The Museum of the Egyptian People's Assembly stands tall among other world parliaments' museums due to its rich and splendid contents.

The museum comprises the most ancient documents of legislation, laws and treaties humanity had ever known. They are also evidence of Egypt's civilised heritage.

The museum consists of two main halls, situated in the corridor joining the Assembly Hall with the Pharaonic Lobby. These two halls were turned into a museum after being furnished for exhibition.

Each of the two halls is divided into two sections. Contents of the first hall are chronologically arranged, starting with the Pharaonic era, then the Islamic, the pre-1952 Revolution, and the present era.

The Second Hall contains paintings and statues of Egypt's rulers. In the middle, there is the Royal Coach, which was used to carry the King from Abdeen Palace to the Parliament where the Prime Minister delivered, on behalf of the king, the inauguration speech.

There are several documents and pictures belonging to the 1923 Constitution Drafting Committee. Moreover, pictures of speakers of the House are displayed in a chronological order: from Ismail Ragheb Pasha. This is besides pictures of Egypt's political leaders: Ahmad Orabi, Mostafa Kamel, Muhammad Farid and Saad Zaghloul, as well as those of the two late presidents Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Al Sadat.

First room:
It is situated on the right of the corridor leading from the Assembly hall to the Pharaonic Lobby.
It is divided into two sections, and its contents are arranged chronologically displaying the history of parliamentary and constitutional life from ancient Egypt up to the present time. No doubt, Pharaonic Egypt had offered one of the oldest legislative systems in the history of mankind.

King Menes had unified both regions of Egypt, rendering the Law of Thut, the God of Wisdom, the prevailing law in Upper and Lower Egypt.

Decrees and legislations had appeared early in the Third and Fourth Dynasties in the Ancient Kingdom where peasants' working hours were set.

King Menkaure passed a provision that constituted legislation when he ordered that no laborer would be exploited in forced labor.

Laws and decrees in the Middle Kingdom continued almost to be the same as in the Ancient one whereas clear-cut legislation had come to existence in the Modern Kingdom especially under King Tuthmosis III.

On the walls of the tomb of one of his ministers, there was found a full record of the Minister's functions as stated in the legislation and law.

King Horemheb from the 18th Dynasty (Modern Kingdom) is one of the most distinguished law-makers in ancient Egyptian history.

His legislations were of a civilian character, independent from religious considerations. He, as well, had passed a number of laws regulating citizen-society, or authority relationship. There are several provisions that ensured public freedoms and rights such as the sanctity of dwellings and roads.

Besides, during the rule of King Seti I and King Ramses II, further legislations were also ratified. However, Egyptian civil life had been adversely affected in the wake of the decline of the Modern Kingdom.

Historians have reported that Egypt had brought forward at least six of the most outstanding law-makers, foremost among whom had been King Menes and the last was King Amases from the 26th Dynasty.

Some of the monumental patterns that exemplify legislations and law in ancient Egypt were selected for display at the first section of the first Hall.

There is a replica of the Egyptian clerk (Al Kateb Al Masri), sitting with sheets of papyrus in his hand and writing down the laws and legislations.

The original is made of limestone. It is kept in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It dates back to the age of the ancient Kingdom, (2780-2280 B. C.)

The oldest legislations are represented in a text found in Princess Idot tomb in Sakkara area.
This text is considered the oldest tax legislation in history. The placard presents the punishment of tax evaders by bringing them before the ruler for the enforcement of relevant law. The wall inscription dates back to the era of the Ancient Kingdom (2650-2420 B.C.). The original is made of limestone.

This section of the First Hall contains a hieroglyphic text showing the most ancient peace treaty in history. It was a marriage contract of King Ramses II and the daughter of the King of the Hittites marking the occasion of a peace treaty between the two kingdoms.The original dates back to the Modern Kingdom. (1507-1304 B.C.).

Also, there is a mural representing a copy of a placard portraying the Ibis Bird, which was the emblem of God Thut, the God of wisdom, holding the feather of justice, emblem of goddess Ma'et symbolizing discipline and law.

The Placard is kept in the Dacca Temple, from the Ptolemic Age (332-30 B. C.). Another exhibit from the Dacca Temple represents the King while extending to god the symbol of law, justice and discipline.

