The Syrian People's Council has entered the one-month deadline set for preparing its internal regulations, laws, and selecting its permanent committees to organize administrative work during its 30-month legislative term, amid affirmations of major amendments and changes in permanent committees, by abolishing some and creating others to align with the transitional phase the country is experiencing. However, these amendments will be based on the old system; modifying it, adding to it, or abolishing parts of it.

After the first session on July 12 of this month, which completed its work with member meetings, oath-taking, and election of the executive office, the Council decided to adjourn its sessions until July 26, pending completion of the draft internal regulations by the assigned committee, followed by member voting and amendments before proceeding to complete its internal structures for the start of its legislative work.

Article 29 of the Syrian Constitutional Declaration sets the timeframe for preparing internal procedures that regulate the Council's work, stating that 'the People's Council shall prepare its internal regulations within one month from its first session.'

Internal Housekeeping

With the election of the Parliament Speaker and his office consisting of two deputies and a secretary, People's Council member Bishr Hawi talks about beginning the formation of the team responsible for preparing the internal regulations that define the Council's course and procedures, its sessions, elections, membership vacancies, organizational structure, session system, legislative and political parliamentary procedures, oversight means, membership affairs, and general provisions.

People's Council member Bishr Hawi during a dialogue seminar in Aleppo city (archive photo)

Hawi explains that 'during the long waiting period, since the election of members through electoral committees, which lasted about 9 months until the first session was held, some legal members utilized the time to draft an initial version of the internal regulations to avoid further loss of time and to use it technically and practically. Work has actually begun on selecting members of the assigned committee, which will include members who worked on the draft and new ones, to prepare the final version.'

The Syrian deputy clarifies that 'the committee' being formed may consist of between 7 and 9 members, often including experienced legal experts, and will rely heavily on the 'members' draft' that was based on many references, as well as the expertise gained from training workshops, and benefiting from advice and experiences of deputies and advanced Arab councils.

Relying on the previous internal regulations of the Syrian parliament is not ruled out, with new amendments added and laws abolished, 'but it remains an existing internal regulation with positives, in addition to the possibility of relying on Arab internal regulations, foremost among them the Jordanian parliament, as the Jordanian experience and its parliament are similar to Syria.'

Members of the Syrian People's Council arriving to attend its opening session on Sunday, July 12, 2026 (AP)

Creation of Committees and Abolition of Others

After completing these matters, the process moves to selecting specialized parliamentary committees to follow up on the work of ministries, state institutions, and the executive authority, determining the members, number, and tasks of the committees, and finally selecting through an internal election system.

According to many members of the Syrian People's Council who communicated with Asharq Al-Awsat, expectations are that some committees will be reduced or abolished, and others created, to keep pace with the current transitional phase and the general situation of post-war Syria.

Hawi speaks of permanent committees in all parliaments that cannot be tampered with, such as the 'Constitutional Affairs Committee' and the 'Arab and Foreign Affairs Committee,' along with 'Economic Committees,' while work is underway to create committees specialized in the Syrian context, foremost among them a 'Transitional Justice and Accountability Committee,' and the possibility of creating a 'Civil Peace Committee.'

'These steps are necessary; as they are a foundational basis for the legitimacy of the current People's Council and what emanates from it, and to organize its course and work,' Hawi stresses, adding: 'Upon completion, the Council will be ready to move to the legislative work phase and for the parliament to exercise its authority.'

Deputies taking the collective oath in the first session that inaugurated the Syrian People's Council (Presidency account)

Since the adoption of the Syrian Constitution in 1973, which granted the People's Council authority to prepare its internal regulations and form its permanent committees at the beginning of each legislative term, the internal regulations have maintained the tradition of having 12 permanent committees with varying specializations in legislative, oversight, political, service, and financial aspects. In 2017, minor amendments were made to the internal regulations, including changes to some names, while preserving the powers of these committees.

These committees work by the Council Speaker referring draft laws to the relevant committees for study, and they seek assistance from the responsible minister or representatives of government agencies in the process of approving new clauses or amending others, before referring the special report to the plenary session for a vote on the decision after hearing the committee's recommendations.

Syrian legislators attending the first session of the People's Council in Damascus on July 12, 2026 (EPA)

The committees include the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, specialized in studying the constitutionality of draft laws and drafting them; the 'Arab and Foreign Affairs Committee' following up on international agreements and foreign policy; and the 'National Security Committee' specialized in defense and national security issues. Additionally, there is the 'Financial Laws Committee' for tax, financial, and customs legislation; the 'Budget and Accounts Committee' for discussing the draft general budget and auditing accounts; the 'Guidance and Orientation Committee'; the 'Planning and Production Committee'; the 'Services Committee'; the 'Interior and Local Administration Committee'; in addition to the 'Complaints and Oversight Committee'; the 'Agriculture and Irrigation Committee'; and finally the 'Environment and Population Activity Committee.'

In the 2017 amendment to the internal regulations, new committees were created, such as 'Public Freedoms and Human Rights,' the 'National Reconciliation Committee,' and the 'Committee for Martyrs and War Victims.'

Completing Tasks Before the Set Deadline

Despite the assumed long period for organizing the new parliamentary house, many Syrian politicians and observers consider the long-awaited first session the most important, and that it is an entry point for a new Syria and a declaration of the completion of the state's quorum with its three authorities: the executive represented by the government, the judiciary, and the legislative represented by parliament. They expect the organizational procedures not to take long given the great enthusiasm shown by deputies for the Council to begin its work.

This is also affirmed by Syrian People's Council member Aqeel Hussein, who expects the work on the 'draft internal regulations' to be completed by the session on July 26, and 'with it, the form and number of committees will be determined... and even voting on the formation of many of them during the session,' adding that 'the session is expected to include many organizational tasks and duties concerning the Council members.'