Regional Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region
The Regional Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region, officially the Regional Command of the Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, is the ruling organ of the Ba'ath Party organization in Syria. The term Regional Command stems from Ba'athist ideology, where region literally means an Arab state. According to the Syrian Constitution, the Regional Command has the power to nominate a candidate for president. While the constitution does not state that the Regional Secretary of the Regional Command is the President of Syria, the charter of the National Progressive Front, of which the Ba'ath Party is a member, states that the President and the Regional Secretary is the NPF President, but this is not stated in any legal document. The 1st Extraordinary Regional Congress held in 1964 decided that the Regional Secretary of the Regional Command would also be head of state. Amin al-Hafiz, the sitting Regional Secretary, became head of state and retained his post as Prime Minister.
At the 2nd Regional Congress in 1965, the Military Committee weakened the powers of the National Command by passing a resolution that the Regional Secretary of the Regional Command was ex officio head of state. The Regional Secretary was given the powers to appoint the Prime Minister, the cabinet, the commander-in-chief and the leading military commanders.. Before the 1970 Corrective Revolution that brought Hafez al-Assad to power, the local party leadership was elected by fellow Ba'ath Party members; when al-Assad came to power the Regional Command began to appoint all party officials. Under Bashar al-Assad this policy was reversed, and party members were again able to elect the local party leadership, but candidates had to be approved by the party leadership.
The Regional Command is officially responsible to the Regional Congress. The Regional Command is supposed to be subordinate to the National Command, and official media portray it as such to stress the government's commitment to Ba'athist ideology. Since Hafez al-Assad's rise to power, the National Command has been subordinate to the Regional Command. Before the schism between the Military Committee led by Salah Jadid and the Aflaqites, and the ensuing 1966 Syrian coup d'état, the National Command was the leading party organ. The Regional Command is today the post powerful institution in Syria.
The Regional Secretary chairs all the meetings of the Regional Command. If the Regional Secretary is absent, the Assistant Regional Secretary substitutes him. The Assistant Regional Secretary sets the agenda for the meeting with consultation with the Regional Secretary. Under Bashar al-Assad a degree of openness is permitted in Regional Command meetings. Members are allowed to discuss each sides of complex issues, and members can criticize certain policies and how they are implemented. However, if Bashar al-Assad supports a side, that side will prevail in the argument. In contrast to his father, Hafez, who consulted with the Regional Command and took their views into account before he made a decision, the Regional Command under Bashar al-Assad is increasingly becoming a rubber stamp body.
Heads and bureaus
;Regional Secretary of the Regional Command- Hammud al-Shufi
- Shibli Aysami
- Amin al-Hafiz
- Regional Command dissolved
- Nureddin al-Atassi
- Hafez al-Assad
- Bashar al-Assad
- Fahmu al-Ashuri
- Muhammad az-Zubi
- Salah Jadid
- Mohamad Jaber Bajbouj
- Zuhair Masharqa
- Sulayman Qaddah
- Mohammed Saeed Bekheitan
- Hilal Hilal
- Bureau of the Secretariat
- National Security Bureau
- Organization Bureau
- Preparation Bureau
- Military Bureau
- Bureau of Education and Scouts
- Bureau of Peasants
- Finance Bureau
- Legal Bureau
- National Economy Bureau
- Bureau of Students
- Bureau of Youth and Sport
- Bureau of High Education and Scientific Research
- Bureau of Professional
- Bureau of Workers
Members
| Name | Took office | Left office | Term | Duration |
| 5 September 1963 | 1 February 1964 | 1 | ||
| 5 September 1963 | 1 February 1964 | 1 | ||
| 5 September 1963 | 19 December 1965 | 4 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 13 November 1970 | 4 | ||
| 5 September 1963 | 1 February 1964 | 1 | ||
| 5 September 1963 | 1 February 1964 | 1 | ||
| 5 September 1963 | 19 December 1965 | 4 | ||
| 5 September 1963 | 4 April 1965 | 4 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 10 June 2000 | 8 | ||
| 5 September 1963 | 19 December 1965 | 4 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 13 November 1970 | 4 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 19 December 1965 | 3 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 19 December 1965 | 4 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 13 November 1970 | 4 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 17 March 1965 | 1 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 4 April 1965 | 1 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 4 April 1965 | 1 | ||
| 1 August 1965 | 19 December 1965 | 1 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 31 March 1969 | 3 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 4 April 1965 | 1 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 4 April 1965 | 1 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 19 December 1965 | 3 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | September 1966 | 1 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 4 April 1965 | 1 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 19 December 1965 | 3 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | September 1966 | 1 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 19 December 1965 | 3 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 13 November 1970 | 4 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 4 April 1965 | 1 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 4 April 1965 | 1 | ||
| 4 April 1965 | 1 August 1965 | 1 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 13 November 1970 | 4 | ||
