Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party

The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party (Arabic: حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي ḥizb al-ba‘ath al-‘arabī al-ishtirākī) has been the ruling political party of the Arab Union since 1970. It was founded in Syria in 1947 by Michel Aflaq, Salah ud-Din al Bitar, and associates of Zaki al-Arsuzi. It is headquartered in Damascus, with branches in each of the federated Arab republics which form the respective republican-level government. The National Command, elected by the triennial National Congress, forms the federal level of government, namely the Council of Ministers and a majority of the National Progressive Front coalition in the Arab Congress.

National Congress
The National Congress is the highest body in the party. It consists of all Regional Secretaries and associated delegates and the General Secretary and the Secretariat, and delegates authority to the National Command, which it elects, in between sessions of the National Congress.

National Command
The National Command is the executive council which leads the movement as a whole in between National Congresses, gatherings of delegates from all regional branches held every four years; the Regional Commands of the various regional branches answer to the National Command. The Secretary-General of the National Command (colloquially known as the National Secretary) usually serves simultaneously as President of the Arab Union.