This provides a clear evidence of the enforcement of legislation and law at the time. There is also a model of the Rosetta Stone that was found by lieutenant Boushar of the French expedition at Kait-Bey Castle in Rosetta. It bears an inscription in hieroglyphics, Demotic and Greek. The inscription was a decree passed by Ptolemy V in 196 B.C. It was through which that the French Egyptologist, Champollion, managed to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics.
The original was made of basalt and is kept in the British Museum in London.

In the Museum showcases, there are legislative documents which belonged to the Prime Minister and Chief Judge during the reign of King Tuthmosis III who wrote the named of his ministerial and judicial legislators on the walls of his tomb in Thebes cemetery (18th Dynasty). The texts date back to the period between 1490 and 1436 B. C.

There is also displayed a model of the statue of King Tuthmosis, one of the most famous Kings of Pharaonic Egypt (and the greatest King of the 18th Dynasty). It was under him that a set of legislations and laws were promulgated and enforced throughout the Egyptian Empire.
The original statue, which is made of slate, dates back to the 15th century B.C. It is kept in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

In the middle of this section of the First Hall, there stands a showcase with a true copy of the picture of King Menes the unifier of Egypt. He was also the first to compile Egyptian laws in accordance with the instructions of Thoth, the god of wisdom, for the purpose of regulating affairs of Egyptian provinces in the wake of their unification in 3200 B. C. The original is made of slate and is kept in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

The Second Section of the First Hall displays the Constitutional Councils in the Islamic ages.
In the middle of the second section of the first hall, a copy of the Holy Quran, the main source of legislation in the Moslem Kingdom, is displayed in a showcase.

In the second showcase, there is a picture of a papyrus manuscript in Kufi writing. It is a letter directed from the Wali of Egypt to the people of Nubia urging them to adhere and pledge themselves to their pacts and treaties. It dates back to the Abbasid age (141 A. H. 758 A. D.).
There are two three-dimensional models on both sides of this section. The first one shows the governing council during the reign of Saladin Al- Ayoubi sovereign (567-589 A .H. 1171-1193A.D.). In this council, legislators were adopted and agreements and treaties of peace were concluded, the most famous of which is Al Ramlah Peace (588 A.H. - 1192 A.D.) with the Crusaders. The model shows the ruler in his council consulting with princes and senior Kingdom men to issue laws.

The other model is a miniature of Justice and Government Council during the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha (1805-1848 A. D.) from which laws and legislations were issued and decrees were enforced.

The scene shows Muhammad Ali Pasha listening to a citizen submitting his grievance in the presence of princes and senior officials. The original of this model exists in El-Jawharah Palace in Saladin's Citadel.

Between the two models, stands a showcase displaying a very important document, that is a photocopy of the rules of procedure of the high Council issued in January 1825; besides the Arabic translation of the order issued in Turkish by Muhammad Ali Pasha on 13 Jumada Al-Awal 1240 A.H. to the members of the High Council to examine and adopt the rules. The High Council is the first council to include both elected and ex-officio members. It was an advisory council.

The wall showcase contains a board illustrating the development of the Egyptian flagirom 1823 until now. It contains, besides a historical background, the text of law no 144 of 1984 on the Egyptian flag, its shape, its color and arrangement of its parts.

In the middle of the main wall of the second section there is a bookcase which came to be known as the bookcase of trials. It contains the documents and official papers of the famous political trials, notably a complete copy of the documents of the trial of Ahmad Orabi and the verdict banishing him and his fellows from the country.

There is also a complete photocopy of the documents of the famous case of the murder of Ahmad Maher Pasha, the Prime Minister at that time, on Saturday 24th of February, 1945 in the Pharaonic Lobby, and the assassination in detail.

The bookcase also shows the official record of the hearings of the Revolution court which started trying Muhammad Fouad Serag El Din and others on Monday, January 25, 1954 with the charge of corrupting political life.

It also contains the verdict of the Court of revolution in the criminal case no I of 1971 in which Mr. Sharawi Gomoa and others were tried for high treason.

