Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain
37
- Jurisdiction
- Bahrain
- Provision
- 37
- Source language
- English
- Recorded status
- in force
More details
- Recorded status
- in force
Provision text
Official sourceArticle 37
Legal status of treaties
Foreign affairs representative The King shall conclude treaties by Decree, and shall communicate them to the
Consultative Council and the Chamber of Deputies forthwith accompanied by the
appropriate statement. A treaty shall have the force of law once it has been
concluded and ratified and published in the Official Gazette.
However, peace treaties and treaties of alliance, treaties relating to State territory,
natural resources, rights of sovereignty, the public and private rights of citizens,
treaties pertaining to commerce, shipping and residence, and treaties which involve
the State Exchequer in non-budget expenditure or which entail amendment of the
laws of Bahrain, must be promulgated by law to be valid.
Under no circumstances may a treaty include secret clauses which conflict with
those openly declared.
Head of state decree power Article 38
If between the convening of both the Consultative Council and the Chamber of
Deputies sessions, or during the period in which the National Assembly is in recess,
any event should occur that requires expediting the adoption of measures that brook
no delay, the King may issue relevant Decrees that have the force of law, provided
they do not contravene the Constitution.
Such Decrees must be referred to both the Consultative Council and the Chamber of
Deputies within one month from their promulgation if the two chambers are in
session, or within a month of the first meeting of each of the two new chambers in
the event of dissolution or if the legislative term had ended. If the Decrees are not so
referred, their legal force shall abate retrospectively without a need to issue a
relevant ruling. If they are referred to the two chambers but are not confirmed by
them their legal force shall also abate retrospectively.
Head of state decree power Article 39
a. The King shall lay down the regulations for implementation of the laws, by
Decrees which shall not include amendment or suspension of those laws or
exception from their implementation. The law may prescribe a lower instrument
than a Decree for promulgation of the regulations necessary for their
implementation.
b. The King shall lay down the control regulations and the regulations necessary
for the organization of public directorates and departments, by Decrees in a
manner which does not conflict with the laws.
Foreign affairs representative
Head of state powers
Source record
Source and verification
Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain · wipo.int · Retrieved 18 August 2026.
Check the upstream source for currency, amendments, and official formatting. The recorded status describes this source version.
Open upstream source