chief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971); 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 11 March 1984) and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA
(since 11 March 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohammad Mustaf MIRU (since 13
March 2000), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11
March 1984), Dr. Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid
AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
referendum/election last held 8 February 1999 (next to be held NA
2006); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime minister and
deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Hafiz al-ASAD reelected president; percent of vote -
Hafiz al-ASAD 99%

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab
(250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held NA
2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, non-NPF 33%;
seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - the constitution
guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receive
one-half of the seats

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 (NPF)
(includes the Ba'th Party, ASU, Arab Socialist Party, Socialist
Unionist Democratic Party, ASP, SCP) ; Arab
Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party (governing party) [Hafiz al-ASAD,
president of the republic, secretary general of the party, and
chairman of the National Progressive Front]; Arab Socialist Unionist
Movement or ASU ; Arab Socialist Party [Abd al-Ghani
KANNUT]; Socialist Unionist Democratic Party ; Syrian
Arab Socialist Party or ASP ; Syrian
Communist Party or SCP

Political pressure groups and leaders: Communist party ineffective;
conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates in exile
in Jordan and Yemen); non-Ba'th parties have little effective
political influence

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU,
CCC, ES