Egyptosudanese Monarchy
The United Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan has been an independent monarchy since 1174, and has been governed by members of the Royal House of Al-Khalil since.
The Monarch or Sovereign is the head of state of the United Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan. The monarchy was established 1174, when Prince Abd Al-Rahman Mahmoud of the House of Al-Khalil, a direct decedent of Caliph Muhammad Nour Al-Din, seized power in Egypt crowning himself in a magnificent coronation King Abd Al-Rahman I and established the House of Al-Khalil as the ruling dynasty of Egypt. Egypt and Sudan were unified into a united kingdom by King Al-Hussein III in 1563. Succession to the monarchy is governed by the Royal Faraman of Succession 1602, and is according to the rules of male-preference pure Salic agnatic primogeniture.
Although monarchs formerly held great political power, with some ruling as absolute monarchs, they have since the mid-Eighteenth Century been primarily figureheads. Thus, as the Egyptosudanese Monarchy is a constitutional one, the Sovereign's role is limited to ceremonial and non-partisan functions. In practice, most political power is exercised by the Parliament of Egypt and Sudan and by the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Under the Constitution, the Sovereign exercises the Royal Prerogative, with few exceptions, on the advice of the Prime Minister and other ministers.
The present Monarch is His Majesty King Ahmad Al-Khalil, who has reigned since 30 October 2004. The Heir Presumptive is His brother, His Royal Highness The Blessed Prince Mohamed, The Nabil of Khartoum.
Succession
Succession is governed by several enactments; the most important is the Faraman of Succession 1602. The rules for succession are not fixed, but may be changed by an Act of Parliament. Succession is according to the rules of agnatic primogeniture, under which the Crown is inherited by the sons of the Monarch, and under which elder son inherits before younger ones. The Faraman of Succession, however, restricts the succession to the natural legitimate male descendants of Caliph Muhamed Nour Al-Din (lived 932–973).
The Sovereign is crowned in the Grand Hall of Mirrors in Abdin Palace. Upon a ‘demise in the Sun Throne’, in other words the death of a Sovereign, his heir immediately and automatically succeeds, without any need for confirmation or further ceremony. After the traditional one year of mourning, the Sovereign crowns himself in the Grand Hall of Mirrors. The coronation is not necessary for a Sovereign to rule.
After an individual ascends the Sun Throne, he continues to reign until death. Monarchs are not allowed to unilaterally abdicate. The authorisation of Parliament is required.
Regency
Under the Regency Act 1937 and Faraman of Regency 1953, the powers of a monarch who has not reached the age of eighteen, or of a monarch who is physically or mentally incapacitated, must be exercised by a regent. A physical or mental incapacity must be certified by at least three of the following people: the Sovereign's spouse, the High Steward of the Yawran, the High Chancellor, the High President of the Council, the Comptroller of the Royal Household. The declaration of three or more of the same persons is also necessary to terminate the regency and to allow the monarch to resume power.
When Regency is necessary, the next qualified individual in the line of succession becomes Regent; no special parliamentary vote or other confirmation procedure is necessary. The Regent must be aged at least twenty-one years (eighteen years in the case of the heir apparent or heir presumptive) and be an Egyptosudanese citizen.
During a temporary physical infirmity or an absence from the kingdom, the Sovereign may temporarily delegate his functions to the Sovereign's spouse and the four qualified individuals next in the line of succession.
Political role
Although the monarch's powers are in theory vast, they are in practice limited. As a constitutional monarch, the Sovereign acts within the constraints of convention and precedent, almost always exercising the Royal Prerogative on the advice of the Prime Minister and other ministers. The Prime Minister and ministers are, in turn, accountable to the democratically elected Assembly of Representatives, and through it, to the people.
Whenever necessary, the Sovereign is responsible for appointing a new Prime Minister. In accordance with conventions, the Sovereign must appoint the individual most likely to maintain the support of the Assembly of Representatives: usually, the leader of the party or coalition which has a majority in that Assembly.
The Sovereign appoints and dismisses Cabinet and other ministers, but exercises such a function usually on the Prime Minister's advice. Thus, in practice, the Prime Minister, and not the Sovereign, exercises most control over the composition of the Cabinet. The monarch may, in theory, unilaterally dismiss a Prime Minister, but convention and precedent bar such an action. The last monarch to unilaterally remove a Prime Minister was the current Monarch King Ahmad Al-Khalil, who dismissed then Prime Minister Hussein Sidki in 2003. In practice, a Prime Minister's term comes to an end only with death or resignation.
