Arab Ba'ath 1940–1947 Ba'ath Party 1947–1966 Ba'ath Party (pro-Syrian) 1966–present | Arab Ba'ath Movement 1940–1947 Ba'ath Party (pro-Iraqi) 1968–2003 | |
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The Regional Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region, officially the Regional Command of the Iraqi Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, was the highest decision-making organ of the Iraqi Regional Branch. Throughout its history, the Regional Command has normally had 19-21 members. When in power, the Directorate of Security Affairs was responsible for the security of the president and the senior members of the Regional Command. Currently, the composition of the Regional Command of the Iraqi Regional Branch is unknown because the party remains underground.
The Iraqi Regional Branch was organized on the Marxist–Leninist model, with a small elite, the Regional Command, controlling the party from the top down. As in the Soviet Union, the party leadership became the government. While the Regional Command was the de facto highest legislative and executive organ of state and party, the Revolutionary Command Council was according to the 1970 Iraqi constitution "the supreme body of the state." In theory, the Regional Command was to be subordinate to the National Command.