Bahrain

Council of Representatives

Political system
Monarchy
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Parliamentary mandate

Start and end of mandate

Start of the parliamentary mandate for newly elected members
At the first sitting of the chamber
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
Not applicable
Speaker becomes interim Head of State in the event of the latter’s death or incapacity
No

Notes: The Kingdom of Bahrain is a hereditary, constitutional monarchy

Speaker's mandate continues between legislatures
No

Speaker terms

The term of the Speaker is different from the term of the house
No
Speaker's term
4 Years
Fixed election date for the Speaker, if any
No information available

Immunity and code of conduct

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

Notes: Other than in case of flagrante delicto, it shall be impermissible during the convening period for any detention, investigation, search, arrest or custodial procedures or any other penal action to be taken against a member except with the permission of the chamber of which he is a member. Outside the convening period, permission must be sought from the President of the relevant chamber.

Sources: Constitution, art. 89(c)

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
24,000 BHD
(2023)
Basic salary, per year in PPP
141,176
(2023)
Basic allowances
No information available
Names of the basic allowances

Retirement pension after at least four years of service.

Members pay income tax on salaries
No information available
Members pay income tax on allowances
No information available
Members can have remunerated employment outside parliament
Yes
Members are required to declare income from other employment to parliament
Yes
Salary of the Speaker
No information available
The parliamentary salary is determined in reference to another salary scale
No
Reference scale used for parliamentary salaries
Click for historical data

Notes: The basic salary of a Councillor of State without seniority

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
Yes
Housing
No
Other cash or in-kind allowances for constituency work
No
Additional salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Additional salaries and allowances provided for leadership positions
Yes

Notes:

Speaker - receives the same salary, allowances, and other financial benefits prescribed for Ministers.

Vice-Speakers - 30,000 dinar basic annual salary, 14,400 dinar/year representation allowance, 3,600 dinar/year social allowance, 9000 dinar/year car allowance, and scholarship allowances for official international travel (140-200 dinar/day without accommodation, 80-120 dinar/day with accommodation).

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

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

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