History of the Egyptian Constitution

Their duties involved laws as well as treaties with foreign countries In the Mamluk era (1250–1517) Sultan El-Zaher Bebars built the Court of Justice at Salah El-Deen El-Ayoubi Citadel to be the government premises.

Judges had their verdicts directly based on Islamic jurisprudence (Sharia) as far as civil and criminal disputes were concerned.

In 1795, almost six years after the French revolution, a major political uprising demanding rights, freedoms and justice fueled.

As a result of the mounting resistance against the Ottoman ruler, the Wali, and Mamluks, Egypt was on the verge of a massive revolt.

This led to the Ulama laying their hands on a written document which outlined the relationship between the ruler and subject which averted a raise in taxes without the consent of the people's representatives.

[2]: 192 Following the Egyptian revolution of 1952 that led to the overthrow of the monarch, King Farouk, the Constitution of 1923 was abolished by decree in December 1952.

The assembly was made up of 350 elected members and remained effective until 10 February 1958, when the Egyptian-Syrian merger as the United Arab Republic was given force and the 1956 Constitution revoked.

The Provisional Constitution of the United Arab Republic was formulated in March 1958,[2]: 194  and a joint National Assembly was established.

In 1971, when President Anwar Sadat took office, he moved towards the adoption of a new democratic constitution that would allow more freedoms; the return to a more sound parliamentary life, correct democratic practice[citation needed] and made Sharia "a source of legislation" (Article II), amended in 1980 to read "the principal source of legislation."