Powers and Challenges of the Kuwaiti Parliament: A Comparative Study with the Legislative Councils of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States

Abstract

This study examines the constitutional powers of the Kuwaiti National Assembly in legislation and oversight, while identifying the key challenges that hinder the effective exercise of these powers. Despite its broad constitutional authority, the Assembly faces significant obstacles in advancing electoral, societal, and legal reforms. The study adopts a qualitative methodology, including a descriptive analytical approach to understand the nature of the Kuwaiti parliamentary system, a historical approach to trace the pivotal stages since the Assembly’s establishment in 1963, and a comparative approach to analyze Kuwait’s parliamentary experience relative to other legislative bodies in the Gulf region. The findings indicate that Kuwait’s Parliament—one of the earliest legislative councils in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—holds distinctive authority in legislative, oversight, and financial affairs. However, ongoing tensions between the legislative and executive branches, alongside social, economic, and regional challenges, hinder its institutional development and performance. The analysis shows that Kuwait’s Parliament is unique in its electoral mechanisms, government accountability, and level of independence. Public opinion and political pressures significantly influence its functioning. The study concludes that while the Kuwaiti parliamentary model remains distinctive in the Gulf context, it urgently requires institutional reforms, particularly in enhancing executive-legislative cooperation, combating corruption, and improving electoral laws to promote political stability and equitable representation.