| 1 February 1964 | 4 April 1965 | 1 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 28 September 1968 | 3 | ||
| 31 March 1969 | 13 November 1970 | 1 | ||
| 4 April 1965 | 1 August 1965 | 1 | ||
| 1 August 1965 | 19 December 1965 | 1 | ||
| 28 September 1968 | 9 June 2005 | 9 | ||
| 1 August 1965 | 19 December 1965 | 1 | ||
| 1 August 1965 | 19 December 1965 | 1 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 31 March 1969 | 4 | ||
| 1 August 1965 | 19 December 1965 | 1 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 13 November 1970 | 4 | ||
| 1 August 1965 | 19 December 1965 | 1 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 28 September 1968 | 3 | ||
| 1 August 1965 | 19 December 1965 | 1 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | February 1968 | 2 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | September 1966 | 1 | ||
| 27 March 1966 | 13 November 1970 | 4 | ||
| September 1966 | 13 November 1970 | 3 | ||
| September 1966 | 13 November 1970 | 3 | ||
| September 1966 | 13 November 1970 | 3 | ||
| 28 September 1968 | 31 March 1969 | 1 | ||
| 28 September 1968 | 13 November 1970 | 2 | ||
| 31 March 1969 | 13 November 1970 | 1 | ||
| 31 March 1969 | 13 November 1970 | 1 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | 7 January 1980 | 3 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | March 1978 | 2 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | 7 January 1980 | 3 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | 9 June 2005 | 6 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | 9 June 2005 | 6 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | 7 January 1980 | 3 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | 15 April 1975 | 2 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 20 January 1985 | 1 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | August 1975 | 2 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | 15 April 1975 | 2 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | 14 May 1971 | 1 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | 14 May 1971 | 1 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | 7 January 1980 | 3 | ||
| 13 November 1970 | 15 April 1975 | 2 | ||
| 14 May 1971 | 7 January 1980 | 2 | ||
| 14 May 1971 | 15 April 1975 | 1 | ||
| 14 May 1971 | 7 January 1980 | 2 | ||
| 14 May 1971 | 7 January 1980 | 2 | ||
| 14 May 1971 | 7 January 1980 | 2 | ||
| 14 May 1971 | 15 April 1975 | 1 | ||
| 14 May 1971 | 15 April 1975 | 1 | ||
| 14 May 1971 | 7 January 1980 | 2 | ||
| 15 April 1975 | 9 June 2005 | 3 | ||
| 15 April 1975 | 8 February 1998 | 3 | ||
| 15 April 1975 | 20 January 1985 | 2 | ||
| 15 April 1975 | 7 January 1980 | 1 | ||
| 15 April 1975 | 7 January 1980 | 1 | ||
| 15 April 1975 | 7 January 1980 | 1 | ||
| 15 April 1975 | 7 January 1980 | 1 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 29 December 1983 | 1 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | July 1998 | 2 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 20 January 1985 | 1 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 9 June 2005 | 3 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 9 June 2005 | 3 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 21 June 2000 | 2 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 21 June 2000 | 2 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 21 June 2000 | 2 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 21 June 2000 | 2 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 21 June 2000 | 2 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 21 June 2000 | 2 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 20 January 1985 | 1 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 9 June 2005 | 2 | ||
| 7 January 1980 | 21 June 2000 | 1 | ||
| 20 January 1985 | 21 June 2000 | 1 | ||
| 20 January 1985 | 9 June 2005 | 2 | ||
| 20 January 1985 | 9 June 2005 | 2 | ||
| 20 January 1985 | 21 June 2000 | 1 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | Incumbent | 2 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | 9 June 2005 | 1 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | 8 July 2013 | 2 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | 8 July 2013 | 2 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | 8 December 2001 | 1 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | 9 June 2005 | 1 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | 9 June 2005 | 1 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | 9 June 2005 | 1 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | 9 June 2005 | 1 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | 8 July 2013 | 2 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | 9 June 2005 | 1 | ||
| 21 June 2000 | 8 July 2013 | 2 | ||
| 9 June 2005 | 18 July 2012 | 1 | ||
| 9 June 2005 | 20 July 2012 | 1 | ||
| 9 June 2005 | 8 July 2013 | 1 | ||
| 9 June 2005 | 8 July 2013 | 1 | ||
| 9 June 2005 | 8 July 2013 | 1 | ||
| 9 June 2005 | 8 July 2013 | 1 | ||
| 9 June 2005 | 8 July 2013 | 1 | ||
| 9 June 2005 | 8 July 2013 | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | 3 July 2016 | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | 6 June 2016 | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | 2016? | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | 22 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | 22 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | 22 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | 22 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | 22 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 8 July 2013 | 22 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| 22 April 2017 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 22 April 2017 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 22 April 2017 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 22 April 2017 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 22 April 2017 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 22 April 2017 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 22 April 2017 | Incumbent | 1 | ||
| 22 April 2017 | Incumbent | 1 |