The House of Elders or Mesherano Jirga (Pashto: مشرانوجرګه), is the upper house of the bicameral National Assembly of Afghanistan, alongside the House of the People (Wolesi Jirga).
The House of Elders has 102 members. One-third (34) are elected by district councils (one per province) for three-year terms, one-third (34) by provincial councils (one per province) for four-year terms, and one-third (34) are nominated by the president for five-year terms. However, elections for the district councils were not held in the 2005 parliamentary elections. As such, each provincial council also selected one of its elected members to temporarily hold seats in the house until district council elections are held. Half of the presidential nominees have to be women, two representatives from the disabled and impaired and two from the Kuchis.
The House of Elders primarily has an advisory role rather than a maker of law. However, it does have some veto power.
Read more about House Of Elders: Reserved Seats For Women, Members of Meshrano Jirga From 2005
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