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Iraq
GOVERNMENT
The Constitution provides for a governmental system that, in
appearance, is divided into three mutually checking branches,
the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. In practice,
neither the legislature nor the judiciary has been independent
of the executive .
The Revolutionary Command Council
In 1988 the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) continued to
be the top decision-making body of the state. The RCC was first
formed in July 1968, and since then it has exercised both executive
and legislative powers. The chairman of the RCC is the president
of the republic. The number of RCC members has varied over time;
in 1988 there were ten members.
According to the Constitution, the RCC is the supreme organ of
the state, charged with the mission of carrying out the popular
will by removing from power the reactionary, the dictatorial,
and the corrupt elements of society and by returning power to
the people. The RCC elects its chairman, who serves concurrently
as president of the republic, by a two-thirds majority vote. In
case of the chairman's official absence or incapacitation, his
constitutional powers are to be exercised by the vice chairman,
who also is elected by the RCC from among its members. Thus the
vice chairman (in 1988 Izzat Ibrahim, who had served since 1979)
is first in line of succession.
The members of the RCC, including both the chairman and the vice
chairman, are answerable only to the RCC itself, which may dismiss
any of its members by a two-thirds majority vote and may also
charge and send to trial for wrongdoing any member of the council,
any deputy to the president, or any cabinet minister. Since 1977
the Baath Party has regarded all members of the Baath Party Regional
Command as members of the RCC. The interlocking leadership structure
of the RCC and the Regional Command has served to emphasize the
party's dominance in governmental affairs.
The RCC's constitutional powers are wide ranging. It may perform
legislative functions, both in collaboration with, and independently
of, the National Assembly; approve government recommendations
concerning national defense and internal security; declare war,
order general mobilization, conclude peace, and ratify treaties
and international agreements; approve the state's general budget;
lay down the rules for impeachment of its members and set up the
special court to try those impeached; authorize the chairman or
the vice chairman to exercise some of the council's powers except
for legislative ones; and provide the internal regulations and
working procedures of the council. The chairman is specifically
empowered to preside over the council's closed sessions, to sign
all laws and decrees issued by the council, and to supervise the
work of cabinet ministers and the operation of the institutions
of the state.
Data as of May 1988
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