The Federal Supreme Council is the highest legislative body and is responsible for appointing the president.

The 40-member council consists of 20 members appointed by the rulers of each emirate, and the other 20 are voted by a selected electoral college.

The president nominates the prime minister and judges for the Federal Supreme Court; as head of the Federal Supreme Council, the president can call meetings and set policy agendas in addition to exclusive authority over foreign affairs.

Each local government has its own ruler, and executive council which manages the day-to-day affairs of the emirate.

[4] Jurisdiction and scope of local governments vary widely between emirates, with the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi maintaining independent energy, education, judicial, and religious affairs departments, while others, such as the Emirate of Ajman maintaining only municipal and economic policy affairs, with other aspects such as energy and water management, religious affairs, and health delegated to the federal government.