At the end of the 19th century, the ruling system in Kuwait transformed from a consultation system (shura) to an authoritarian one during Sheikh Mubarak's era (r. 1896-1915). It was followed by the reign of his sons Jabir and Salim (r. 1915-1921) who entered in a conflict with the merchants, who were themselves supported by the divers and the religious scholars. The balance of power began to shift significantly in the second decade of the 20th century, as modern institutions such as the customs, al-Mubarakiyya School, and the charitable society, developed in Kuwait. During the period 1921-39, however, Kuwait witnessed the rebirth of the tradition of shura (consultation).

The balancing powers played an important role in Kuwait's internal affairs in the 1938/9 movement. Many segments of the society participated in this movement by supporting one of the main powers, the sheikhs and merchants. It became clear that the balancing powers had moved to a new stage of their political awareness when they divided into two main groups defending their own political interests. While the balancing powers who supported the sheikhs were Bedouins, ʿAjams, and villagers, the Bloc of National Youth and the intelligentsia were in favour of the Legislative Council.

Kuwait's social stratification before the discovery of oil helps understand the context in which the 1921 constitutional document was signed. Also, the establishment of the first advisory council in 1921, which represented merchants from Sharq, Qibla, and al-Wasat neighbourhoods, witnessed the first representation of the balancing powers, the non-asil and the ‘ulamaʾ. The development of institutions as a new phenomenon, and the nomination to the council as a means of selecting the members demonstrates the significant role of these institutions in raising political awareness in society, and the role of the district of Qibla (home of the asil class) in developing and promoting these institutions. In addition, the balancing powers played a determining role in bringing about a remarkable cultural leap in society. Finally, their influence in the first Legislative Council, established in 1938, and in the second one in 1939, was particularly significant in bolstering one party (the ruler and his supporters) against the other (the merchants).