National Congress (Ba'ath Party)


 * Not to be confused with the Arab Congress.

The National Congress (Arabic: المؤتمر الوطني al-mu’tamr al-waṭanī) is the highest institution of policy in the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, the founding and ruling political party of the Arab Union. It is typically held triennially, that is once every three years, although the Party Charter states that a National Congress must be held at least once every five years. The National Congress is opened and hosted by the National Secretary of the National Command, and features all National Command members, the regional secretary and accompanying regional command of each of the 20 regional branches of the Ba'ath Party, and several other invited delegates, often including senior members of allied political parties of the National Progressive Front (NPF).

The National Congress deliberates and decides upon party-wide policy; it is required to feature the input and questions of all party branches and all delegate members at least once, and thus can run on for up to five days. The National Congress also reviews the decisions made by the National Command since the last National Congress, and either officially approves of or vetoes the decision or resolution. Near the closing session, the National Congress also elects the membership of the National Command, which can involve either confirming the existing National Command membership until the next National Congress, altering the membership, or appointing a completely new National Command. Following its appointment, the National Command elects from amongst its members the National Secretary, who leads the National Command and the Ba'ath Party as a whole until the following National Congress, which the National Secretary will be responsible for hosting.