General: At the national level, the Syrian political body is represented by the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The president is the head of state and is directly elected every seven years. The 1973 Constitution gives the president executive powers to appoint all vice-presidents, the prime minister, and the council of ministers. The president is the commander in chief of the armed forces and the secretary general of the Baath Party. President Dr. Bashar al-Assad is currently serving his first seven year term as president. The council of ministers serves the president and is made-up of Baath and other party members. The legislative body is the Majlis al-Shaab (People’s Assembly), a 250-member body that is directly elected by the people for a four-year term. The People’s Assembly represents various political parties, with the majority being the National Progressive Front (NPF) which is dominated by the members of the Baath Party. Six political parties form the NPF: POLITICAL PARTIES Arab Socialist Baath Party Arab Socialist Union Party Arab Socialist Party Communist Party of Syria Union Socialist Party Union Socialist Democratic Party The NPF controls the majority of the 250 seats. The People’s Assembly does not initiate laws, however, its views on economic matters are considered by the policy makers. The Judicial System is based on the 1973 Constitution with the Supreme Constitutional Court being established as the head body of this system. The Supreme Constitutional Court is comprised of a chief justice and four justices whom are appointed by presidential decree for a period of four years. The Syrian courts of law are divided into two juridical court systems: JURIDICAL COURT Courts of General Jurisdiction Administrative Courts