Govrenorates o Sirie
Sirie haes fowerteen govrenorates, or muhafazat (singular: muhafazah). The governorates are dividit intae saxty destricts, or manatiq (sing. mintaqah), whilk is thairsels dividit intae subdestricts, or nawahi (sing. nahia). The nawahi conteen veelages, whilk is the smawest admeenistrative units.
A govrenor, whase appyntment is proponed bi the meenister o the interior, approved bi the cabinet, an annoonced bi executive decree, heids ilka governorate. The governor is responsible for admeenistration, heal, social services, eddication, tourism, public wirks, transportation, domestic trade, agricultur, industry, ceevil defense, an maintenance o law an order in the province. The meenister o local administration wirks close wi ilka governor tae coordinate an owersee local development projects. The governor is assistit bi a provincial cooncil, three-quarters o whase members is popularly elect for a term o fower year, the remainder bein appointit bi the meenister o the interior an the govrenor. In addition, ilka cooncil haes an executive airm consistin o sax tae ten officers appynt bi the central govrenment frae amang the cooncil's electit members. Ilka executive officer is chairgit wi specific functions.
Destricts an subdestricts are admeenistered bi offeecials appointit bi the govrenor, subject tae the approval o the meenister o the interior. These offeecials wirk wi electit destrict cooncils tae attend tae assortit local needs an ser as intermediaries atween central govrenment authority an tradieeional local heid anes, lik veelage chiefs, clan leaders, an cooncils o elders.
