Parliamentary Life in the Iraqi Monarchical Era

Abstract

This study examines parliamentary life in Iraq during the monarchical era (1921–1958) , as one of the most significant phases in the formation of the modern Iraqi political and constitutional system. The research aims to analyze the emergence and development of the parliamentary experience within its historical context, particularly the constitutional antecedents during the late Ottoman period, as well as the impact of the British occupation and the mandate system on shaping the political structure.

The study also highlights the constitutional framework that regulated parliamentary life, represented by the Iraqi Basic Law of 1925, explaining the nature of the parliamentary system it established in theory and comparing it with its practical application. Furthermore, it discusses the electoral system, the formation of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, and the extent to which they genuinely represented the popular will.

The research concludes that, despite its relatively modern constitutional foundations, the parliamentary experience in the monarchical era failed to achieve a genuine parliamentary system in practice. This was largely due to the dominance of the executive authority, the extensive powers of the monarchy, and external influences and political interventions, which negatively affected the performance of the legislative institution and limited its effectiveness in both legislative and supervisory functions.