SYRIA

Today there are 22 million people living in Syria, due to the recent unrest, population dropped to 19 million. That’s a 10 percent drop! The Majority Religion is Sunni of the Islamic faith. Bashar Al-Assad believes in Druze religion, which puts all other religions in one religion. Syria was once occupied by France.

Arab 95.3% Kurds, Armenian, and Other 4.7%

Relations Cont. 1990-2001-U.S and Syria cooperate to a certain degree on some regional issues but later worsen 2003-2009- Relations hit just above rock bottom. Some reasons behind this decline. The govt.'s failure to prevent Syria from becoming a major transit point for foreign fighters entering Iraq, refusal to deport former Saddam Hussein regime elements supporting insurgents in Iraq, and their pursuit in WMD's 2009- U.S. began to review relations in light of changes in the country and region, leading to an effort with Syria to help promote Middle East peace 

End of Relations 2011- Syrian civil war starts and ultimately leading to the severing of U.S.- Syrian Relations in 2012

1835–1957 1940 - Syria comes under the control of the Axis powers after France falls to German forces. 1835, Syria was a part of the ottoman empire Cold-War Tensions affect Syria 1835 1946 1957 1946, Syria gained independence (Parliamentary Republic) Shukri al-Quwatli 1943-1949

1957–1990 1970 November - Hafez al-Assad overthrows president Nur al-Din al-Atasi 1958 February - Syria and Egypt join the United Arab Republic 1967 six day war Israel fought with Egypt, Jordan and Syria 1973 - Rioting breaks out after Assad drops the constitutional requirement that the president must be a Muslim.

1990–2000 1994 - Assad's son Basil, who was likely to succeed his father, is killed in a car accident. 1999 December - Talks with Israel over the Golan Heights begin in the US 1998 - Assad's brother Rifaat is relieved of his post as vice-president.

2001-2008 President Assad appoints Mohammed Naji al-Otari prime minister. 2002 May, US threatens sanctions due to developing Chemical weapons May 2007 President al-Asad was confirmed for another seven-year term Massive prison riots and Activists disappearing 2007-2008

2008-2011 2010 Obama renewed sanctions 2010 Obama calls for Assad to resign August 18 2011 Obama freezes all assets in Syria. Prohibits all import of Syrian oil. No one is allowed to invest in Syria

2011-2012 May - Army tanks suburbs of Damascus to crush protests. June-security forces have been killed by "armed gangs" December-Twin suicide bombs outside security buildings in Damascus kill 44 2012 July - Free Syria Army seizes Aleppo in the north.

2012 August - Prime Minister Riad Hijab defects October- Syria-Turkish tension rises when Syrian mortar fire on a Turkish border December-US, Britain, France, Turkey and Gulf states form coalition against Syria

2013-2016 2013 June - Government and allied Lebanese Hezbollah forces 2014 January-February - UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva fail 2015 May - Islamic State fighters seize the ancient city of Palmyra 2015 September - Russia carries out its first air strikes in Syria

2016 September - The UN suspends all aid convoys 2016 March - Syrian government forces retake Palmyra from Islamic State 2016 August - Turkish troops invade Syria to help rebel groups push back Islamic State and Kurdish rebels 2016 September - The UN suspends all aid convoys

Background  Syria is a republic state meaning a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch Head of state- President Bashar Al-Assad Head of Government Prime Minister Imad Muhammad Deeb Khamis

Branches of Govt. Executive- The members of the executive branch are the President and the Prime Minister  Election Process- The President is elected by popular vote. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President Term Length​- They both have a 7 year term 

Branches Cont. Judicial- This branch is made up of the Supreme Judicial Council ( which is made up of the Minister of Justice, The Pres., judge tenure, and 4 judges) and the Prime Minister Election Process- Judges are nominated by Pres. And appointed by the SJC. Term Length- Each judge serves a 4 year term

Branches Cont. Legislative- This branch is made up of the Peoples Council (or Majlis al Shaab) Election Process- The members of PC. Are elected through a closed list proportional system  Term Length- Each member serves a 4 year term 

U.S.-Syrian Relations 1835- Official relations began between the U.S. and what was known then the Ottoman Empire 1946- U.S. begins relations with Syria After its independence from France. 1967- Relations are severed in the wake of Arab-Israeli war until 1974 1979- Syria is put on a list of countries that support terrorism. This caused them to be ineligible of receiving most forms of U.S. aid or to purchase U.S. military equipment

Sources http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14703995