Amin Nassar, President of The Constitutional Council

Place and Date of Birth: Born in Beirut in 1930. Son of Fares Nassar.
Married to: Leila Tu'ma , with three children.
Education: A Degree of Law , from The Institut of Law, Lyon  (France). A Degree of Law from The Lebanese Institut of Law  (Lebanon). A Degree in French Literature, from The French High School of Arts  (Lebanon).
Previous posts: Lecturer, Institut of Judicial Studies. Member of The Legal Reform Authority (1991-1997). Former Judge: President of Supreme Court, President of the Suprerior Council of Lebanese Magistrates.
Current Occupation: President of The Constitutional Council since 1997.
Contact Informarion: Residence: Adma. Kedrouan, Green Zone, No. 4, Amine Nassar Bldg., Tel: 09-852500, Mobile: 03-682220, Fax: 09-852501. Email: anassar@cyberia.net.lb

Backgounf Infromation: What is the Constitutional Council?

Article 19  of the Lebanese Constiutution stipulates the following:
A Constitutional Council is established to supervise the constitutionality of laws and to arbitrate conflicts that arise from parliamentary and presidential elections. The President, the President of the Parliament, the Prime Minister, along with any ten Members of Parliament, have the right to consult this Council on matters that relate to the constitutionality of laws. The officially recognized heads of religious communities have the right to consult this Council only on laws relating to personal status, the freedom of belief and religious practice, and the freedom of religious education. The rules governing the organization, operation, composition, and modes of appeal of the Council are decided by a special law.

Article 30 stipultes the following:
The Deputies alone have competence to judge the validity of their mandate. No Deputy's mandate may be invalidated except by a majority of two thirds of the votes of the entire membership. This clause is automatically cancelled as soon as the Constitutional Council is established and as soon as the laws relating to it are implemented.