Parliament of Libya | |
Foundation: | 1951 |
Disbanded: | 1969 |
Houses: | Senate and House of Representatives |
House1: | Senate |
House2: | House of Representatives |
Succeeded By: | Abolished |
The Parliament of the Kingdom of Libya was the bicameral legislature of the Kingdom of Libya from 1951 to 1969. It consisted of the lower house, the House of Representatives, and the upper house, Senate. The legislature was established in the 1951 Constitution, and abolished following the 1969 coup d'état by Muammar Gaddafi.
The Senate was the upper house of the parliament. Initially there were 24 senators, eight of each of the three provinces of Libya. Half of the senators were appointed by the King of Libya, the other half were chosen by provincial legislative assemblies. After 1963, when the King abolished the federal system, the King appointed all senators.[1] The term of senators was eight years.[2] The Senate was led by a president appointed for two-year terms.
The House of Representatives was the elected lower chamber. The members were elected by secret ballot in general elections. In 1960, the house had 55 members divided among the three provinces: Tripolitania had 35 seats, Cyrenaica 15, and Fezzan 5.[6] In 1968, 99 members were elected. Seven elections took place to the House of Representatives: 1952, 1955, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1967 and 1968.[7] The House was led by a speaker.