Info

Syrian Arab Republic

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

BD003

BD005

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	h. Other
Comments:	Upon the proposal of the Arab Socialist Baath Party regional command, the Assembly issues the order for election of the President: 1) the candidacy is proposed to the citizens for referendum; 2) the referendum takes place upon the request of the President of the Assembly; 3) the new president is elected before termination of the term of the present President, within a period of not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days; 4) the candidate becomes President of the Republic if he obtains an absolute majority of the total votes. If he fails to obtain this majority, the Assembly names another candidate. The same procedures are followed concerning the election, provided this takes place within 1 month from the time the results of the first plebiscite were announced.
Source:	Constitution, art. 84
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	e. Appointed
Comments:	The President appoints the Prime Minister.
Source:	Constitution, art. 95
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, art. 83 - 114
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:	The People's Assembly is elected for 4 years.
Source:	Constitution, art. 50 - 82
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	c. Block Vote
Comments:
Source:	International IDEA: Table of Electoral Systems Worldwide (http://www.idea.int/esd/world.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/29

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Legislative Framework

LF001

LF003

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source:	International IDEA Voter Turnout Website (http://www.idea.int/vt/)
Verified:	2006/11/21

LF007

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution: Ministry of Interior
Website address: N/A

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/11/13

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

EM004

EM005

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	f. Not applicable
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Management Design: The International IDEA Handbook (http://www.idea.int/publications/emd/upload/EMD_Annex_A.pdf)
Verified:	2009/11/13

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Voter Education

VE001

VE002

VE003

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Voter Registration

VR001

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Citizenship
Comments:
Source:	IPU Parline database: http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2307.htm
Verified:	2007/02/02

VR004

VR008

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Voting Operations

VO003

VO004

VO005

VO011

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship i. Minimum level of literacy j. Other
Comments:	a) 25 years. j) Qualified electors
Source:	IPU Parline database: http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2307.htm
Verified:	2007/01/31

PC008

PC012

PC015

PC017

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Vote Counting

VC004

VC011

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Media and Elections

ME037

ME059

ME062

ME080

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Direct Democracy

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	C:Ch2:Part1:55 "The law provides for elections and plebiscites. It defines the conditions to be met by members of the People's Assembly." C:Ch2:Part2:Sec1:84 "Upon the proposal of the Arab Socialist Baath Party regional command, the Assembly issues the order for election of the President: 1) the candidacy is proposed to the citizens for referendum; 2) the referendum takes place upon the request of the President of the Assembly; 3) the new president is elected before termination of the term of the present President, within a period of not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days; 4) the candidate becomes President of the Republic if he obtains an absolute majority of the total votes. If he fails to obtain this majority, the Assembly names another candidate. The same procedures are followed concerning the election, provided this takes place within 1 month from the time the results of the first plebiscite were announced." C:Ch2:Part2:Sec1:88 "The first Vice President of the Republic or the Vice President named by the President, carries out the President's duties if the President fails to do so. If the incapacity is permanent or in case of death or resignation, a referendum takes place to elect a new President in accordance with the provisions of Article 84, within a period not exceeding 90 days. If the Assembly is dissolved or if its term is due to expire in less than 90 days, the first Vice President carries out the President's duties until the new Assembly convenes." C:Ch2:Part2:Sec1:89 "If the post of President becomes vacant and there is no Vice President, the Prime Minister exercises all the President's powers and jurisdictions until a new President is elected by means of referendum within 90 days." C:Ch3:Part2:146 "The Supreme Constitutional Court has no right to look into laws which the President of the Republic submits to public referendum and are approved by the people."
Source:	The 1973 Constitution of the Syrian Arab Republic, art. 55, 84, 88, 89 and 146 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2007/01/05

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	C:Ch2:Part1:55 "The law provides for elections and plebiscites. It defines the conditions to be met by members of the People's Assembly." C:Ch2:Part2:Sec1:84 "Upon the proposal of the Arab Socialist Baath Party regional command, the Assembly issues the order for election of the President: 1) the candidacy is proposed to the citizens for referendum; 2) the referendum takes place upon the request of the President of the Assembly; 3) the new president is elected before termination of the term of the present President, within a period of not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days; 4) the candidate becomes President of the Republic if he obtains an absolute majority of the total votes. If he fails to obtain this majority, the Assembly names another candidate. The same procedures are followed concerning the election, provided this takes place within 1 month from the time the results of the first plebiscite were announced." C:Ch2:Part2:Sec1:88 "The first Vice President of the Republic or the Vice President named by the President, carries out the President's duties if the President fails to do so. If the incapacity is permanent or in case of death or resignation, a referendum takes place to elect a new President in accordance with the provisions of Article 84, within a period not exceeding 90 days. If the Assembly is dissolved or if its term is due to expire in less than 90 days, the first Vice President carries out the President's duties until the new Assembly convenes." C:Ch2:Part2:Sec1:89 "If the post of President becomes vacant and there is no Vice President, the Prime Minister exercises all the President's powers and jurisdictions until a new President is elected by means of referendum within 90 days." C:Ch3:Part2:146 "The Supreme Constitutional Court has no right to look into laws which the President of the Republic submits to public referendum and are approved by the people."
Source:	The 1973 Constitution of the Syrian Arab Republic, art. 55, 84, and 89 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2007/01/05

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	C:Ch2:Part1:55 "The law provides for elections and plebiscites. It defines the conditions to be met by members of the People's Assembly."
Source:	The 1973 Constitution of the Syrian Arab Republic, art. 55 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2007/01/05

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/27

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/27

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/27

DD129

Binding referenda

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/27

DD130

National referenda deal with

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/27

DD131

Direct Democracy at sub-national level

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/27