In 1997 a Royal Decree was issued to amend the third article of the Shura system and accordingly the number of Consultative Council members was increased from 60 to 90.

In 2001, the number of members was increased to 120.

In practice, members of the Council are able to initiate legislation and review the domestic and foreign policies of the Government. Any Government action not approved by the Council has to be referred back to the King. By 1998, the Council was well established and operating effectively.

In grasping the significance of these measures, it is important to understand that King Fahd’s purpose in establishing the Majlis Al-Shura and in introducing other planned reforms was to provide an institutional framework through which the traditional form of Saudi Arabian Government, based on consultation within the context of the tenets and requirements of Islam, could be most effectively expressed in today’s increasingly complex and interdependent world.

The reforms can, however, be seen as marking an important new chapter in the life of the Kingdom and in King Fahd’s desire to hasten the pace of modernization, while remaining firmly within the religious and cultural traditions of the Kingdom.

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