Metropolitan republic

A metropolitan republic (Arabic: جمهورية متروبوليتانية jumhūriyah mitrūbūlītānīyah) is a constituent federated state or "member republic" of the Arab Union, which shares all the rights and powers of the 20 union republics including equal federal representation and the right to self-government, but consists of a single municipal jurisdiction coterminous with the republic, as opposed to larger union republics which include multiple incorporated municipalities and districts. Metropolitan republics are established according to provisions of the Constitution of the Arab Union, which states that a metropolitan republic can be established by an act of the Arab Congress, which is afforded the same status as the 20 union republics enumerated in the constitution. Metropolitan republics each have their own unicameral congress, which nominates an individual to serve as premier, head of government and ex officio titular mayor. Metropolitan republics also have their own interior ministries and subordinate metropolitan police, as well as all other main government functions of both republics and municipal councils. Each metropolitan republic also has its own supreme court, the highest institution of the judicial branch of government, which oversees a court of appeals and at least one subordinate trial court and civil claims court.

Currently, there are a total of three metropolitan republics in the Arab Union:


 * Ibrahimia, which serves as the union's capital city and seat of the federal government;
 * Iskenderoun, an exclaved city-state located just northwest of the Syrian Arab Republic and surrounded by Turkey's Hatay Province; and,
 * Dar es-Salaam, an exclaved city-state on the Swahili Coast, entirely surrounded by the sovereign territory of Tanzania.