Elections in Syria
Encyclopedia
Elections in Syria gives information on election
and election results in Syria
.
Syria elects on national level a head of state
- the president
- and a legislature
. The People's Council
(Majlis al-Sha'ab) has 250 members elected for a four year term in 15 multi-seat constituencies, in which 167 seats are guaranteed for the National Progressive Front. Syria is a form of single-party state
in which only one political party, the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party is legally allowed to hold effective power. Although minor parties
are allowed, they are legally required to accept the leadership of the dominant party and are member of the front. The presidential candidate is appointed by the parliament, on suggestion of the Baath Party, and needs to be confirmed for a seven year term in a national single-candidate referendum. The most recent presidential referendum took place in 2007.
During the French Mandate and after the independence the parliamentary elections in Syria have been held under a system similar to the Lebanese one, with fixed representation for every religious community, including Druzes and Alawis. In 1949 the system was modified, giving women the right to vote while benefiting the Christian minority (composed of Arabs, Armenians and Arameans-Syriacs) with reserved seats.
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
and election results in Syria
Politics of Syria
Politics in the Syrian Arab Republic takes place in the framework of what is officially a parliamentary republic, but what is considered an authoritarian government where the power is in the hands of the President of Syria, his family, the ruling Ba'ath Party, and the Alawi sect.The two presidents...
.
Syria elects on national level a head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
- the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
- and a legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. The People's Council
People's Council of Syria
The People's Council -External links:* official government website...
(Majlis al-Sha'ab) has 250 members elected for a four year term in 15 multi-seat constituencies, in which 167 seats are guaranteed for the National Progressive Front. Syria is a form of single-party state
Single-party state
A single-party state, one-party system or single-party system is a type of party system government in which a single political party forms the government and no other parties are permitted to run candidates for election...
in which only one political party, the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party is legally allowed to hold effective power. Although minor parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
are allowed, they are legally required to accept the leadership of the dominant party and are member of the front. The presidential candidate is appointed by the parliament, on suggestion of the Baath Party, and needs to be confirmed for a seven year term in a national single-candidate referendum. The most recent presidential referendum took place in 2007.
During the French Mandate and after the independence the parliamentary elections in Syria have been held under a system similar to the Lebanese one, with fixed representation for every religious community, including Druzes and Alawis. In 1949 the system was modified, giving women the right to vote while benefiting the Christian minority (composed of Arabs, Armenians and Arameans-Syriacs) with reserved seats.