Grand National Assembly

The Grand National Assembly, or Loya Jirga, is a traditional Afghan assembly that holds significant power in Afghan politics. It is convened to address critical national issues, amend and interpret the constitution, and declare war. The Loya Jirga is deeply revered by many Afghans, particularly within the Pashtun community, as a symbol of the people's will and a means to achieve a more ethnically representative government.1

Following the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, Loya Jirgas played a crucial role in establishing transitional and elected governments. In 2003, a Loya Jirga approved a new constitution that established a directly elected president and a bicameral legislature, the National Assembly. The constitution also enshrines Islam as the state religion and guarantees gender equality and the rights of religious minorities. The National Assembly itself is composed of representatives of a nation, typically forming a legislative body.123