lab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib,
Rif Dimashq, Tartus

Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
French administration)

National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)

Constitution: 13 March 1973

Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special
religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971; see
note) was reelected for a seven-year term by universal suffrage;
election last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA December
1998); results - President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth
seven-year term with 99.98% of the vote; note - President ASAD
seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers
22 February 1971, and was confirmed as president in the 12 March
1971 national elections; Vice Presidents 'Abd al-Halim ibn Said
KHADDAM (since NA), Rifaat al-ASAD (since NA), and Muhammad Zuhayr
MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984) were appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November
1987), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March
1984), Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid AKHTARINI
(since 4 July 1992) were appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab): elections last held 24-25 August
1994 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (250 total) National Progressive Front 167, independents
83

Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are
appointed for four-year terms by the president; High Judicial
Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts

Political parties and leaders:
National Progressive Front includes: the ruling Arab Socialist
Renaissance (Ba'th) Party, Hafiz al-ASAD, president of the republic,
secretary general of the party, and chairman of the National
Progressive Front; Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), 'Abd al-Ghani
KANNUT; Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Jamal ATASSI; Syrian Communist
Party (SCP), Wisal FARHAH; Arab Socialist Unionist Movement, Sami
SOUFAN; and Democratic Socialist Union Party, Ghassan UTHMAN

Other political or pressure groups: non-Ba'th parties have little
effective political influence; Communist party