Day34

DAY THIRTY-FOUR

April 16

Afghan Government

Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic with a constitution adopted in 2004 which provides for three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The President is elected by a simple majority of the votes cast and serves as both head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the military. The president is supported by two Vice Presidents and the cabinet, which is appointed by the President, and must be approved by the National Assembly.

The bicameral National Assembly or Parliament constitutes the legislative branch. The Wolesi Jirga, the Assembly of the People, is the primary legislative body and its 249 delegates are elected by the districts they represent. The 102 member Meshrano Jirga, the Assembly of Elders has 34 members elected by district councils for 3 year terms, 34 elected by provincial councils for 4 year terms, and 34 appointed by the president for 5 year terms. The Meshrano Jirga functions primarily in an advisory role, but does have veto power. The current parliament was elected in 2005, and includes former Mujahedeen, Taliban, communists, reformists, and Islamic fundamentalists. Twenty-eight percent of the delegates are women, who after being absent from Afghan politics for centuries now have a minimum of at least 10% of the seats in parliament reserved for them under the constitution.

The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court, the High Courts, and Appeals Courts. The Supreme Court has nine members appointed by the President for ten year terms with approval of the Wolesi Jirga. Justices can neither be removed from the bench, nor be appointed to a second term. The President appoints the Chief Justice from among the nine.

The constitution authorizes a Grand Assembly or Council, the Loya Jirga, to convene for certain situations. The Loya Jirga comes out of the ancient tradition of self-governance by male elders, and is the ultimate decision making body for the people of Afghanistan. It is a gathering of Afghan elders who are selected by their various tribes to join the national government in discussion and resolution of such major issues as the new constitution, confronting the insurgency, or a disputed presidential election.

DAY THIRTY-FOUR PRAYERS

www.accts.org

- Pray that the Afghan Supreme Court and Chief Justice Abdul Salam Azimi will model true justice in rendering their decisions.

- Pray that the ISAF governments helping to rebuild Afghanistan will influence the Afghan government toward culturally appropriate and effective governance.

- Father, keep Afghan government employees safe from the Taliban assassins who come in the night trying to kill those who serve the new government.

- Lord, shower your blessings upon the numerous Afghans, many of them mere youths, who are striving to unite their Muslim nation under a viable and democratic government.