Lebanon+as+a+Confessional+State


 * Lecture Notes

1926 Constitution**- The Lebanese Constitution affirmed Lebanon as an Arab nation and dictated that the government would be that of a confessional government, a government in which power is porportioned off to different religious communities and politicians run along religious affiliation.


 * 1932 Censu**s- The last census taken in Lebanon, diplaying the Maronite Christian majority in the country. This majority would quickly flounder in the coming 30 some years, tipping the precarious balance that had led to the prosperity before the civil war.


 * 1943 National Pac**t- The National Pact cemented the delicate balance that the Lebanese government would have to maintain by establishing the four most powerful positions in the government with a religious affiliation. The President, the most powerful was to always be a Maronite Christian, the the highest percentage of the population displayed by the 1932 Census. In order of descending power: the Prime Minister was to be a Sunni Muslim, the Speaker of the House was to be Shia, and the Deputy Speaker of the House was to be interestingly enough, Greek Orthodox.