On the left of the bookcase of trials there is a collection of photographs of the speakers of the Egyptian Senate since its foundation starting from the first Speaker, Ahmad Zewar Pasha (March 15 1924) until the last Speaker, Zaki El Orabi Pasha (March 2, 1952).

There is also the royal decree appointing Ahmad Zewar Pasha as speaker of the Senate. The decree bears two signatures, one by the Minister of the Interior and the then Prime Minister, Saad Zaghloul Pasha and the signature of King Fouad (photo 19).

On the side wall of this section and in the first showcase is the protocol dress of the late Zaki El Orabi Pasha, the last Speaker of the Senate before the Revolution. The uniform consists of a long black colored wool overcoat and trousers. The chest, the sleeves, the waist and the trousers are embroidered with gold brocade.

Opposite to the previous showcase and on a wood base there is the chair of the King. It is one of the chairs of the King's lounge in the House of Representatives (now it is the President's lounge in the People's Assembly). It is made of gilded wood. It is provided with a movable cushion and covered with a light red-colored silk texture.

Next to the first showcase, there is another in the center which contains a collection of photographs illustrating the stages of building the Assembly. It started on November 29, 1922. Amid those photographs appears a photocopy of the cover of El Lataef Magazine no 417 issued on February 5, 1923, under the title (The First Egyptian Parliament - The New Building A waits The Constitution). The photographs and their dates show how speedily and perfectly the building was completed - building of the dome took only 47 days.

In front of this wall showcase, there is one of the chairs that were used in the Pharaonic lobby, the members lounge in the House of Representatives.

It was repaired and shown to give an idea about the furniture of the Pharaonic lobby at that time. It is a small wooden chair, with a back and a movable seat covered with green leather. The legs and the back are decorated with the lotus flowers, and above them the sun disc and the two wings of a hawk embracing the picture of Horus, the god of light.

Above this chair, there is a wall showcase that displays a collection of historical photographs of the committees of the House of Representatives. Members of each committee are photographed. The committees of the House in 1933 were: Foreign Affairs, War and Navy, Justice, Wakfs, Auditing, Works, Agriculture and interior. There is a photograph of the House Bureau.

Another showcase contains a number of historical photographs of King Fouad I and King Farouk in the House of Representatives.

Under these two showcases, there is displayed one of the chairs that were used in the Queen's lounge in the House of Representatives. It was, like the other chairs, regilded.

This section ends up with a large showcase containing documentary cuttings of Egyptian Daily newspapers like "Al-Ahram "and "Al-Msri" with headlines on the outbreak of the 1952 revolution, two photographs of the Revolution leadership Council in civil clothes and in military uniform, a photocopy of a handwritten draft of the first Kingdomment by the Revolution leadership Council, the document of King Farouk abdication and a photograph of the King's departure.

These photographs are chronologically arranged to give the viewer an idea about this historic political event.

Another showcase in the middle contains a collection of brass and bronze commemorative medals that were presented to the House of Representatives on the occasion of King Fouad 's visit to some European countries. There are also the badges of the thirty sixth Inter-Parliamentary conference that was held in Cairo in the building of the House of Representatives in April 1947, a golden badge of the Egyptian Parliament Guard, the badge of the conference of Arab African women parliamentarians that was held in the People's Assembly in May 1974. There is also the People's Assembly medallion bearing the picture of the People's Assembly on one side and that of the Pyramids on the other. There is also a commemorative medal with the picture of President Sadat, the leader of Crossing, in his military uniform on its face side, and on the other side the picture of the People's Assembly dome under which the date October 6, 1974 is inscribed, the date of the medal that was issued one year after the glorious victory of October.

The first wall showcase of the last section of this hall contains a collection of photographs of late Presidents Gamal Abdel Nasser and Muhammad Anwar El Sadat delivering speeches in the People's Assembly chamber on several occasions.

On the side-wall of the hall, there are three large paintings of Presidents: Nasser, Sadat and Muhammad Hosny Mubarak in the middle.

In front of these three paintings, there are placed showcases. The first contains Egyptian golden and silver coins issued on the centennial of the lnter-Parliamentary Union as well as a collection of commemorative postage-stamps issued on this occasion by Egypt and some African countries such as Cameroon, Algeria, Djibouti and Cape Verde Islands. The second showcase contains a collection of commemorative coins from Asia and Europe, and particularly from Indonesia and Germany, marking the centenary of Inter-Parliamentary Union. There is also displayed a collection of commemorative postage-stamps from England, Italy, Finland, Cyprus, Indonesia and Vietnam.

