Arabic: مجلس الشعب The People's Assembly is the lower house of the Egyptian Parliament. Its role includes the drafting of legislation and daily legislative duties in conjunction with the upper house of parliament, the Shura Council. Aside from legislative duties, the assembly reviews agreements, treaties, and the state plan and budget as well as overseeing amendments to the constitution and approval of declarations of war and times of emergency. The Assembly consists of 518 members: 444 regular seats, of which half are reserved for “farmers and peasants”; 10 members are appointed by the president; and 64 seats reserved for women, which were added to the parliament in 2010. The addition of the women's quote caused some controversy. Some argued the quota violated the principle of equality, and others called it an attempt by the government to increase the National Democratic Party's control over the parliament or to distract people from the real issues. Elections are held every five years and every seat is voted on in each election. Presiding over the Assembly is the Speaker, responsible for maintaining order in parliamentary sessions. The last Speaker of the People's Assembly was Fathi Sorour, who held the post for 21 years until the last parliament was dissolved in February 2011. In case of sudden vacancy, the Speaker serves as acting president until elections are held. The speaker's staff includes two deputies, primarily used to organize committees' agendas and for the enforcement of the Assembly's orders that coincide with other agencies including ministries and various authorities. There are 18 specialized committees that function within the People's Assembly along with an Ethics Committee and Ad-hoc Committee, providing oversight into, but not limited to, religious and social grievances as well as violations made on behalf of assembly members themselves. The People's Assembly also works as Egypt's representative to international parliamentary conventions, developing relations with foreign governmental bodies. Chapter 5, Part 2 of the 1971 Constitution describes the duties of the People's Assembly
