Constitution of Syria#Constitution of 2012

{{Timeline of the Syrian constitutions}}

The Syrian Constitution of 1930, drafted by a committee under Ibrahim Hananu, was the founding constitution of the First Syrian Republic. The constitution required the President to be of Muslim faith (article 3). It was replaced by the Constitution of 5 September 1950, which was restored following the Constitution of 10 July 1953 and the Provisional Constitution of the United Arab Republic.{{Cite web |title=Syria's constitutional history: Past charters and future prospects |url=https://en.majalla.com/node/323991/documents-memoirs/syrias-constitutional-history-past-charters-and-future-prospects |access-date=20 March 2025 |website=en.majalla.com |language=en}}

=== Constitutions of Ba'athist Syria ===

Following the 1963 Syrian coup d'état, the first decision of the "Revolution Command Council," chaired by Lu'ay al-Atassi, was to suspend the provisional constitution of the United Arab Republic, arrest President Nazim al-Qudsi and Prime Minister Khalid al-Azm, and impose a state of emergency that lasted for 48 years until it was lifted in April 2011.{{cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20110421-syrian-president-assad-proclaims-end-nearly-five-decades-emergency-law-rule |title=Assad ends five decades of emergency rule |publisher=France 24 |date=21 April 2011 }} A new Provisional Constitution was adopted on 25 April 1964 which itself was replaced by the Provisional Constitution of 1 May 1969.{{Citation |title=The Fourth Republic |date=2018 |work=Syria, the Strength of an Idea: The Constitutional Architectures of Its Political Regimes |pages=252–337 |editor-last=Atassi |editor-first=Karim |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/syria-the-strength-of-an-idea/fourth-republic/7E2047DE4D4D3B97B85F7A3B27D5579A |access-date=20 March 2025 |place=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-18360-5}}

{{main|1973 Constitution of Ba'athist Syria}}

A new constitution was adopted on 13 March 1973 and was in use until 27 February 2012. The constitution officially entrenched the power of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, with its 8th article describing the party as "the leading party in the society and the state", outlining its political system as a one-party state under the Ba'ath party.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/syrias-assad-end-one-party-rule-410958|title=Syria's Assad to 'End' One-Party Rule|date=15 February 2012|website=ibtimes.com|access-date=15 April 2018|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306081100/http://www.ibtimes.com/syrias-assad-end-one-party-rule-410958|url-status=live}} The constitution has been amended twice. Article 6 was amended in 1981.{{Cite web|url = https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2018/06/amending-the-syrian-constitution-achieving-a-quota-or-reaching-a-solution/|title = Amending the Syrian constitution... Achieving a quota or reaching a solution?|date = 18 June 2018|access-date = 11 November 2019|archive-date = 18 June 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180618121938/https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2018/06/amending-the-syrian-constitution-achieving-a-quota-or-reaching-a-solution/|url-status = live}} The constitution was last amended in 2000 when the minimum age of the President was lowered from 40 to 34.{{cite web |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2018/06/amending-the-syrian-constitution-achieving-a-quota-or-reaching-a-solution/ |title=Amending the Syrian constitution... achieving a quota or reaching a solution? |date=18 June 2018 |publisher=Enab Baladi |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=18 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618121938/https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2018/06/amending-the-syrian-constitution-achieving-a-quota-or-reaching-a-solution/ |url-status=live }}

{{main|2012 Constitution of Ba'athist Syria}}

Following the 2011 Syrian revolution, the Syrian government drafted a new constitution and put it to a referendum on 26 February 2012, which was unmonitored by international observers. The modifications in the constitution were cosmetic and part of the Ba'athist government's response to the nationwide protests. Since the move monopolized the power of the Government of Syria and was drafted without consultation outside loyalist circles, Syrian opposition and revolutionary parties boycotted the referendum, resulting in very low participation as per government data.{{Cite book |last=Szmolk |first=Inmaculada |title=Political Change in the Middle East and North Africa: After the Arab Spring |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-4744-1528 6 |location=Edinburgh, United Kingdom |pages=132–133}} The referendum resulted in the adoption of the new constitution, which came into force on 27 February 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2012/02/28/403103.htm|title=Presidential Decree on Syria's New Constitution|date=28 February 2012|access-date=28 February 2012|work=Syrian Arab News Agency|archive-date=29 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229225906/http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2012/02/28/403103.htm|url-status=dead}}

