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Iraq
Index
In 1988 the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) continued to
be the top decision-making body of the state. The RCC was first
formed in July 1968, and since then it has exercised both
executive and legislative powers. The chairman of the RCC is the
president of the republic. The number of RCC members has varied
over time; in 1988 there were ten members.
According to the Constitution, the RCC is the supreme organ
of the state, charged with the mission of carrying out the
popular will by removing from power the reactionary, the
dictatorial, and the corrupt elements of society and by returning
power to the people. The RCC elects its chairman, who serves
concurrently as president of the republic, by a two-thirds
majority vote. In case of the chairman's official absence or
incapacitation, his constitutional powers are to be exercised by
the vice chairman, who also is elected by the RCC from among its
members. Thus the vice chairman (in 1988 Izzat Ibrahim, who had
served since 1979) is first in line of succession.
The members of the RCC, including both the chairman and the
vice chairman, are answerable only to the RCC itself, which may
dismiss any of its members by a two-thirds majority vote and may
also charge and send to trial for wrongdoing any member of the
council, any deputy to the president, or any cabinet minister.
Since 1977 the Baath Party has regarded all members of the Baath
Party Regional Command as members of the RCC. The interlocking
leadership structure of the RCC and the Regional Command has
served to emphasize the party's dominance in governmental
affairs.
The RCC's constitutional powers are wide ranging. It may
perform legislative functions, both in collaboration with, and
independently of, the National Assembly; approve government
recommendations concerning national defense and internal
security; declare war, order general mobilization, conclude
peace, and ratify treaties and international agreements; approve
the state's general budget; lay down the rules for impeachment of
its members and set up the special court to try those impeached;
authorize the chairman or the vice chairman to exercise some of
the council's powers except for legislative ones; and provide the
internal regulations and working procedures of the council. The
chairman is specifically empowered to preside over the council's
closed sessions, to sign all laws and decrees issued by the
council, and to supervise the work of cabinet ministers and the
operation of the institutions of the state.
Data as of May 1988
The Constitution provides for a governmental system that, in
appearance, is divided into three mutually checking branches, the
executive, the legislative, and the judicial. In practice,
neither the legislature nor the judiciary has been independent of
the executive
(see
fig. 11).
The Revolutionary Command Council
In 1988 the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) continued to
be the top decision-making body of the state. The RCC was first
formed in July 1968, and since then it has exercised both
executive and legislative powers. The chairman of the RCC is the
president of the republic. The number of RCC members has varied
over time; in 1988 there were ten members.
According to the Constitution, the RCC is the supreme organ
of the state, charged with the mission of carrying out the
popular will by removing from power the reactionary, the
dictatorial, and the corrupt elements of society and by returning
power to the people. The RCC elects its chairman, who serves
concurrently as president of the republic, by a two-thirds
majority vote. In case of the chairman's official absence or
incapacitation, his constitutional powers are to be exercised by
the vice chairman, who also is elected by the RCC from among its
members. Thus the vice chairman (in 1988 Izzat Ibrahim, who had
served since 1979) is first in line of succession.
The members of the RCC, including both the chairman and the
vice chairman, are answerable only to the RCC itself, which may
dismiss any of its members by a two-thirds majority vote and may
also charge and send to trial for wrongdoing any member of the
council, any deputy to the president, or any cabinet minister.
Since 1977 the Baath Party has regarded all members of the Baath
Party Regional Command as members of the RCC. The interlocking
leadership structure of the RCC and the Regional Command has
served to emphasize the party's dominance in governmental
affairs.
The RCC's constitutional powers are wide ranging. It may
perform legislative functions, both in collaboration with, and
independently of, the National Assembly; approve government
recommendations concerning national defense and internal
security; declare war, order general mobilization, conclude
peace, and ratify treaties and international agreements; approve
the state's general budget; lay down the rules for impeachment of
its members and set up the special court to try those impeached;
authorize the chairman or the vice chairman to exercise some of
the council's powers except for legislative ones; and provide the
internal regulations and working procedures of the council. The
chairman is specifically empowered to preside over the council's
closed sessions, to sign all laws and decrees issued by the
council, and to supervise the work of cabinet ministers and the
operation of the institutions of the state.
Data as of May 1988
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