Sovereignty Council (Iraq)


The Sovereignty Council of Iraq is a presidential council. It was formed in the wake of the military coup on 14 July 1958. It administered the functions of the Presidency of the Republic of Iraq. It was dissolved in the wake of the 8 February 1963 coup.

Functions of the Council

According to the 20th article of the Iraqi Interim constitution of 1958, the council had the authority of the Presidency in the Republic of Iraq on a temporary basis, until a presidential election was held.

Authority

According to the 21st article of the interim constitution, the Council approved legislation issued by the Government. The same article granted legislative power to the Council of Ministers. The purpose of the Sovereignty Council was to authenticate the legislation issued by the government. The council was incapable of exercising objection to government legislation, as the real power lay in the hands of Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim. In 1959 Abd al-Karim Qasim dissolved the council, and then re-established it. The council was dissolved quietly after the success of the coup on 8 February 1963.

Council members