National Assembly of Afghanistan

The National Assembly, also known as the Parliament of Afghanistan or simply as the Afghan Parliament, was the legislature of Afghanistan in various forms from the monarchy, republican, communist and democratic periods between 1931 and 2021. It was a bicameral body, comprising two chambers: Meshrano Jirga or the House of Elders: an upper house with 102 seats. Wolesi Jirga or the House of the People: a lower house with 250 seats According to Chapter Five of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan, "the National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as the highest legislative organ was the manifestation of the will of its people and represents the whole nation. Every member of the National Assembly took into judgment the general welfare and supreme interests of all people of Afghanistan at the time of casting their vote". The parliament was effectively suspended between 1992 and 2005 due to the ongoing war and was reconstituted in 2005 after the collapse of the first Taliban regime. It was dissolved when the Taliban regained control of the country on 15 August 2021, and transferred legislative authority to the Leadership Council. The Taliban did not include the National Assembly and several other agencies of the former government in its first national budget in May 2022. Government spokesman Innamullah Samangani said that due to the financial crisis, only active agencies were included in the budget, and the excluded ones had been dissolved, but noted they could be brought back "if needed". Duties of the National Assembly Ratification, modification or abrogation of laws or legislative decrees; Approval of social, cultural, economic as well as technological development programs; Approval of the state budget as well as permission to obtain or grant loans; Creation, modification and or abrogation of administrative units; Ratification of international treaties and agreements, or abrogation of membership of Afghanistan in them; Other authorities enshrined in this Constitution.