In response to the Syrian Civil War, President Bashar al-Assad ordered a new constitution to be drafted.

"[3] The new constitution removes the de jure Ba'ath Party monopoly over the political life of Syria.

[4] The conditions required to be candidate at the presidential election are the following: Syria will no longer be a planned socialist economy but will focus on the principle of developing public and private economy in order to boost the national income and to develop the production to create jobs and raise the standard of living.

[6] In the weeks leading up to the referendum, public television hosted discussions about the new constitution and informed citizens how to vote.

It pointed out that the Syrian government had never respected the old constitution, which enshrines freedom of speech and peaceful demonstrations and bans torture.

[9] Due to the ongoing fighting in Syria, questions were raised over the organization of the vote in the cities of Homs, Hama, Daraa and in the northern province of Idlib, which are areas held by the rebellion.

[11] The interior minister, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar, announced that the turnout was "high except in some areas despite threats and intimidation from armed groups."