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Parliament name (generic / translated) Majlis Al-Chaab / People's Assembly More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Unicameral Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1945 - 1953 1954 - 1958 1962 - 1963 1971 - LEADERSHIP President Mahmoud Abrache (M)  Notes Re-elected on 27 May 2007, 7 August 2011. Secretary General Mohammed Eid Al-Hammal (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 250 / 250 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 31 (12.40%) Mode of designation directly elected 250 Term 4 years Last renewal dates 22 April 2007 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Majlis Al Chaab People´s Assembly 1st Avenue Damascus (Export mailing lists) Phone (96311) 222 61 27 332 40 45 332 40 46 332 40 47 332 40 48 332 40 49 Fax (96311) 224 64 95 371 25 32 371 45 40 E-mail info@parliament.gov.sy Website http://www.parliament.gov.sy

Parliament name (generic / translated) Majlis Al-Chaab / People's Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 1 January 1900 Mode of designation directly elected 250 Constituencies 15 multi-member constituencies corresponding to administrative districts. Voting system Majority: Direct election, simple majority vote with preferential system. Voters select one list from among a series of lists of parliamentary candidates. Two thirds of the candidates on each list are from the NPF, which itself is guaranteed 131 seats. 51% of the Deputies must be workers and farmers. The other 80 seats are allocated to independent candidates. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by elections held within 90 days after the vacancy arises (except for vacancies arising less than six months before the expiration of the mandate). Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Syrian citizenship - disqualifications: insanity, allegiance to a foreign State, conviction of specific crimes, members of the armed and police forces CANDIDATES Eligibility Qualified electors - age: 25 years - Syrian citizenship - literacy Incompatibilities - members of the armed forces - civil servants - government commissioners and police officers can be elected in another constituency than the one where working (after obtaining an authorization) Candidacy requirements - candidates may run independently or with the support of a political party

Parliament name (generic / translated) Majlis Al-Chaab / People's Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 22 April 2007 Timing and scope of renewal Elections were held for all the seats in the People's Assembly on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. The 22 April 2007 elections were the second to be held since President Bashar Assad assumed power in July 2000 following his father's death a month earlier. President Assad pledged to modernize the country's economy. The Baath Party, which he heads, has ruled Syria under a state of emergency since it seized power in 1963. Of the 250 seats, just over two-thirds (170 seats) are reserved for the ruling National Progressive Front (NPF) coalition. Voters select one list from among a series of lists of parliamentary candidates. Two-thirds of the candidates on each list are from the NPF. The coalition, comprising ten political parties, was led by the Baath Party, which itself is guaranteed 131 seats. The other 80 seats are allocated to independent candidates. Opposition parties are officially banned, although some of them remain active. They demand above all a law authorizing the establishment of political parties other than the Baath Party and the lifting of the state of emergency. In 2005, they launched an appeal for "democratic change" in Syria. Six banned parties operating under the umbrella National Democratic Rally (NDR) called for a boycott of the elections, saying that it is "pointless to take part in an election whose results are known in advance". Some 9,770 candidates, including 1,004 women, contested the 2007 elections. Many candidates pledged to provide economic prosperity. According to official statistics, the country enjoyed a growth rate of 5.1 per cent in 2006 and reduced its external debt from US$ 24 billion in 2005 to under five billion in 2006. Several anti-fraud measures were implemented for the first time. They included transparent ballot boxes and indelible ink to prevent multiple voting. According to the official results, approximately 56 per cent of the 7.8 million registered voters turned out at the polls. A total of 11,967,611 citizens were eligible to vote. However, many expatriates did not obtain voter cards, bringing the number of the registered voters down to 7,805,994. Opposition figures and human right activists insisted that turnout was as low as 10 per cent, taking into account many deserted polling stations. After the polls, street protests condemning vote rigging turned into violent incidents in northern Syria. Following the army's intervention, five people were reportedly seriously injured. The final results gave Syria's ruling NPF 172 seats. The remainder went to independent candidates. On 7 May, the newly elected People's Assembly held its inaugural session and re-elected unopposed Mr. Mahmud Abrash as its Speaker with 243 votes. On 11 May, the People's Assembly unanimously nominated Mr. Bashar Assad as the president of the country for a new seven-year term starting on 17 July 2007. The public referendum of 27 May approved this nomination by over 97 per cent of the votes. STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 22 April 2007 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 7'805'994 56% Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes National Progressive Front (NPF) Independents Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats National Progressive Front (NPF) 172 Independents 78 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 220 31 12.40% Distribution of seats according to age 21 to 30 years 31 to 40 years 41 to 50 years 51 to 60 years 61 to 70 years 29 83 81 46 11 Distribution of seats according to profession Legal professions Civil/public servants/administrators (including social/development workers) Educators Engineers/PC experts Farmers/agricultural workers (including wine growers) Economists Medical professions (doctors, dentists, nurses) Others Architects Military/police officers Media-related professions (journalists/publishers) Bankers (including invest bankers)/accountants Liberal professions (including artists, authors) and sports professionals 48 45 36 28 27 20 19 8 6 5 5 2 1 Comments Sources: - People's Assembly (03.03.2008) - AFP - BBC News

