Editing Politics of Qatar (section)

==Political parties and elections==
Qatar held a [[2003 Qatari constitutional referendum|constitutional referendum in 2003]], which was overwhelmingly supported. The first municipal elections with men and women voters and candidates were held in 1999 [[Central Municipal Council]]. The first legislative election, for two thirds of the legislative council's 45 seats, were planned [[Next Qatari general election|for 2016]] after previously being postponed in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gulf-times.com/story/449659|title=Philippine Embassy urges OFWs in Qatar to register for May 2016 polls|date=2015-08-02|website=Gulf-Times|language=ar|access-date=2019-08-15}}</ref> In June 2016 they were effectively postponed to at least 2019.<ref name="DT">[http://dohanews.co/legislative-elections-in-qatar-postponed-until-at-least-2019/ Legislative elections in Qatar postponed until at least 2019] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822135736/https://dohanews.co/legislative-elections-in-qatar-postponed-until-at-least-2019/|date=2017-08-22}} Doha News, 17 June 2016</ref> The first [[general election]] of members of the Consultative Assembly was held in [[2021 Qatari general election|2021]].<ref name="WaPo election" />

[[Suffrage]] is currently limited to municipal elections and two thirds of the seats in the legislative council, with the voting age set at 18. Expatriate residents are excluded, as are the vast number of residents who are prevented from applying for citizenship. The elected Municipal Council has no executive powers but may offer advice to the Minister.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Qatar: Freedom in the World 2021 Country Report |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/qatar/freedom-world/2021 |access-date=2021-08-02 |website=Freedom House |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Qatar - Democracy Index, 2014 |url=http://knoema.com/GDI2015JAN/democracy-index-2014?country=1001420-qatar |access-date=22 July 2015 |publisher=Knoema}}</ref>
 	
Political parties are banned by law. In 2024, Qatar held a constitutional referendum that introduced amendments to end elections for the Shura Council and allow naturalized citizens to be appointed as members and government ministers by removing the requirement of "original" nationality. The changes were presented as measures to promote national unity and stability while maintaining the Emir’s authority over appointments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stability or Elections: A look into Qatar's 2024 Constitutional Referendum {{!}} International IDEA |url=https://www.idea.int/blog/stability-or-elections-look-qatars-2024-constitutional-referendum |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=www.idea.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-15 |title=Qatar's ruler says his nation will vote on abandoning legislative elections after just one poll |url=https://apnews.com/article/qatar-referendum-abandoning-legislative-vote-75bdee9688b9cdbc91f81ae243d8ff36 |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>