Monarch of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
Considering the need to review, to the interest of the country, the statute of the Council of Ministers as stipulated in our Decree of 1377H.; Desirous of focusing responsibility and defining authority, in favour of progress and the development of the country;
In accordance with Ministerial )
1955 Decision (No. 120) of (15/10/1377 H.) of the Council of Ministers, and the briefing given by the Prime Minister, have ordered the following:"
Article 1.
These statutes shall be named : Statutes of the Council of Ministers.
Article 2.
The seat of the Council of Ministers shall be in Riyadh. The Council may meet elsewhere in the Kingdom.
Article 3.
Only Saudi nationals shall be members of the Council of Ministers. A person of bad repute, or convicted of a felony or misdemeanour, against religion or honour, shall not be eligible for membership of the Council of Ministers.
Article 4.
Members of the Council, after the issuance of these Statutes, shall not assume their offices, except after being sworn in as follows: “... I swear, by Almighty God, to be faithful to my religion, then to my king and country,, and not to disclose any State secrets; and to safeguard its interests and abide by its laws, and to perform my duties truthfully, honestly and loyally . . .“
Article 5.
No member may combine membership of the Council and any other government post unless deemed necessary by the Prime Minister.
Article 6.
No member may, during his term of office, purchase or rent, directly or through a middleman or by public auction, any state property. He may not either sell or rent out any of his property to the Government, nor engage in any commercial or financial transaction or accept membership on the Board of Directors of any company.
Article 7.
The Council of Ministers is a legal body. The Council shall meet under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister and shall execute its functions and authority in accordance with the provisions of these Statutes and its Rules and Regulations.
Article 8.
Each Minister shall be responsible for the actions of his Ministry and accountable to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister shall be accountable to His Majesty, the King. The Prime Minister may request His Majesty to relieve any member of the Council of Ministers of his duties. A resignation tendered by the Prime Minister shall automatically result in the resignation of all Council members.
Article 9.
A Minister is the immediate superior and final reference to all affairs pertaining to his Ministry. He shall perform his duties in accordance with the provisions of these Statutes and the Internal Rules and Regulations of his Ministry.
Article 10.
A Minister shall be represented only by another Minister and by virtue of a royal order issued at the proposal of the Prime Minister.
His Majesty King Saud Ibn Abdulaziz , Monarch of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
1373H. (1953) - 1384H (1964)
By Dr. Salem Aoun-Hashem Al-Ghamdi