Palestinian Legislative Council

Palestinian Legislative Council

المجلس التشريعي الفلسطيني

Al-Majlis al-Tashrīʿiyy al-Filasṭīniyy
2nd Legislative Council
Entrance to the Palestinian Legislative Council in Ramallah
Type
Type
History
Founded1996
Disbanded2007
Leadership
Aziz Dweik, Hamas
since 18 February 2006
Structure
Seats132
Political groups
  •   Hamas (74)
  •   PLO (50)
  •   PNI (2)
  •   Third Way (2)
  •   Independents (4)
Elections
Parallel additional member system:
Last election
25 January 2006
Next election
TBD
Website
www.plc.ps (Gaza Strip government)
www.pal-plc.org (West Bank government)
Footnotes

The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) is the unicameral legislature of the Palestinian National Authority, elected by the Palestinian residents of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It currently comprises 132 members, elected from 16 electoral districts of the Palestinian Authority. The PLC has a quorum requirement of two-thirds, and since 2006 Hamas and Hamas-affiliated members have held 74 of the 132 seats in the PLC. The PLC's activities have been suspended since 2007. However, PLC committees continue working at a low rate and parliamentary panel discussions are still occurring.

The first PLC met for the first time on 7 March 1996. Under the Oslo II Accord, the powers and responsibilities of the PLC are restricted to civil matters and internal security in Area A of the West Bank and Gaza, while in Area B they are restricted to civil affairs with security matters being under the control of the Israel Defense Forces. In Area C, Israel has full control.

The 2006 election for the second PLC was the lastest PLC election. Following the Hamas–Fatah split in 2007, the PLC ceased to function, with the President issuing laws by decree. Elections for the third PLC were scheduled for May 2021, but were indefinitely postponed.