Syria - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Syria, it was the source of the name is uncertain; the name appears as "Suri" in Babylonian cuneiform writings dating from about 4000 B.C.. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic; highly authoritarian regime type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah (Latakia), Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq (Damascus), Halab (Aleppo), Hamah, Hims (Homs), Idlib, Rif Dimashq (Damascus Countryside), Tartus
National symbols
Northern bald ibis.
The flag
The National flag of Syria has .
Info
The National Anthem
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More about the government of Syria
| Date of Independence | 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) |
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| National holiday | Independence Day (Evacuation Day), 17 April (1946) |
| Legal system | mixed system of civil and Islamic (sharia) law (for family courts) |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICC |
| Constitution | |
| History | Syria's 2012 constitution was rescinded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led government in January 2025; in March 2025, interim authorities announced a transitional constitution to remain in effect for up to five years |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | the father must be a citizen of Syria; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen of Syria |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 10 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | vacant; former President Bashar al-ASAD was overthrown by Islamist rebels on 8 December 2024; ASAD and his family flew to Moscow where they were granted political asylum |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Muhammad al-BASHIR (since 8 December 2024) |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers appointed by the president |
| Election/appointment process | president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); the president appoints the vice president and prime minister |
| Most recent election date | 26 May 2021 |
| Election results | 2021: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD (Ba'th Party) 95.2%, Mahmoud Ahmad MAREI (Democratic Arab Socialist Union) 3.3%, other 1.5% 2014: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD (Ba'th Party) 88.7%, Hassan al-NOURI (independent) 4.3%, Maher HAJJER (independent) 3.2%, other/invalid 3.8% |
| Expected date of next election | 2028 |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | People's Assembly (Majlis Al-Chaab) |
| Legislative structure | Unicameral |
| Number of seats | 250 (all directly elected) |
| Electoral system | Plurality/majority |
| Scope of elections | Full renewal |
| Term in office | 4 years |
| Most recent election date | 7/15/2024 |
| Percentage of women in chamber | 9.6% |
| Expected date of next election | September 2025 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members, including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges serve 4-year renewable terms |
| Subordinate courts | Courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court; Counterterrorism Court |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); note - on 6 February 2012, the US suspended operations at its embassy in Damascus; Czechia serves as a protecting power for US interests in Syria |
| Mailing address | 6110 Damascus Place, Washington DC 20521-6110 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://sy.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 6 (all cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Ancient City of Damascus; Ancient City of Bosra; Site of Palmyra; Ancient City of Aleppo; Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din; Ancient Villages of Northern Syria |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Syria
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Syria
Want to know more about Syria? Check all different factbooks for Syria below.
