The Federal National Council is the fourth federal authority in terms of order in the hierarchy of the five federal authorities prescribed in the constitution, namely: the Supreme Council of the Federation, Federation President and Vice-President, Federation Cabinet, the Federal National Council, the Federal Judiciary Constitution. 

The Federal National Council (FNC)is comprised of forty (40) members elected from the member emirates. Each emirate has the discretion to select the UAE nationals representing it in the FNC. 

The FNC seats are distributed to the member Emirates in the following manner:

Eight (8) seats for each of the Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, six (6) seats for the Emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, and four (4) seats for the Emirates of Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Al Fujeirah.

A member of the Federal National Council shall represent all the Federation people and not only the Emirate he represents. 

The following conditions must be met by a member of the Federal National Council:
"to be a national of any of the Federation Emirates, a permanent resident of the Emirate which he represents in the FNC, to be not less than twenty five Gregorian years of age at the time of election, enjoying civil status, of good conduct and reputation, not previously convicted of any sentence in connection with a crime that impugns integrity, unless rehabilitated in accordance with the law and have an adequate knowledge of reading and writing" .

Membership of the FNC shall be incompatible with any public office in the Federation, including Ministerial portfolios. 

Before assuming his duties in the FNC, a member of the FNC shall take the following constitutional oath before the FNC in a public session:
"I do solemnly swear by Allah Almighty that I shall be loyal to the United Arab Emirates; that I shall respect the Federation Constitution and laws; and that I shall faithfully and sincerely discharge my duties in the FNC and its committees". 

The FNC held its first sessions on 12/2/1972, which was a procedural session especially allocated to the selection of the FNC Speaker and Staff. On the following day, 13/2/1972, the FNC saw the first legislative term.

According to the Constitution, the Federation President opens the annual ordinary session of the FNC. The President addresses the FNC with a speech, highlighting the country's state of affairs, the most important