perspicacity, chooses certain experienced people to constitute the Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura), and the aware, free and loyal people choose through elections those who make up the Council of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwwab), and thus the two Councils together achieve the popular will represented by the National Assembly (Al-Majlis al-Watani). These constitutional amendments undoubtedly reflect the joint will of the King and the people, and achieve for everyone the lofty ideals and the great humanitarian principles contained in the National Action Charter, and ensure that the people will advance to the highest position for which their ability and preparedness qualifies them, and which accords with the greatness of their history, and allows them to occupy their appropriate place among the civilized nations of the world. This constitution that we have promulgated contains the amendments that have been carried out in accordance with the provisions of the National Action Charter and that complement all the un-amended texts. We have attached an explanatory memorandum which will be used to explain its enactment. Chapter I The State Article 1 a. The Kingdom of Bahrain is an independent Islamic Arab State, fully sovereign. The people of Bahrain are part of the Arab Nation and whose territory is part of the great Arab homeland. Its sovereignty may not be assigned or any of its territory abandoned. b. The regime of the Kingdom of Bahrain is a hereditary constitutional monarchy, which has been handed down by the late Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa to his eldest son Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain. Thenceforward it will pass to his eldest son, one generation after another, unless the King in his lifetime appoints a son other than his eldest son as successor, in accordance with the provisions of the Decree on inheritance stated in the following paragraph. c. All provisions governing inheritance are regulated by a special Royal Decree that will have a constitutional character, and which 7