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CommunicationCommunicationonon

Structure & Functions of Meshrano Structure & Functions of Meshrano Jerga (Afghan Upper House):Jerga (Afghan Upper House):

((A brief introductionA brief introduction))

In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most MercifulMerciful

By: Mohammad Kazim Malwan Secretary General of Meshrano Jerga (Afghan Upper House)

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The National Assembly of The National Assembly of Afghanistan is Composed of two Afghanistan is Composed of two Houses:Houses:

Meshrano Jerga (Upper House)Meshrano Jerga (Upper House) Wolosi Jerga (House of the People) Wolosi Jerga (House of the People)

(Article 82 of the Constitution )(Article 82 of the Constitution )

The NA of IRA holds two regular The NA of IRA holds two regular sessions annually. The term of both sessions annually. The term of both regular sessions is nine months. regular sessions is nine months.

(Art. 107, constitution )(Art. 107, constitution )

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MeshranoMeshrano Jerga (Upper House)has Jerga (Upper House)has 102102 members.members. 28 (27.45%) are women. 28 (27.45%) are women. Members of MJ are elected and appointed Members of MJ are elected and appointed as follows:as follows:

• One third (34 members)One third (34 members) are elected by provincial are elected by provincial Councils for Councils for four four years. years.

• One third (34 members)One third (34 members) are elected from District are elected from District Councils for Councils for 33 years. years.

•Remaining one third (34 members) are appointed Remaining one third (34 members) are appointed by the President of the Country from amongst by the President of the Country from amongst experts, knowledgeable and experienced experts, knowledgeable and experienced personalitiespersonalities including including two two impaired/handicapped impaired/handicapped and and twotwo from nomads. from nomads.

•Fifty percent of the appointees are women. Fifty percent of the appointees are women.

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0

20

40

60

80

Men Women

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28

Gender Composition of Meshrano Jerga (Upper House)

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0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

35 to 45 years 46 to 55 years 56 to 65 years 66 and over

50

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10 10

Composition of Meshrano Jerga members by age

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Leading bodies of MJLeading bodies of MJ A)A) Administration Board:Administration Board:• The Admin Board of MJ is comprised of 5 members:The Admin Board of MJ is comprised of 5 members:• The president (Speaker) The president (Speaker) of MJ, elected by members for 5 yearsof MJ, elected by members for 5 years• First Deputy Speaker First Deputy Speaker elected for one yearelected for one year• Second Deputy Speaker Second Deputy Speaker elected for one yearelected for one year• SecretarySecretary, elected for one year, elected for one year• Deputy secretary Deputy secretary elected for one yearelected for one year

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B) Committee of the Chairs:• 19 members: comprised of Admin Board members (5), chair persons

of Commissions (12) and leaders of Parliamentary Groups (2)• The Committee meets once in a Week• Main duties of the Committee: Preparing/ deciding on agenda of

plenary sessions and commissions meetings for short, medium and long terms

A meeting of the committee of chairs

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C) Standing Commissions of MJ:• In MJ there are 12 Commissions • Each commission has 7 to 11 members.• Chairman, deputy and secretary of each commission are elected for a term of one year• Each Commission holds its meetings three days in a week.

A meeting of gender and women commission

Meeting of transport & communicationcommission

D) Parliamentary GroupsD) Parliamentary GroupsTwo Parliamentary Groups:Two Parliamentary Groups:• “ “ Reform & JusticeReform & Justice” ” PG ( 34 members )PG ( 34 members )

• ““Law Protection & National UnityLaw Protection & National Unity” ” PG ( 58 members )PG ( 58 members )

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Meetings of Meshrano Jerga

A) Plenary sessions:• Based on Rules of Procedure, MJ holds two plenary sessions in a

Week.• From Dec 2005 to Dec 2010 (15th term of Afghan NA) MJ has held

(388) plenary sessions.• From February 2011 to March 2012 (part of term 16th) 96 plenary

sessions have been organized.

A plenary session of MJ

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B) Commissions Meetings

In accordance to the Rules of procedure each Commission of MJ organizes 3 meetings in a week.

From Dec 2005 to Dec 2010 (15th term of NA), all commissions of MJ have held more than (4,900) meetings From Feb 2011 to March 2012 ( part of 16th term of NA) MJ Commissions held (1060) meetings

Meshrano Jerga (Afghan Upper House) like any other Meshrano Jerga (Afghan Upper House) like any other chamber of a parliament conducts the following 3 main chamber of a parliament conducts the following 3 main duties:duties:

LegislationLegislation

1)The Upper House of IRA through its commissions’ 1)The Upper House of IRA through its commissions’ meetings and plenary sessions , during 5 years of meetings and plenary sessions , during 5 years of Afghan NA’s 15Afghan NA’s 15thth term (2005 to 2010) approved/certified term (2005 to 2010) approved/certified 115 laws and agreements.115 laws and agreements.

2)From Feb. 2011 to March 2012, (27) laws and 2)From Feb. 2011 to March 2012, (27) laws and agreements have been approved/certified by Meshrano agreements have been approved/certified by Meshrano Jerga.Jerga.

Main Functions of MJMain Functions of MJ

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Oversight of the governmentOversight of the government

Oversight of executive branch and its Oversight of executive branch and its activities is the second important duty of activities is the second important duty of MJ. Questioning of MJ. Questioning of government bodies in government bodies in MJ committees and in some cases in MJ committees and in some cases in plenary sessions is a vital tool for making plenary sessions is a vital tool for making government accountable. During 5 years of government accountable. During 5 years of 1515th th and more than one year of 16 and more than one year of 16thth term of term of Afghan NA, the Afghan Upper House has Afghan NA, the Afghan Upper House has questioned different high ranking officials questioned different high ranking officials for more than ( 2646 ) times.for more than ( 2646 ) times.

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RepresentationRepresentation MJ raises the voice of the public and highlights the MJ raises the voice of the public and highlights the

needs and expectation of the people in national needs and expectation of the people in national and local levels at plenary and commission and local levels at plenary and commission meetings ( particularly in open debate of plenary meetings ( particularly in open debate of plenary sessions)sessions)

MJ considers complaint and petitions of real and MJ considers complaint and petitions of real and legal persons (individually or by a group of people) legal persons (individually or by a group of people) in commissions and takes needed decisions in commissions and takes needed decisions

Since 2005 to date the MJ commissions have Since 2005 to date the MJ commissions have received a total of received a total of 4,4004,400 group/individual petitions group/individual petitions and complaints. Majority of the complaints have and complaints. Majority of the complaints have been solved as a result of cooperation/ been solved as a result of cooperation/ coordination between related commissions and coordination between related commissions and relevant government departments.relevant government departments.

The EndThe End

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

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