The National Assembly of the United Arab Republic () was the unicameral legislative body of the United Arab Republic, the political union between Egypt and Syria that existed from 1958 to 1961. Established under the 1958 provisional constitution, the Assembly functioned as the central legislative authority of the unified state, though its powers were limited by the dominant role of the presidency.
Background
The creation of the National Assembly followed the political union between Syria and Egypt under the leadership of Gamal Abdel Nasser and Shukri al-Quwatli. On 29 January 1958, the Parliaments of both countries unanimously approved the union. On 1 February 1958, both governments signed the agreement establishing the union. A referendum held on 21 February 1958 in both of Egypt and Syria overwhelmingly approved both the union and Nasser's presidency. The United Arab Republic was officially proclaimed on 22 February 1958.
The union merged the two states into a single political entity with a unified executive, military, and legislature.
Constitutional framework
On 5 March 1958, Nasser promulgated a provisional constitution consisting of 73 articles. The constitution established a presidential system with extensive executive powers, concentrated legislative authority in the National Assembly., and restricted political activity.
Under the constitution, members of the Assembly were appointed by the President. The President held the power to convene and dissolve the Assembly. The National Assembly was formally vested with legislative authority, including the power to enact laws, approve the state budget, levy taxes, oversee the executive branch. In practice, however, its role was limited by the dominant authority of the presidency.
Although the constitution was issued in 1958, the Assembly was not convened until 21 July 1960, when President Gamal Abdel Nasser formally called it into session.
Bureau Position Name Party Tenure Speaker Anwar Sadat Deputy Speaker Muhammad Fuad Jalal Ratib al-Husami Secretary Jawda Karakshe Mar'i Khayrat Taha Haddad Shakir al-Dorubi Muhammad Hamid Mahmud Zaki Abd al-Hadi Abd al-Mun'im Tahir Mazhar al-Sharbaji
Members The National Assembly consisted of 600 members; 400 members representing the Southern Region (Egypt), and 200 members representing the Northern Region (Syria). The seats were distributed among the governorates as follows: Southern Region (Egypt) Governorate No. of seats Governorate No. of seats Alexandria 21 Aswan9 Asyut22 Beheira 25Beni Suef15 Cairo 44 Dakahlia30 Damietta6 Faiyum15 Gharbia 27 Giza15 Ismailia 4 Kafr El Sheikh 18 Minya23 Monufia 23Port Said 5 Qalyubiya13 Qena23 Red Sea2 Sharqia25 Sinai2 Sohag28 Southern Desert1 Suez3Western Desert1 Northern Region (Syria) Governorate No. of seats Governorate No. of seats Aleppo 43 Damascus 42 Daraa 8 Deir ez-Zor 13 Hama 15 Hasakah 14 Homs 20 Idlib 12 Latakia 22 Rashid 4 Sweida 7
At least half of the members were drawn from the former Syrian and Egyptian parliaments. The Assembly also included the first female parliamentary representatives from Syria.
Dissolution
The National Assembly was dissolved on 22 June 1961. On 28 September 1961, a military coup in Syria effectively dissolved the union. Egypt remained to be called the United Arab Republic until 1971. A new 350-member National Assembly was elected in 1964. References