At the head of these two, there is placed the third showcase which displays a collection of commemorative coins marking various occasions including the establishment of the Museum of Parliamentary life, the restoration of the building of The People's Assembly and the sixth anniversary of opening the Egyptian Parliament; also displayed is a collection of commemorative postage-stamps marking the thirty-sixth Inter-Parliamentary Conference (April 7-13, 1947), the inauguration of the National Assembly (July 22, 1957) and the International Conference of Parliamentarians on the Middle East crisis (February 2, 1970).

On the last wall of this section there are two adjacent wall showcases. The first contains a collection of commemorative photographs taken on the occasion of honoring major-general Muhammad Hosni Mubarak, commander of the Air Force in October War and his promotion to the rank of lieutenant-general. Another photograph shows president Mubarak while being sworn in. There is also another group of photographs showing the President while delivering one of his speeches in the Assembly. In the middle of this showcase, there is displayed the order of Sinai star, the highest military order.

The second showcase displays several photographs of the architectural and fine restoration works of the Assembly building The first phase which was completed in 1986 included the restoration of the mosque and of the dome from the inside and the outside, the painting and gilding works, darning of historical carpets and textile as well as the restoration of portraits. In the last photograph, President Mubarak unveils the memorial plaque signaling the start of restoration works and the establishment of the museum.

Second room:
This room is situated on the left of the corridor leading from the Assembly Hall to the Pharaonic lobby. It displays a collection of constitutional and Parliamentary documents, as well as some paintings and photographs of the speakers of the House of Representatives. It also displays a collection of busts of Egypt's rulers and leaders before and after the 1952 revolution.

The room is divided into two sections, and each section is divided into two parts: right and left.
The right part of the first section shows some paintings and statues, in addition to the throne and its supplements. The first exhibit is a large painting of King Fuad 1 (1917-1936) who opened the existing parliament building on March 15, 1924, and during whose reign the first Egyptian constitution was promulgated in April 1923.

On the opposite wall, there is a similar painting of King Farouk I (1936-1952).
In the foremost part of this section lies the throne chair with its high canopy and a candlestick on each side. It was placed, during the royal era, on the podium of the House of Representatives. It is made of gilded wood and draped with green velvet. It has a movable cushion with plantlike brocade decorations. The back bears plant decorations on its corners, while its middle bears the symbol of the Alawite dynasty, namely, the crescent with its three stars, and above them the crown. The foot of the front leg is shaped like an animal with claws, while the top is shaped as a head of a winged lion.

To the right of the throne, there is a bust of Muhammad Ali Pacha (1805-1848) who established the High Council in November 1824 (photo 41). On the left, there is the bust of Khedive Ismail (1863-1879) who established the Deputies Consultative Assembly in 1866.
On the right side of the second part, there is displayed a group of paintings. The first represents Muhammad Ali Pasha sitting in the Council of Justice. In the background, there appears the Citadel square with Sultan Hasan mosque and school in the middle.

There is another oil painting of Ibrahim Pasha who came into power in 1848. His reign lasted for only four months. He had chaired the High Council immediately after its establishment (photo 44). There is also a portrait of Said Pasha who ruled from 1854 to 1863 (photo 45). The last portrait is of Khedive Abbas Helmy 1I who reigned from 1892 to 1914. He established the Legislative Assembly in 1913 and opened it on January 22, 1914.

Below the portraits lie a group of showcases displaying a number of documents. The first showcase contains the oldest parliamentary document, that is a handwritten record of the first meeting of Deputies Consultative Council, which was established and opened by Khedive Ismail on November 25, 1866 in the Citadel.

