the current constitution of the syrian arab republic was adopted on 26 february 2012, replacing one that had been in force since 13 march 1973. the current constitution delineates the basic function of that state's government. among other things, it determines syria's character to be arab, democratic, and republican. further, in line with pan-arab ideology, it describes the country as a region of the wider arab world and its people as an integral part of the arab nation.