The Kurdistan Parliament, the unicameral legislature of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, was established in 1992.
Located in Erbil, the Kurdistan Parliament previously consisted of 111 members. However, in a significant ruling in 2024, the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq, the country’s highest judicial body, issued several judgments regarding the election law of the Kurdistan Parliament. Among these rulings, the Parliament’s total membership was reduced from 111 to 100 members. These members are elected through a proportional representation system for four-year terms. The composition of the Kurdistan Parliament reflects a broad spectrum of political parties, highlighting the diverse political landscape of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The Kurdistan Parliament exercises legislative authority alongside the Iraqi Council of Representatives in several domains, including education, health, historical preservation, internal security, transportation, natural resource management, environmental policy, and tourism.
A legal minimum quota is in place to ensure that women hold at least 30% of the seats in the Kurdistan Parliament.
The parliament includes 19 functional committees, each dedicated to thoroughly examining legislative matters within their areas of expertise. These committees play a significant role in shaping the political discourse in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
In terms of promoting women’s political representation, the Kurdistan Parliament is at the forefront. It has established a legal minimum quota, requiring that at least 30% of its seats are held by women. This policy sets a benchmark for legislative bodies in the Middle East.