The second showcase, which lies below the oil painting of Ibrahim Pasha, displays a collection of Parliamentary documents. One of them is the minutes of one of the meetings of Deputies Consultative Council in its extra-ordinary session that was held outside Cairo (in Tanta) upon the government invitation. The purpose was to consider a bill that offered farmers lifetime exemption from half their land taxes in return for paying the amount of such taxes in ten years in advance. The meeting was held on August 7, 1876 (photo 48). Also exposed in this showcase, the minutes of the twentieth meeting of the House of Representatives (1881 - 1882) in which the draft high order on concessions granted to Bedouins was considered and adopted. Khedive Tawfik opened the House of Representatives which is considered the f rst legislative assembly, on December 26, 1881.

The third showcase is placed under the portrait of Said Pasha and displays the record of the first sitting of the Consultative Council of Laws that was held on December 1, 1883. This Council was established by Khedive Tawfik. It also displays the first record of the Legislative Assembly that was established by Khedive Abbas Helmy II and was opened on January 22, 1914. Both assemblies were consultative.

Then we come to three showcases, which contain a number of documents displaying the history of parliamentary control. There is the mation submitted to the Legislative Assembly on February 22, 1914 by the honorable member, Khalil Afifi, a merchant from Zagazig calling for the establishment of a national bank to tee guaranteed by the government. Also displayed is the first question submitted in the Legislative Assembly on March 30,1914 by Abdel Rahman Naseer Bey to the Minister of Public Works on somebody's monopoly of irrigating lands in Kalyoub; and the first interpellation submitted in the House of Representatives to the Minister of the Interior by Ahmad El-Meleihy Bey on April 20,1924 concerning the suspension of "Al-Liwa "newspaper (photo 53); and the first notice question submitted in The National Assembly by Mrs. Olfat Kamel on February 19,1967 concerning the attempt at demolishing and removal of Khan el-Khalili buildings.

The second showcase displays the records and documents of the opening sittings of representative houses after the 1952 revolution, such as the record of the National Assembly opening sitting (March 26, 1964 under the 1964 provisional constitution) and the record of the National Assembly opening sitting on July 21, 1960 at the time of unity between Egypt and Syria.

There is also the record of the first meeting of the People's Assembly on November 11, 1971 under the permanent constitution.

In the third showcase, there are displayed an inkpot (considered to be the oldest inkpot in the history of the Assembly) (photo 56) and a telephone apparatus. They may be parts of the furniture of Saad Zaghloul Pasha office, since his name "Saud "is handwritten on the telephone tag.

In the middle of the second section of the second room there is the royal coach known as Al-Alay, which was used on formal occasions and to carry the King from Abdeen Palace to the parliament to attend the opening sitting of the Assembly. It was presented by Napoleon III of France to Khedive Ismail in 1864. The coach is in the form of a black-painted wooden box with a door on each side. It is ornamented with a golden cornice, and eight drawings of the royal crown and the crescent with its three stars in different sizes. It has four crystal lanterns with brass gilded frames. They are decorated with plantlike drawings and the royal crown on top.
The coach has eight glass windows. Inside, there are two opposite seats covered with blue silk ornamented with buttons. The inside roof of the coach is covered with an oval white badge with the letter F, the first letter of Farouk's name, in the middle and the royal crown drawn thereon. The coach is provided on each side with two folding steps that close inside the coach. The outside corners of the coach roof are decorated with crowns and crescents with three stars. In the front part of the coach, there is a seat for the coachman; and in the rear, another seat for the servant. This coach was transferred from the museum of royal vehicles belonging to the Egyptian Antiquities Authority in Beaulac to the Assembly.

There is, behind the royal coach, a wall showcase that displays the suit of the coachman, which is made of broadcloth. It consists of a long red overcoat embroidered with two brocade ribbons on the sleeves, chest, back and pockets. The overcoat has seven buttons and laces. On each sleeve and on each pocket, there are six brass buttons decorated with the royal crown. Four such buttons are fixed on the back. On the chest, there is a silk cordon embracing an embroidered crown.

There is also displayed a pair of long trousers of white wool with a long open lace on both sides and small wool-coated buttons. The waistcoat is made of red broadcloth trimmed with brocade ribbon on the chest and on the sides. It has interior pockets, and on the chest there are seven small buttons. There is also the fez of the coachman. It is red in colour and has a brocade tassel. Its top is ornamented with a crown and a crescent embellished with yellow silk threads.