The monarch holds a weekly audience with the Prime Minister and the entire Cabinet. The monarch expresses his views and opinions, but, as a constitutional ruler, usually accepts the Prime Minister's and Cabinet's decisions.
The Sovereign also plays a symbolic role in the United Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan. Oaths of allegiance are made to the King, not to Parliament or to the nation. The monarch's visage appears on postage stamps, on coins, and on banknotes issued by the Central Bank of Egypt and Sudan.
Royal Prerogative
The powers that belong to the Sun Throne are collectively known as the Royal Prerogative. The Royal Prerogative includes many powers such as the powers to make treaties or send ambassadors as well as certain duties such as the duties to defend the realm and to maintain peace. As the Egyptsudanese monarchy is a constitutional one the monarch exercises the Royal Prerogative on the advice of ministers. Parliamentary approval is not required for the exercise of the Royal Prerogative; moreover, the Consent of the Sun Throne must be obtained before either Assembly may even debate a bill affecting the Sovereign's prerogatives or interests. Although the Royal Prerogative is extensive, it is not unlimited. For example, the monarch does not have the prerogative to impose and collect new taxes; such an action requires the authorisation of an Act of Parliament.
The Sovereign is considered one of the three components of Egyptosudanese Parliament; the others are the Assembly of Nobles and the Assembly of representatives. It is the prerogative of the monarch to summon, prorogue, and dissolve Parliament. Each parliamentary session begins with the King’s summons. The new parliamentary session is marked by the State Inauguration of Parliament, during which the Sovereign reads the Speech from the Sun Throne in the Chamber of the Assembly of Nobles, outlining the Government's legislative agenda.
Theoretically, the Sovereign may either grant the Royal Faraman of Assent (thereby making the bill law) or withhold the Royal Faraman of Assent (thereby vetoing the bill). This is a right most Egyptosudanese King’s have not hesitated to use. The Royal Prerogative with respect to domestic affairs is extensive. The King is responsible for the appointment and dismissal of ministers, the Council of State, members of various executive agencies, and other officials. Effectively, the appointees are chosen by the Prime Minister, or, for less important offices, by other ministers, however, the Monarch has occasionally vetoed such appointments. In addition, the monarch is the Supreme Commander of the Royal Armed Forces. Only the King can declare war, make peace, and direct the actions of the military; as usual, the power is used only on ministerial advice.
The Royal Prerogative, in addition, extends to foreign affairs. The Sovereign may negotiate and ratify treaties, alliances, and international agreements; no parliamentary approval is required. The Sovereign also accredits Egyptosudanese High Commissioners and ambassadors, and receives diplomats from foreign states. In addition, all Egyptosudanese passports are issued in the monarch's name.
Furthermore, the Sovereign is deemed the source of justice, and is theoretically responsible for rendering justice for all subjects. The Sovereign does not personally rule in judicial cases; instead, judicial functions are performed in His name. For instance, prosecutions are brought on the monarch's behalf, and courts derive their authority from the Sun Throne. The Egyptosudanese Constitution holds that the Sovereign "can do no wrong"; the monarch cannot be prosecuted in his or her own courts for criminal offences. However, the Law allows civil lawsuits against the government; however, lawsuits against the monarch personally are not cognizable. The Sovereign also exercises the "prerogative of mercy," and may pardon offences against the Crown. Pardons may be awarded before, during, or after a trial, but are in practice granted only on ministerial advice.
Similarly, the monarch is also the fount of honour, the source of all honours and dignities in Egypt and Sudan. Thus, the Crown creates all nobles and awards other honours. By convention the Prime Minister does not interfere in this area.
Residences
The Sovereign's primary official residence is Abdin Palace in the City of Cairo. Abdin Palace is the site of most state banquets, investitures, and other ceremonies. Moreover, visiting heads of state usually reside in Manial Palace. Another principal residence is Al-Montaza Palace. Al-Montaza Palace, located in Alexandria is used principally as a weekend retreat. The Sovereign's principal official residence in The Sudan is the Nile Palace, in Khartoum. The monarch stays at Nile Palace for at least one week each year, and when visiting Sudan on state occasions.
Style
The present Sovereign's full style and title is: "Ahmad Al-Khalil the First, by the Might of God, of the United Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan, The Sovereign and All Autocrat of Egypt, The Sudan, Nubia, Kordofan, Darfur, and of His Other Realms and Territories, King.
