Regional Congress (Ba'ath Party)

In the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, the founding and ruling political party of the Arab Union, the Regional Congress (Arabic: المؤتمر القطري al-mu’tamr al-quṭrī) is the official name for typically triennial plenary session of all members of a particular regional branch (the branch of the Ba'ath Party active in one of the 20 republics of the Arab Union). When in session, the Regional Congress is the highest authority in the party branch, and between sessions delegates this authority to the Regional Congress, which it elects; the Regional Congress also elects the Regional Secretary to act as manager of the Regional Command, who is de facto leader of the branch. If the regional branch is in power (forms government) in its respective republic, the Regional Secretary is ex officio premier (head of government) of that republic.

The Regional Congress is held in the capital city of its respective republic, in a venue which is specifically owned by the regional branch and designated for Regional Congress sessions and inter-session meetings of the Regional Command and other party branch organs.