On the next wall, there is displayed a portrait of Ismail Pasha Ragheb, the first Speaker of Deputies Consultative Council (from Nov. 25, 1866 to Jan 24, 1867) as well as the decree establishing the Deputies Consultative Council.

In the middle, there is displayed a collection of photographs of the speakers of representative houses, starting with Ismail Pasha Ragheb, Speaker of Deputies Consultative Council till Dr. Refa't El-Mahgoub, Speaker of the People's Assembly. It is noteworthy that this collection does not include the photograph of Ahmad Rasheed Pasha, the speaker of Deputies Consultative Council from Dec. 26, 1876 to April 10, 1879, who refused to be photographed.

Beside this collection, there is displayed a portrait of Hussein Rushdy Pasha, chairman of the committee which laid down the 1923 constitution, and the royal decree appointing him president of the senate on July 23, 1926. There is also a commemorative photograph showing the members of the 1923 constitution committee.

Then we come to a wall showcase that displays the protocol dress of Abdel Salam Pasha Fahmy Goma'h, the last speaker of the House of Representatives before the 1952 revolution. The dress consists of an overcoat and a pair of trousers that are made of black wool. The overcoat collar, chest and sleeves are trimmed with plantlike brocade embellishments, and on the waist a belt adorned also with plantlike embellishment. The trousers are decorated with goldyellow rims. Also displayed is the sword with its ivory handle and its sheath, which is made of black leather.

Fixed on the dress is the Nile sash granted to him by King Farouk. It is blue in colour and decorated with yellow rim. Its end looks like a flower from which a necklace hangs. Beside it, there is the badge of honour and a brass hanger that has the shape of the sun's disk. This showcase displays also the House of Representatives sash, which representatives wore in the opening sittings. It is green in colour and trimmed with a red cordon, and in the middle there is the crescent with its three stars. Its end is shaped like a flower from which a necklace hangs. The phrase: 'House of Representatives 'is written on this necklace, which has a frame of green enamel. On the enamel, there is written: "The Nation is the source of all power ".

The showcase below the speaker's uniform displays a collection of the speeches delivered at the opening of the Egyptian parliament at different times. The first is the throne speech delivered at the opening of Deputies Consultative Council in the era of Khedive Ismail.

The second is the throne speech delivered in the joint sitting of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the era of King Fouad I (photo 65). The third is the statement of the President of the Republic in the People's Assembly (the record of the sitting held on 16 Dhu'l-Hijja 1401 -October 14, 1981 in which President Mubarak was sworn in).

The other showcase displays the minutes of the meetings of the committee that drew up the first permanent constitution and held its first sitting on April 11, 1922. Then, there is a photocopy of the royal order promulgating the 1923 constitution (photo66) And also a photocopy of the first page of the constitution copy signed by king Fouad.

We move to the other section of the second room where we see a group of portraits of Egypt 's political leaders. They are from right to left: the portraits of Naser (the leader of 1952 revolution), Ahmad Orabi (leader of 1881 revolution), Mustafa Kamel (the founder of the national party), Muhammad Farid (who led the national party in 1908), Sa'd Zaghloul (the leader of 1919 revolution) and Muhammad Anwar Sadat (the leader of October glorious war).
It also displays the busts of Ahmad Orabi and Saad Zaghloul in the corners, while in the middle it displays the busts of Egypt's presidents: Sadat, Naser and Hosni Mubarak.

In the forefront of this section, there is a central showcase displaying a big volume that contains copies of the Egyptian constitutions promulgated since 1924 and up till 1971 They were, for the first time in the history of the People's Assembly, carefully compiled an accurately indexed by the Assembly general secretariat.

The oldest item in the volume is the viceroy's honourable order establishing the High Council (1824-1837) and indicating its rules. The volume also includes the law of the High Council arrangements (issued in July 1834). Among the constitutions displayed, there are: 1923 constitution;1930 constitution; the constitutional declaration by the commander-in-chief of the armed forces revoking 1923 constitution and the constitutional declaration on June 18, 1953 abolishing the royal regime and establishing the Republic. In addition, there are: 1956 constitution; the provisional constitution of 1958; the constitutional declaration of 1962; the provisional constitution of 1964 and the permanent constitution in 1971.