Prior to the establishment of modern institutions, representative practices in Morocco were exercised through traditional structures such as assemblies of
ulema at the city or regional level, as well as tribal assemblies (
jemaa). These bodies were not elected but formed through systems of cooptation. From the 1880s, Morocco undertook a series of reforms aimed at modernizing its institutions, partly influenced by European administrative models. Among these reforms was the creation of the position of
grand vizier, supported by a structured government composed of several ministries, including foreign affairs, finance, and defense. In this context, Sultan
Abdelaziz established in 1904 a consultative assembly known as the
Majlis al-Ayane (). This assembly contributed to the convening of the
Algeciras Conference and to the drafting of a constitution in 1908, which ultimately did not enter into force due to political instability. The
Majlis al-Ayane was dissolved in 1913 following the
Treaty of Fez, which established the
French Protectorate. From 1947, under the initiative of Resident General Erik Labonne and Sultan
Mohammed V, consultative assemblies were created to represent Muslim and Jewish Moroccans. These bodies, elected in 1947 and 1951, had limited powers. The
Istiqlal Party participated in the 1947 elections but later boycotted those of 1951. Following the return of
Mohammed V from exile on 16 November 1955, a consultative national council was established in 1956 to prepare the foundations for representative institutions. This body, composed of appointed members, was chaired by
Mehdi Ben Barka. The first
Moroccan Constitution, adopted in 1962, established a bicameral parliament composed of the
House of Representatives and the
House of Councillors. The first legislature followed the
1963 legislative elections. The 1970 Constitution introduced a unicameral system, which was later reversed. Subsequent constitutional reforms, particularly those of 1992 and 1996, strengthened parliamentary powers and reintroduced bicameralism. The 1992 Constitution notably provided for the creation of parliamentary commissions of inquiry. == Elections ==