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TheNational Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party was the ruling organ of theBa'ath Party between sessions of the National Congress, and was headed by a secretary general.[1] Between National Congresses, the National Command was held accountable by the National Consultative Council (Arabic:al-majlis al-istishari al-quami).[2] The National Consultative Council was a forum made up of representatives from the party's regional branches.[2] However, the number of National Consultative Council members were decided by the size of the regional branch.[2] The National Congress elected the National Command, National Tribunal, the party's discipline body, and the secretary general, the party leader.[2] The congress delegates determined the party's policies and procedures.[2]
The National Command had sweeping authority.[3] The National Congress was the only body which could hold avote of confidence against the National Command.[3] It had the authority to establish party organizations, to direct the affairs of subordinate party organs which, according to the party's Internal Rules, could not "for any reason direct themselves", the authority to elect and dissolve a Regional Command, to approve party-to-party cooperation, to approve of the party's participation in government and legislative assemblies, to publish works in the party's name, to direct party policy on international affairs and decide on all matters regarding party policy.[3] Because of these responsibilities several National Command organs were established, such as the Secretariat and the National Liaisons Office.[3]
Before 1954, the party was ruled by the Executive Committee, but this organ, along with others, were replaced at the 2nd National Congress (for more, see"Structure" section).[1] In Ba'athist jargon "Nation" means theArab Nation, and because of that, the National Command formed the highest policy-making and coordinating council for the Ba'ath movement throughout the Arab world.[1] The National Command had several bureaus, similar to those of the Regional Command.[2] National Command sessions were held monthly.[2] Of these, the National Liaisons Office was responsible for maintaining contact with the party's Regional Branches.[4]
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| Name | Took office | Left office | Representing (Regional Branch) | Term(s) | Duration | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michel Aflaq | 6 April 1947 | 23 February 1966 | Syria | 8 | 18 years, 323 days | Served as the party's Secretary General from 1947 to 1965. |
| Salah al-Din al-Bitar | 6 April 1947 | 1 September 1959 | Syria | 2 | 12 years, 148 days | — |
| Jalil al-Sayyide | 6 April 1947 | June 1954 | — | 1 | 7 years, 56 days | — |
| Wahib al-Ghanim | 6 April 1947 | 1952 | Syria | 1 | 4 years, 270 days | — |
| Midhat al-Bitar | 1949 | 1952 | — | 1 | 3 years, 0 days | — |
| Fuysal ar-Rikte | 1949 | 1952 | — | 1 | 3 years, 0 days | — |
| Abdul Rahman Mandhur | 1949 | 1952 | — | 1 | 3 years, 0 days | — |
| Akram al-Hawrani | 1952 | 1 September 1959 | Syria | 1 | 7 years, 243 days | The former leader of theArab Socialist Party. |
| Attun Mandisi | 1952 | June 1954 | — | 1 | 2 years, 151 days | A politician from theArab Socialist Party. |
| Fuad al-Rikabi | June 1954 | August 1960 | Iraq | 2 | 6 years, 61 days | Served as the Regional Secretary of the Iraqi Regional Branch. |
| Ali Jabir | June 1954 | 23 October 1964 | Lebanon | 4 | 9 years, 144 days | Served as the Regional Secretary of the Lebanese Regional Branch. |
