The Supreme Court was established under the
Syrian Constitution of 1973 to adjudicate electoral disputes, rule on the constitutionality of a law or decree challenged by the
prime minister or
People's Assembly, and to render opinions on the constitutionality of bills, decrees, and regulations when requested to do so by the prime minister. The High Constitutional Court was forbidden, however, to question the validity of the 'popularly approved laws submitted by the President of the Republic to popular referendums.' The court consists of the president and four judges he appoints to serve a renewable term of four years. Under Article 47 of the
Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic, the existing Supreme Constitutional Court 'shall be dissolved, and a new Supreme Constitutional Court shall be established'. ==Composition==