Palestinian Legislative Council

The legislative branch of the Palestinian Authority (PA) created by the Oslo Accords to represent Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The 132-member council approves the PA’s budget as well as the prime minister and his government. Members are elected to serve four-year terms. However, the last elections, which Hamas won, were held in 2006. In 2007, President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the government and declared an emergency, and thereafter ruled by decree.