Constitution of Qatar

Qatar's constitution became effective on 9 April 2004 after nearly 97 percent approval in a 2003 referendum, establishing the State of Qatar as a unitary semi-constitutional monarchy with executive, legislative and judicial branches. The Emir serves as head of state, the Consultative Assembly of Qatar functions as the legislative chamber, and the document, unusually, contains no preamble. It designates Islam the official religion and Sharia a principal source of legislation while describing the political system as democratic, sets Arabic as the official language and Doha as the capital, provides for succession within the House of Thani from father to son with power for the Emir to name an heir apparent absent a son, and it barred constitutional amendments for ten years following adoption.