The Government in Morocco

Morocco has a parliamentary constitutional monarchy form of government in which the Monarch is head of the State while the Prime Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. The Executive Power is given to the government while Legislative Power both to the government and the 2 chambers of parliament – Assembly of Representatives of Morocco and the Assembly of Councillors.

The Executive Branch is primarily composed of the offices of the Monarch (King Mohammed VI) and Prime Minister (Abbas El Fassi). The Moroccan Constitution of 1996 gives the king extensive authorities as a political head and “Defender of the Faith”. The king directs the Council of Ministers, chooses the Prime Minister after legislative elections, selects members of the government, and acts as formal military chief. The Assembly of Representatives of Morocco is composed of 325 members elected for a 5-year term. The 295 are elected in multi-seat constituencies while 30 in national lists comprising merely of women. The Assembly of Councilors on the other hand is composed of 270 members elected for a 9-year term. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the judicial system of Morocco whose judges are chosen by the Monarch.

Some of the major political parties in the country include the Independence Party, Justice and Development Party, People’s Movement, National Rally of Independents, Socialist Union of People’s Forces, and Constitutional Union.