On 23 January 2017, Russian diplomats presented a draft constitution for a new Syrian constitution which was rejected by the opposition delegates.{{Cite web |title=Syrian Arab Republic 2017 Constitution - Constitute |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Syria_2017D |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=www.constituteproject.org |language=en |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205173348/https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Syria_2017D |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Key points of the Russian proposal for Syria’s new constitution |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/features/2017/01/26/Key-points-of-the-Russian-proposal-for-Syria-s-new-constitution |work=alarabiya.net |date=26 January 2017 |access-date=1 December 2023 |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223045023/https://english.alarabiya.net/features/2017/01/26/Key-points-of-the-Russian-proposal-for-Syria-s-new-constitution |url-status=live }}

The constitution ceased to be in effect after the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December 2024 and was officially phased out on 29 January 2025.{{Cite news |title=Syrian opposition leader says state institutions will be preserved in 18-month transition|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syria-opposition-leader-says-state-institutions-should-be-preserved-and-rebels-accomodated |access-date=8 December 2024 |website=Middle East Eye|language=en}}{{Cite web |date=29 January 2025 |title=Syria suspends constitution, declares Ahmed al-Sharaa transitional president |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/01/syria-suspends-constitution-declares-ahmed-al-sharaa-transitional-president |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=al monitor}}

After the fall of the Assad regime, Syria TV reported on 29 December 2024, that preparations were underway for a National Conference with 1,200 representatives, though the date had not yet been decided. During the conference, a constitutional drafting committee would be announced, the People's Assembly of Syria and all armed factions, including Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, would be dissolved, and a new national army would be restructured.{{Cite web |date=29 December 2024 |title=1200 شخصية تتحضر للاجتماع في دمشق: لجنة دستورية وأخرى استشارية للرئيس المؤقت |url=https://www.syria.tv/1200-%D8%B4%D8%AE%D8%B5%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B6%D8%B1-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%B4%D9%82-%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%89-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A4%D9%82%D8%AA |website=Syria TV |language=ar |access-date=20 March 2025 |archive-date=9 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109001924/https://www.syria.tv/1200-%D8%B4%D8%AE%D8%B5%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B6%D8%B1-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%B4%D9%82-%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%89-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A4%D9%82%D8%AA |url-status=live }} Later that day, Syrian de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa stated that elections could take up to 4 years to be organized, with the need to conduct a census beforehand.{{Cite web |last1=Ebrahim |first1=Nadeen |last2=Salem |first2=Mostafa |date=30 December 2024 |title=Syrian elections could take up to 4 years to organize, de facto leader says |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/30/middleeast/syria-elections-four-years-intl/index.html |access-date=3 January 2025 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=3 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250103165621/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/30/middleeast/syria-elections-four-years-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}

{{Main article|2025 Interim Constitution of Syria}}

On 29 January 2025, during the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference, Hassan Abdel Ghani, spokesman for the Military Operations Command, announced the dissolution of the 2012 Syrian constitution. President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated he would issue a "constitutional declaration" to serve as a "legal reference" pending a new constitution.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2025 |title=Syria's interim president vows to preserve 'civil peace' in first address |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250130-syria-qatar-discuss-reconstruction-during-emir-s-visit |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=France24 |archive-date=30 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130145224/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250130-syria-qatar-discuss-reconstruction-during-emir-s-visit }}

