Government of the Arab League

The Charter of the Arab League endorsed the principle of an Arab homeland while respecting the sovereignty of the individual member states. The internal regulations of the Council of the Arab League and the committees were agreed in October 1951. Those of the Secretariat-General were agreed in May 1953.

Since then, governance of the Arab League has been based on the duality of supra-national institutions and the sovereignty of the member states. Preservation of individual statehood derived its strengths from the natural preference of ruling elites to maintain their power and independence in decision making. Moreover, the fear of the richer that the poorer may share their wealth in the name of Arab nationalism, the feuds among Arab rulers, and the influence of external powers that might oppose Arab unity can be seen as obstacles towards a deeper integration of the league.

The Arab League is divided into 22 ruling governments, the Arab League Members have Monarchies, Republics and constitutional monarchies, though Somalia and Libya are considered under another form of Governments. Another Government that has a special status is Palestine, represented by Palestinian Authority headed by Mahmoud Abbas.

Arab Governments Forms

Republics

Full Presidential Systems

These are systems in which a president is the active head of the executive branch of government and is elected and remains in office independently of the legislature. The following list includes democratic and non-democratic states:

*COM
*DJI
*SUD
*TUN

Semi-presidential systems

In semi-presidential systems, there is usually both a president and a prime minister. In such systems, the President has genuine executive authority, unlike in a parliamentary republic, but some of the role of a head of government is exercised by the prime minister.

*EGY
*LIB
*PSE
*YEM

Parliamentary republics

A parliamentary republic is a system in which a prime minister is the active head of the executive branch of government and also leader of the legislature. The president's degree of executive power may range from being reasonably significant (eg. Poland) to little or none at all (eg. Ireland). Where the president holds little executive power, their function is primarily that of a symbolic figurehead.

*IRQ
*MRT

One-party states

States in which political power is concentrated within a single political party whose operations are largely fused with the government hierarchy. However, some do have elected governments.

*

Monarchies

Constitutional monarchies with active monarchs

The prime minister (or equivalent) is the nation's active executive, but the monarch still has considerable political powers that can be used at his/her own independent discretion.

*BHR
*JOR
*KWT
*MAR
*ARE

Absolute monarchiesMonarchies in which the monarch's exercise of power is unconstrained by any constitutional law.

*
*
*

Others

Military junta states

The nation's military control the organs of government and all high-ranking political executives are also members of the military hierarchy

*

Transitional

States which have a system of government which is in transition or turmoil and cannot be accurately classified. (with current direction of change)

*

Autonomous Entities

Officially their is only one Autonomous Entity in the Arab League, and that is the Iraqi Kurdistan, but several countries view Palestine as an Autonomous Entity within Israel, the Palestinian Authority within Israel exercises certain sovereign powers within its borders, but is not a fully independent government. The PA-administrated territories are internationally recognized as occupied by Israel, and not a proper part of that country. The Arab League on the other hand recognizes the State of Palestine as a fully independent State, with Jerusalem as its capital, and Embassies in all of the 20 other Members (Excluding Somalia).

Anti-Terrorism Agreement

On April 22, 1998, the members of the Arab League agreed to the first regional anti-terrorism pact. The agreement calls on Arab countries to deny refuge, training and financial or military support to groups that launch attacks on other Arab nations. The signatories also promised to exchange information on terrorist groups. The Agreement Exempts organizations that are seen as "resistance movements", while includes anti-regim organizations as Terrosists, the treaty says attacks on ruling Arab regimes or the families of rulers should be considered terrorism and that Islam rejects “all forms of violence and terror.”

Arab League Ministerial Councils

* Council of Arab Ministries of Foreign Affairs
* Council of Arab Ministries of Information
* Council of Arab Ministries of Internal Affairs
* Council of Arab Ministries of Justice
* Council of Arab Ministries of Infrastructure
* Council of Arab Ministries of Transportation
* Council of Arab Ministries of Enviroment
* Council of Arab Ministries of Communications
* Council of Arab Ministries of Electricity
* Council of Arab Ministries of Tourism
* Council of Arab Ministries of Social Affairs
* Council of Arab Ministries of Sports and Youth
* Council of Arab Ministries of Health

Arab League Parliament

Main Page

in the 2001 Arab League Summit that was held in Amman, the Arab states agreed on creating an Arab Parliament, headquartered in Damascus, although the Arab League capital is Cairo, Damascus has offered the Land of the Building in Damascus by Hafez al-Assad, the building is currently under construction, and expected to be finished by 2010, the sessions are currently taking place in the Arab League Headquarters in Cairo

Proposed Arab Court of Justice

Following the Calls of Arresting the Sudanese president, an Arab League Proposal of creating an Arab Court of Justice has been increasing, and supported by several Arab States, and international Bodies, including the UN, The UN claimed that the Court will help in ceasing the tensions between the West and the Arabs, especially following the execution of Saddam Hussein's Arab outrage, that the Execution was made under Western Supervision rather then an Arab one, the court is proposed after the calls of no Interfearance in the Arab Inner Affairs by the Arab public, and civil society. The court will be under the authority of the Arab League. [ [http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/article2.aspx?ArticleID=114535 المصرى اليوم ] ]

External Links

* [http://www.arableagueonline.org Arab League]

References