Parliament name (generic / translated) Majlis Al-Chaab / People's Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title President of the People's Council Term - duration: 1 year - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, loss of parliamentary seat, death, dissolution of the People's Council Appointment - elected by all Members present at the election - election held at the first meeting of the PC, after the general elections - following validation of mandates Eligibility - any Member of the PC is entitled to present his candidature - candidatures should be tabled at the PC's first meeting after the general elections Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot - absolute majority for the first round, simple majority for subsequent rounds Procedures / results - the oldest Member presides over the Council during the voting - the two secretaries and the members of the Provisional Board of the PC supervise the voting - the oldest Member announces the results without any delay - the results cannot be challenged. In the event that the validity of certain ballots is challenged, the Provisional Board takes an irrevocable decision STATUS Status - ranks fifth in the order of precedence, after the President of the Republic and the three Vice-Presidents - represents the Council with the public authorities - is an ex officio member of bodies outside Parliament - represents the Council in international bodies - is ex officio Chairman of committees or other bodies - in the absence of the President, the Vice-President (in the absence of the latter, the oldest member acts as substitute) can assume his/her role and functions Board - is regulated by the Standing Orders of the PC - elected at the PC's first meeting, following the election of the President - consists of the President, two observers, two secretaries and the Vice-President - meets at the initiative of the President Material facilities - allowance + expense allowance - official car with chauffeur FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - establishes and modifies the agenda - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of bills and amendments - refers texts to a committee for study - examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates Special powers - presides over the recruitment, assignment and promotion of staff - appoints the Clerk - plays a specific role in overseeing foreign affairs and defence - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates - provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion - takes part in voting - proposes bills or amendments - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure

Parliament name (generic / translated) Majlis Al-Chaab / People's Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral NATURE Nature of the mandate · Free representation (Art. 52 of the Constitution of 13.03.1973) Start of the mandate · When the MPs take the oath (Art. 7 and 63 of the Constitution; see also Art. 51 of the Constitution). Procedure. Validation of mandates · Validation only in case of challenge, by the People's Council following a report by the Constitutional High Court (Art. 62 of the Constitution) · Procedure (Art. 62 and 144 of the Constitution, Art. 47 of the Electoral Code) End of the mandate · On the day when the legal term of the House ends - or on the day of early dissolution (see Art. 51 of the Constitution) Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will · Procedure (Art. 47 of the Electoral Code): written, justified request addressed to the People's Council, which decides by an absolute majority of its members · Authority competent to accept the resignation (Art. 71 (7) of the Constitution): the People's Council Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter: invalidation of mandates (Art. 62 and 144 of the Constitution, Art. 47 of the Electoral Code; see Validation of mandates) (b) Death (Art. 47 of the Electoral Code) STATUS OF MEMBERS Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament: 1. The President 2. The Vice-President 3. The two Secretaries 4. The two Auditors 5. The Presidents of the 12 standing committees Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport for the President and Vice-President. The other members hold official passports. · Basic salary: (see also Art.64 of the Constitution) SYP 9,120 + Additional allowance: SYP 18,000/ per session · Exemption from tax for the additional allowance but not for the basic salary. · No pension scheme · Other facilities: (a) Secretariat for Board members (b) Assistants for Board members (c) Official housing for Board members (d) Official car for Board members (e) Security guards for Board members (Art. 69 (2) of the Constitution) (f) Postal and telephone services for Board members (g) Travel and transport Obligation to declare personal assets No Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept exists (Art. 66 and 67 of the Constitution). · Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament. · Derogations: · Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate. Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept exists (Art. 67 of the Constitution). · It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched. · Derogations: in cases involving flagrante delicto, the authorisation of the Council or President of the Council is not required. · Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal. · Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate and also covers judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election. · Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 67 of the Constitution): - Competent authority: the People's Council; the President of the People's Council (when Parliament is in recess) - Procedure (Art. 20 to 26 of the Standing Orders of Parliament). In this case, MPs can be heard. They do not have means of appeal. · Parliament can suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members - Competent authority: the People's Council - Procedure · In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament. EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE Training · There is no training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. Nor is there a handbook of parliamentary procedure Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, committee meetings and any other activity. · Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation: fines Discipline · Disciplinary measures foreseen: - Point of order with entry in the record - Ban on speaking during the sitting - Other to withdraw from the sitting · Specific cases: - Offence or insult · Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: - Point of order with entry in the record: the President - Ban on speaking during the sitting, order to withdraw from the sitting: the People's Council · Procedure Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system but there is one relevant provision (Art. 68 (1) of the Constitution). · Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct: none Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 9 August 2011
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