Supreme Constitutional Court of Syria explained

Court Name:
المحكمة الدستورية العليا
Al-Mahkamah al-Dustūrīyah al-‘Ulyā
Established:1973
Jurisdiction:Syrian Arab Republic
Location:Damascus
Type:Presidential appointment
Authority:Syrian Constitution
Terms:renewable terms of four-years
Positions:11
Language:Arabic
Chiefjudgetitle:President of the Supreme Court
Chiefjudgename:Mohammad Jihad al-Laham
Termstart:8 May 2018

The Supreme Constitutional Court (Arabic: المحكمة الدستورية العليا, Al-Mahkamah al-Dustūrīyah al-‘Ulyā) is the highest jurisdictional authority in the Syrian Arab Republic.

History

The Supreme Court was established under the Syrian Constitution of 1973 to adjudicate electoral disputes, rule on the constitutionality of a law or decree challenged by the prime minister or People's Council, and to render opinions on the constitutionality of bills, decrees, and regulations when requested to do so by the prime minister.

The High Constitutional Court is forbidden, however, to question the validity of the popularly approved "laws submitted by the President of the Republic to popular referendums." The court consists of the president and four judges he appoints to serve a renewable term of four years.[1]

Composition

The Supreme Court consists of its president called the President of the Supreme Court and 10 ordinary member judges.[2] Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President.

Syrian Constitution of 2012 declares the judiciary independent, and assigns the President (and the Supreme Judicial Council, which the President heads) as the protector of judicial independence (Arts. 132-133).

The Supreme Constitutional Court was extended from five members to at least seven members, but all are still appointed by presidential decree (Art. 141). Constitutional Court members continue to serve four-year renewable terms (Art. 143).

Current membership (May 2022)

Competences

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://rs6.loc.gov/frd/cs/sytoc.html Country Studies: Syria
  2. http://e.sy/govmember.php?pid=MzAwOQ==&mid=2 موقع الاستعلام الالكتروني للخدمات الحكومية
  3. Web site: Syria's Supreme Constitutional Court Finalizes List of Candidates for Presidential Election. 12 May 2021. Asharq Al-Awsat.
  4. Web site: President al-Assad issues a decree appointing the President of the Supreme Constitutional Court Muhammad Jihad al-Lahham and appointing its other members. 12 May 2021. Syrian Arab News Agency.
  5. Web site: الرئيس الأسد يصدر مرسوماً بتجديد تسمية رئيس و6 أعضاء في المحكمة الدستورية العليا وتسمية 4 أعضاء جدد. SANA. 22 July 2023. 16 May 2022.
  6. Web site: Country–Syria. constitutionniet.org. 25 November 2021.