| Syria
- Political System |
 |
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Syrian Arab
Republic |
| Capital: |
Damascus |
| Government
type: |
republic
under military regime since
March 1963 |
| Administrative
divisions: |
14 provinces
(muhafazat) |
| Independence: |
17 April
1946 |
| Constitution: |
13 March
1973 |
| Suffrage: |
18 years
of age |
| Political
Principles: |
Syria is
a democratic, popular, socialist
and sovereign state. Syria is
a member of the Union of the
Arab Republics. (Art. 1) |
|
|
|
The Executive
Branch
- chief of state:
President Bashar al-Assad, since
17 July 2000 after the death of
his father Hafiz al-Asad
- a candidate
for the presidency must be an
Arab Syrian
- the President
of the Republic is elected for
7 years and through consultation
with the cabinet, lays down the
state's general policy and supervises
its implementation
- head of government:
Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa
Miru, since 13 March 2000
- cabinet: highest
executive and administrative body
|
|
|
The Legislative
Branch
- parliament
(People's Council): 250 seats,
unicameral, 4 years of legislature
- responsible
for nomination of the President
of the Republic
- 2/3 of the
seats for the NPF, 1/3 for independent
candidates
- Bath Party
receives ½ of the seats ->
basis for Syrian socialism and
pan Arabism
|
|
|
The Judicial
Branch
- the judicial
authority is independent
- the President
of the Republic guarantees this
independence with the assistance
of the Higher Council of the Judiciary
- 3 levels of
state courts: - state security
courts (state of emergency laws),
- local Islamic courts (personal
& family disputes)
|
|
|
Geo, climate and
culture of the Syrian Arab Republic
Many of the greatest
human achievements have their beginning
in ancient Syria. It was in Syria that
agriculture began ten thousand years ago,
that settlement and civilisation emerged.
It was also in the region of the present
Syria that bronze was invented. Not to
mention the first Alphabet, Religions,
Language of trade and the System of Urban
Development have their origin in the area
of Syria. Evidences of these claims were
found everywhere in the country. Syria
is often described as the largest small
country in the world because of its wealth
of ancient civilisation. Thus, Syria is
often called as the cradle of civilisation.
You are able to realise that everyone
has two homeland, his own and Syria.
The Syrian Arab Republic, which is larger
than North Dakota and twice the size of
Portugal, is bordered by Lebanon, Jordan,
Iraq and Turkey. The country has four
geographical regions: a fertile long coastal
strip, mountain ranges the cultivated
steppes and the stony Syrian desert. Syria
has a Mediterranean climate with hot,
dry summers and mild, wet winters, although
inland it gets progressively drier and
more inhospitable.
Syria has been an independent nation in
modern times since the end of World War
II. She gained full independence on 17
April 1946 ceding from French Colonialism
Rule. Syria's history is longer than of
any country in the world, not least owing
to her capital Damascus, possibly the
world's oldest continuously inhabited
city in the entire world. In the past
the nation embraced an area significantly
larger than it covers today. Life is different
between the country and the biggest cities
like Damacus, Aleppo and Hama. Throughout
Syria you will find some spectacular ancient
and classical sites, with relics left
by the Muslim caliphs, the Romans and
the Byzantines. She is well known for
her ancient city Palmyra and is often
called Middle of nowhere, located in the
desert.
The Culture of the Syrian Arab Republic
is strongly influenced by Arab traditions
and the Islam. Most Syrian Muslims belong
to the Sunni sect of Islam, but there
are sizeable Shi'ite, Druze and Alawite
minorities. The Syrian Arab Republic is
a culturally gifted country and has a
traditional society. Strong moral and
ethical values are placed on family, a
high degree on tradition, religion, education
and respect.
|