| Abdullah Rimawi | June 1954 | 1 September 1959 | Jordan | 1 | 5 years, 92 days | Served as the Regional Secretary of the Jordanese Regional Branch. |
| Abdallah Na'was | June 1954 | 1 September 1959 | Jordan | 1 | 5 years, 92 days | — |
| Abd al-Wahhab Shumitli | 1 September 1959 | May 1962 | Lebanon | 2 | 2 years, 242 days | — |
| Ghassan Shararah | 1 September 1959 | May 1962 | Lebanon | 2 | 2 years, 242 days | — |
| Talib El-Shibib | 1 September 1959 | May 1962 | Iraq | 2 | 2 years, 242 days | Served as the Regional Secretary of the Iraqi Regional Branch. |
| Sa'dun Hammadi | 1 September 1959 | May 1962 | Iraq | 2 | 2 years, 242 days | — |
| Khaled Yashruti | 1 September 1959 | 23 October 1963 | Palestine | 3 | 4 years, 52 days | Was elected to the National Command at the 3rd National Congress as a Lebanese Regional Branch representative. |
| Munif Razzaz | 1 September 1959 | 23 February 1966 | Jordan | 5 | 6 years, 175 days | Served as the party's Secretary General from 1965 to 1966. |
| Amin Shuqayr | 1 September 1959 | August 1960 | Jordan | 1 | 335 days | — |
| May 1962 | 23 October 1963 | Jordan | 1 | 1 year, 175 days | ||
| Faysal Habib Khayzaran | August 1960 | May 1962 | Iraq | 1 | 1 year, 273 days | — |
| Khalid Ali Salih Dulaymi | August 1960 | May 1962 | Iraq | 1 | 1 year, 273 days | — |
| Ghalib Yaghi | August 1960 | May 1962 | Lebanon | 1 | 1 year, 273 days | — |
| Ali Salih al-Sadi | May 1962 | 18 February 1964 | Iraq | 2 | 1 year, 293 days | Served as the Regional Secretary of the Iraqi Regional Branch. |
| Hamid Abd al-Majid | May 1962 | 18 February 1964 | Iraq | 2 | 1 year, 293 days | Served as the Regional Secretary of the Iraqi Regional Branch. |
| Jibran Majdalani | May 1962 | 23 February 1966 | Lebanon | 4 | 3 years, 298 days | — |
| Abd al-Majid Rafi | May 1962 | 23 October 1963 | Lebanon | 1 | 1 year, 175 days | Served as the Regional Secretary of the Lebanese Regional Branch. |
| 18 February 1964 | April 1965 | Lebanon | 1 | 1 year, 42 days | ||
| Khalid al-Ali | May 1962 | April 1965 | Lebanon | 3 | 2 years, 335 days | — |
| Amin al-Hafiz | 23 October 1963 | 23 February 1966 | Syria | 3 | 2 years, 123 days | Served as the Regional Secretary of the Syrian Regional Branch. |
| Salah Jadid | 23 October 1963 | 23 February 1966 | Syria | 3 | 2 years, 123 days | Served as the Assistant Regional Secretary of the Syrian Regional Branch. |
| Hammud al-Shufi | 23 October 1963 | 18 February 1964 | Syria | 1 | 118 days | Served as the Regional Secretary of the Syrian Regional Branch. |
| Muhsin Shaykh Radi | 23 October 1963 | 18 February 1964 | Iraq | 1 | 118 days | — |
| Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr | 23 October 1963 | 23 February 1966 | Iraq | 3 | 2 years, 123 days | Served as the Regional Secretary of the Iraqi Regional Branch. |
| Salih Mahdi Ammash | 23 October 1963 | 18 February 1964 | Iraq | 1 | 118 days | — |
| Abd al-Muhsin Abu Mayzar | 23 October 1963 | 18 February 1964 | Jordan | 1 | 118 days | — |
| Muhammad Umran | 18 February 1964 | May 1965 | Syria | 1 | 1 year, 73 days | — |
| Mansur al-Atrash | 18 February 1964 | 23 February 1966 | Syria | 1 | 2 years, 5 days | — |
| Shibli al-Aysami | 18 February 1964 | 23 February 1966 | Syria | 1 | 2 years, 5 days | — |
| Ali Khalil | 18 February 1964 | 23 February 1966 | Lebanon | 2 | 2 years, 5 days | — |
| Ali Ghannam | 18 February 1964 | 23 February 1966 | Saudi Arabia | 2 | 2 years, 5 days | — |
| Hafez al-Assad | May 1965 | 23 February 1966 | Syria | 1 | 328 days | — |
| Ibrahim Makhous | May 1965 | 23 February 1966 | Syria | 1 | 328 days | — |
