Supreme Constitutional Court of Syria

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]

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).[3]

The Supreme Constitutional Court was extended from five members to at least seven members, but all are still appointed by presidential decree (Art. 141).[3] Constitutional Court members continue to serve four-year renewable terms (Art. 143).[3]

• Deciding the constitutionality of laws and regulations[6]
• Delivering opinions on the constitutionality of draft laws and legislative decrees upon request by the President[6]
• Supervising presidential elections[6]
• Considering challenges to presidential and legislative elections[6]
• Trying the President in the case of high treason[6]
• Constitutional review over laws passed by referendum[6]
• Expressing opinions on the constitutionality of draft laws upon request [6]

• Judiciary of Syria
• High Judicial Council
• Syrian Constitution
• Syrian Constitution of 1973