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Syria
Overview
The Syrian constitution
of 1973 vests the Ba'ath Party (formally the Arab Ba'ath Socialist
Party) with leadership functions in the state and society, and
provides broad powers to the president. The president, approved
by referendum for a 7-year term, is also Secretary General of
the Ba'ath Party and leader of the National Progressive Front.
The president has the right to appoint ministers, to declare war
and states of emergency, to issue laws (which, except in the case
of emergency, require ratification by the People's Council), to
declare amnesty, to amend the constitution, and to appoint civil
servants and military personnel.
Along with the National Progressive Front, the president decides
issues of war and peace and approves the state's 5-year economic
plans. The National Progressive Front also acts as a forum in
which economic policies are debated and the country's political
orientation is determined. However, because of Ba'ath Party dominance,
the National Progressive Front has traditionally exercised little
independent power.
The constitution requires that the president be Muslim, but does
not make Islam the state religion. Islamic jurisprudence, however,
is required to be the main source of legislation. The judicial
system in Syria is an amalgam of Ottoman, French, and Islamic
laws, with three levels of courts: courts of first instance, courts
of appeals, and the constitutional court, the highest tribunal.
In addition, religious courts handle questions of personal and
family law.
The Ba'ath Party emphasizes socialism and secular Arabism. Although
Ba'ath Party doctrine seeks to build national rather than ethnic
identity, ethnic, religious, and regional allegiances remain important
in Syria.
Links
www.criminaltrial.info
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