Member of the 5 member committee that prepared the draft of the constitution in 1962 (al-Haydar, 1995, 31).
Argued for change in constitution in 1962 to make Islamic law THE main source of legislation, and not just A source.
Led the opposition to the 1964 cabinet, as deputy president of the majlis. Became president when Abdalaziz Saqr resigned in the wake of the failure of the 1964 cabinet (Al-Rifa'i, 1996, 5; Jarman 2002, 192).