Speaker when the Speaker is designated from outside parliament.
Not applicable
Rank of the Speaker in the hierarchy of the State
Other

Notes: The President of the Chamber of Representatives and that of the Senate occupy the third or fourth rank, alternately, at each annual parliamentary session.

Speaker becomes interim Head of State in the event of the latter’s death or incapacity
No
Speaker's mandate continues between legislatures
No

Speaker terms

The term of the Speaker is different from the term of the house
Yes
Speaker's term
1 Years
Fixed election date for the Speaker, if any
Second Tuesday in October each year

Notes: The Houses every year on the second Tuesday in October, unless they have been convened previously by the King. Each session, each House appoints its president, its vice-presidents, and forms its bureau.

Sources: Constitution, art. 44 and 52

Immunity and code of conduct

Parliament’s authorization is required for the detention or prosecution of members
Yes, except for flagrant delicto

Notes: except when caught in the act, members may be taken or brought directly before a court or arrested for a punishable act only with the authorization of the chamber. such authorization is not required in the case of administrative arrest (custody of 12 hours maximum in order to prevent an offence or maintain law and order).

There is a Code of conduct for members
No

Salaries and allowances

Members are paid salaries by parliament
Click for historical data
Basic salary, per year
109,157 EUR
(2023)
Basic salary, per year in PPP
155,939
(2023)
Basic allowances
Click for historical data
Basic allowance in PPP
34,781
Names of the basic allowances

The parliamentary allowance shall be reduced in the case a member receives remuneration for the exercise of a public office or function outside of parliament that exceeds half of the parliamentary allowance. In the case of members combining their parliamentary mandate with the mandate of mayor, alderman or president of a council of welfare, the salary of the latter will be reduced accordingly, instead of the parliamentary allowance.

Additionally, members of the House benefit from free public transport. And, an allowance for travel cost by car on a lump-sum basis (120 roundtrips) can be granted, but only for travelling to and from the House of Representatives.

Members pay income tax on salaries
Yes
Members pay income tax on allowances
No
Members can have remunerated employment outside parliament
Yes
Members are required to declare income from other employment to parliament
Yes
Salary of the Speaker
217,367 EUR
Salary of the Speaker in PPP
264,437
The parliamentary salary is determined in reference to another salary scale
Yes
Reference scale used for parliamentary salaries
Other

Notes: According to the Constitution (6 December 1973), all citizens are equal before the law; however the Electoral Law that was adopted as a follow up, did not recognize women's suffrage. Women were consequently not able to exercise electoral rights in the only legislative elections held in Bahrain in December 1973.

Information on salaries and allowances on the parliamentary website

Information on salaries, allowances and the amount of allowances received by each member is available on the parliamentary website.

Year data was last reported

2020

Facilities, services and allowances for constituency work
Personal staff to work directly for the parliamentarian
Yes
Office at parliament
Yes
Constituency office
No
Housing
No
Other cash or in-kind allowances for constituency work
Yes
Additional salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Additional salaries and allowances provided for leadership positions
Yes

Notes: Vice-Presidents, members of the Bureau, members of the Governance Committee, and Presidents of the political groups

List of salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Salary Allowances
Speaker Yes
Yes
Committee Chair Yes
Yes

Participation in the government

Members of the government must also be members of parliament
Cannot be a member of parliament

Historical data for IPU membership

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Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No