On 12 February 2025, the transitional government announced the formation of a preparatory committee{{cite web|url=https://constitutionnet.org/news/voices/approaching-constitutional-process-post-assad-syria|title=Approaching the Constitutional Process in Post-Assad Syria|date=8 March 2025|accessdate=16 March 2025|publisher=Constitutionnet|first1=Dima|last1=Moussa}} for the then upcoming Syrian National Dialogue Conference, comprising seven members: Hassan al-Daghim, Maher Alloush, Mohammed Mastet, Youssef al-Hijr, Mustafa al-Mousa, Hind Kabawat, and Houda Atassi.{{Cite web |date=13 February 2025 |title=Syrian Negotiating Committee and Coalition Prepare for Dissolution in Meeting with President Sharaa |url=https://syrianobserver.com/syrian-actors/syrian-negotiating-committee-and-coalition-prepare-for-dissolution-in-meeting-with-president-al-sharaa.html |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=Syrian Observer |archive-date=19 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219234247/https://syrianobserver.com/syrian-actors/syrian-negotiating-committee-and-coalition-prepare-for-dissolution-in-meeting-with-president-al-sharaa.html }} On 2 March 2025, President Al-Sharaa declared the establishment of a committee tasked with drafting a constitutional declaration to guide the country's transition following the ousting of the Assad regime.{{Cite web |date=3 March 2025 |title=Syria forms committee to draft constitutional declaration for country’s transition |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/syria-forms-committee-to-draft-constitutional-declaration-for-country-s-transition/3498058 |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=Anadolu Agency |archive-date=18 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318024915/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/syria-forms-committee-to-draft-constitutional-declaration-for-country-s-transition/3498058 }} On 13 March 2025, President Al-Sharaa ratified the interim constitution, which will be valid for five years.{{Cite news |title=Syrian leader signs constitution that puts the country under an Islamist group's rule for 5 years |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/13/middleeast/syria-constitution-ap-intl/index.html |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=13 March 2025 |title=Syrian leader signs constitution that puts the country under an Islamist group's rule for 5 years |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/03/13/syria-constitution-assad-alsharaa/be14baa8-000a-11f0-b7a7-d938159de2bc_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=The Washington Post}}

The constitution sets a presidential system,{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250314-syria-s-new-constitution-gives-sweeping-powers-ignores-minority-rights|title=sweeping powers, ignores minority rights|date=14 March 2025|accessdate=16 March 2025|publisher=France24}} without the position of prime minister{{cite web|url=https://www.watanserb.com/en/2025/03/12/syrias-constitutional-draft-set-for-release-as-fact-finding-committee-begins-investigations/|title=Syria’s Constitutional Draft Set for Release as Fact-Finding Committee Begins Investigations|publisher=Watan News|date=12 March 2025|accessdate=16 March 2025}} with the executive power at the hands of the president who appoints the ministers.{{cite web|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/middle-east/20250314-syria-s-new-constitution-gives-sweeping-powers-ignores-minority-rights|title=Syria's new constitution gives sweeping powers, ignores minority rights|date=14 March 2025|accessdate=15 March 2025|publisher=rfi}} This constitution enshrines Islamic law as the main source of jurisprudence while preserving freedoms of opinion and expression.{{Cite web |date=13 March 2025 |title=Syria keeps role for Islamic law in 5-year transition |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-retains-islamic-jurisprudence-main-basis-law-preserves-freedoms-2025-03-13/ |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=Reuters}} The People's Assembly has been established to serve as an interim parliament during the five-year transition, overseeing the drafting of a new permanent constitution.{{Cite web |date=13 March 2025 |title=Syrian leader signs constitution that puts the country under an Islamist group's rule for 5 years |url=https://apnews.com/article/syria-constitution-assad-alsharaa-4caa2074f20155c2399451d9669e435b |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=Associated Press News}} The president appoints one third of the members of the People's Assembly as well as the judges of the constitutional court without the need to receive a confirmation from the parliament.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/world/europe/syria-constitution-new-government.html|title=Syria Has a New Temporary Constitution. Here Are the Highlights|publisher=NY Times|date=14 March 2025|last1=Ward|first1=Euan|accessdate=15 March 2025}}

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• The 1930 Syrian Constitution (in its French version) is integrally reproduced in: {{cite book|url=http://www.dircost.unito.it/cs/docs/Siria%20franc.htm|title=Le costituzioni degli stati del vicino oriente|last=Giannini|first=A.|year=1931|publisher=Istituto per l'Oriente}}
• [http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/sy00000_.html Constitution of Syria (1973)] at the International Constitutional Law (ICL) Project
• [https://www.scribd.com/doc/81771718/Qordoba-Translation-of-the-Syrian-Constitution-Modifications-15-2-2012 Constitution of Syria (2012)] (CC-BY-licensed English translation by Qordoba)
• [http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/5100f02a2.html Constitution of Syria (2012)] (English translation by the Syrian Arab News Agency)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20250318030710/https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.pdf Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic (2025)] (English translation)

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Category:Constitutions of Syria