month from the date of receipt. The returned draft budget shall include the Council’s
observations so that its requirements can be fulfilled and the draft budget resubmitted
to the Legislative Council for approval.
3. The Council’s voting on the general budget shall be title by title.
4. Transfer of funds between the various budget titles is not permitted unless it is agreed
upon between the Legislative Council and the Executive branch.
Article 62
The final accounts of the National Authority’s budget shall be presented to the
Legislative Council no later than one year after the end of the fiscal year. The Council
shall vote on the final accounts title by title.
TITLE FIVE:
THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY
Article 63
The Council of Ministers (the “government”) is the highest executive and administrative
instrument; it shoulders the responsibility for implementing the program that has been
approved by the legislative branch. Except for the executive powers of the President of
the National Authority, as specified in this Basic Law, executive and administrative
powers shall be within the competence of the Council of Ministers.
Article 64
1. The Council of Ministers shall comprise a Prime Minister and a number of Ministers,
not to exceed twenty-four (24) in number.
2. The appointment shall identify to which Ministry each Minister shall be assigned.
Formation of the Government
Article 65
Once appointed by the President of the Palestinian National Authority, the Prime
Minister shall form a government within three weeks of the date of appointment.
There shall be a right to an extension of a maximum of two weeks.
2. If the Prime Minister fails to form a government within the stated deadline or does
not obtain the confidence of the Legislative Council, then the President of the
National Authority shall appoint another Prime Minister within two weeks of the
passing of the deadline or the date of the confidence session, whichever applies.
Provisions contained in the above paragraph 1 shall apply to the new Prime Minister.
1.
Confidence in the Government
Article 66