A preparatory committee was also formed under the patronage of the wife of the Emir to carry out an awareness program for women, emphasizing the importance of their participation in the elections both as candidates and voters.
[citation needed] The election experience was very well received publicly and officially and the response was overwhelming by all sectors of the Qatari society, males and females alike.
[citation needed] The Qatari democratic practice exceeded the surrounding experiences in four aspects: voting age was brought down to 18, which expands the scope of participation in the democratic process, the Qatari media was utilized in an unprecedented manner in the Persian Gulf region by giving live coverage of the debates and discussions between candidates and voters, women were allowed to participate as voters and candidates for the first time and a headquarters was provided in each constituency, where the 29 members of the Council can hold discussions and meetings with their electorates.
[citation needed] The Emiri Decree No 17 for 1998 specified the regulations governing the elections of the members of the Central Municipal Council.
All Qatari males and females that fulfill the following conditions have the right to cast their votes: The Council is formed of 29 members representing constituencies spreading over 230 regions in the State of Qatar.
On 4 May 1999 Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar issued a decree inviting the Central Municipal Council to hold its first meeting in full attendance to elect the Council's Chairman and Deputy Chairman from among its members by secret ballot.
The job of the Secretary General is to prepare the meetings' agenda and submit thereof to the Chairman, record the minutes of the meetings and the Council's recommendations and submit, to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, those parts of the recommendations that call for his or any higher authority's action.
The Ministry approves the recommendations of the Council, whose members decide their own work program and budget without external interference.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture explains the different points of view to the Council through a specialized committee.
The 29 members of the Council focus their attention on providing the compelling needs of the society and securing the basic services with a view to rationalize spending.
They do that through a well-defined plan and good coordination of time, effort and resources, and through giving priority to projects like road building, sanitary drainage, parks and recreation sites.
1 of 2011) was issued by the Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on Thursday 20 January 2011.
[3] Qatar has raised the minimum age limit to 30 years from 25 for its citizens to contest Central Municipal Council elections.
that since a man or woman is generally in a position to hold social responsibility only when he or she is 30, the minimum age to contest the CMC be raised to 30 years.
The new law also makes it mandatory for a candidate to contest from the constituency he is a permanent resident of and his name appears on the local voters' list.
Polling date was set for Monday 8 March 1999, and 21,995 eligible males and females registered to cast their votes in their respective constituencies.