Charter of the Arab League

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The Charter of the Arab League (also known as the Pact of the League of Arab States) is the founding treaty of the Arab League. Concluded in 1945, the agreement endorses the principle of an Arab homeland while respecting the sovereignty of the individual member states. The internal regulations of the Council of the Arab League and the committees were agreed to in October 1951. Those of the Secretariat-General were agreed to in May 1953.

Since then, governance of the Arab League has been based on the duality of supra-national institutions and the sovereignty of the member states. Preservation of individual statehood derived its strengths from the natural preference of ruling elites to maintain their power and independence in decision making. Moreover, the fear of the richer that the poorer may share their wealth in the name of Arab nationalism, the feuds among Arab rulers, and the influence of external powers that might oppose Arab unity can be seen as obstacles towards a deeper integration of the league.

Initial signatories

The Charter was concluded on 22 March 1945 by the governments of Syria, Transjordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, and North Yemen. A state joins the Arab League by ratifying the Pact.

According to the Charter, "the League of Arab States shall be composed of the: independent Arab States that have signed this Pact."

Forms of government

Arab League governments

The member states of the Arab League represent all forms of government, including monarchies, both absolute and constitutional, as well as republics.

Name	Constitutional form	Head of state	Basis of executive legitimacy
Algeria	Republic	Executive	Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Bahrain	Constitutional monarchy	Executive	Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Comoros	Republic	Executive	Presidency is independent of legislature
Djibouti	Republic	Executive	Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Egypt	Republic	Executive	Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Iraq	Republic	Ceremonial	Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Jordan	Constitutional monarchy	Executive	Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Kuwait	Constitutional monarchy	Executive	Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Lebanon	Republic	Ceremonial	Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Libya	Republic	Ceremonial	Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Mauritania	Republic	Executive	Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Morocco	Constitutional monarchy	Executive	Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Oman	Absolute monarchy	Executive	All authority vested in absolute monarch
Qatar	Absolute monarchy	Executive	All authority vested in absolute monarch
Saudi Arabia	Absolute monarchy	Executive	All authority vested in absolute monarch
Somalia	Republic	Ceremonial	Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Sudan	Republic	Executive	Presidency is independent of legislature
Syria	n/a	n/a	No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime
Tunisia	Republic	Executive	Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
United Arab Emirates	Constitutional monarchy	Executive	Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Yemen	Republic	Executive	Presidency is independent of legislature

Autonomous entities

Arab Governorates/Provinces

Officially Iraqi Kurdistan is the only Autonomous Entity in the Arab League, but several countries view Palestine as an Autonomous Entity within Israel, the Palestinian Authority within Israel exercises certain sovereign powers within its borders, but is not a fully independent government. The PA-administrated territories are internationally recognized as occupied by Israel, and not a proper part of that country. The Arab League on the other hand recognizes the State of Palestine as a fully independent State, with Jerusalem as its capital, and Embassies in all of the 20 other Members (Excluding Somalia).

External links

• League of Arab States