The stages of administrative discretion begin with the administration's unequivocal recognition, diagnosis, and definition of the problem it faces. The administration then makes a decision, takes action, or takes a position on the matter. It also determines the objectives of the decision, gathers and analyzes information, evaluates available alternatives, selects the best among them, implements the decision, and follows up on it to accurately assess the situation, while respecting the law and not exceeding the limits of legality. Actions taken by the administration are sometimes subject to judicial oversight, in which case they are referred to as restricted; at other times, they are not, in which case they are considered absolute. The Iraqi legislator has combined the two principles in many laws. One of the most significant examples of the discretionary power of the administration is how to handle demonstrations and gatherings guaranteed by the Permanent Constitution, within the framework of public freedoms that represent a social and philosophical concept. However, it is difficult for executive authorities to practically exercise discretionary power to manage and organize them, which has created a state of uncertainty in this regard. This has constituted a burden on the security authorities, which bear enormous pressures in fighting terrorists and outlaws, and has often limited their authority when exercising that right. This has led them to the problem of violating the effective Permanent Iraqi Constitution, which is the basic guarantor of the freedom of all segments of society. It is not sufficient for the existence of constitutional and legal texts to protect public liberties. Still, rather the legislative and executive authorities must abide in all their actions by the constitutional texts first and then by the legislative texts, which is expressed by the principle of the rule of law. The article concluded by proposing the enactment of a special law on demonstrations, granting security forces the freedom to deal with protests and gatherings that constitute terrorist acts or threaten public security or public property. Their work should rely on trained and sophisticated electronic intelligence. It must also prohibit the interference of certain parties and popular movements with religious or ethnic affiliations in leading, directing, or participating in demonstrations. It must also prohibit the use of live ammunition when dispersing demonstrations. It must also ensure that political authorities listen to demonstrators' demands under all circumstances.

Administrative discretion, restriction of the concept of public freedoms, demonstrations

First: Arabic Sources

- Legislation

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), published on the following website: (https://www.un.org/ar/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights).

The Interim Constitution of the Republic of Iraq (1958), (Iraqi Gazette: No. 2, dated July 28, 1958).

The Interim Constitution of the Republic of Iraq (1964), (Iraqi Gazette: No. 949, dated May 10, 1964).

The Interim Constitution of the Republic of Iraq (1970), (Iraqi Gazette: No. 1900, dated July 17, 1970).

The Egyptian Constitution of 1923.

The Permanent Constitution of the Republic of Iraq of 2005, in force (Iraqi Gazette, No. 4012, dated 12/28/2005).

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, published on the following website: (https://www.ohchr.org/ar/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights).

Farouk Mawasi: The Industrial Source and the Feminine Name (Article: 2018), published on the following website: (https://www.diwanalarab.com).

Public Meetings and Demonstrations Law No. (115) of 1959, (Baghdad: Government Press, 1966).

The Ottoman Public Meetings Law of 1909, published on the following website: (http://77.42.251.205/LawView.aspx?opt=view&LawID=257671).

The Iraqi Basic Law of 1925, published on the following website: (https://inis.gov.iq/rules1.html).

The Third Amendment to the Law of Governorates Not Organized into a Region - No. (21) of 2008, amended - No. (10) of 2018, (Iraqi Gazette: No. 4487, dated April 16, 2018).

The Second Amendment to the Law of Governorates Not Organized into a Region - No. (21) of 2008, (Iraqi Gazette: No. 4284, dated August 5, 2013).

Kurdistan Region Autonomy Law No. (33) of 1974, which has been amended several times, is published on the following website: (https://www.betnahrain.net/Arabic/Documents/H1974.htm).

Iraqi Penal Code No. (111) of 1969, as amended, (Iraqi Gazette: No. 1778, dated September 15, 1969).

Governorates Law No. (159) of 1969, (Iraqi Gazette: No. 1789, dated October 13, 1969).

Governorates Not Incorporated into a Region Law No. (21) of 2008, is published on the following website: (https://www.iraqilaws.com/2024/05/21-2008.html).

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq Governorates Law No. (3) of 2009 (Iraqi Gazette for Kurdistan: Issue No. 100, dated 4/3/2009).

The Arab Charter on Human Rights of 2004, published on the following website: (http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/arab/a003-2.html).

Order No. (19) of 2003 (Iraqi Gazette: Issue No. 3979, dated 7/10/2003).

- Thesis

Ornis Mutab Al-Hathal: The Impact of Electronic Development on the Legal Work of Public Administration (University of Baghdad: Master's Thesis, 2005).

- Books

Abu Faris Al-Dahdah: Explanation of Ibn Malik's Alfiyyah, 3rd ed. (Riyadh: Al-Ubaikan, 2012).

Dr. Ihsan Al-Naib, The Concept of Authority and Its Legitimacy (The First International Scientific Conference of Sulaimani University, 2017).

Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al-Hashemi: The Pearls of Eloquence in Meaning, Rhetoric, and Poetics (Beirut: Scientific Books, 2016).

Dr. Ahmed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Shamimri: Business Administration: Its Fundamentals, Concepts, and Contemporary Applications, 15th ed. (Riyadh: Al-Obeikan, 2025).

Ahmed bin Ali Al-Asqalani: Fath Al-Bari (Beirut: Scientific Books, 2017).

Ahmed bin Faris bin Zakariya: Language Measures (Tehran: Islamic Media, 1404 AH).

Ahmed Rajab: Management and the Art of Decision-Making (Cairo: Arab Press Agency, 2023).

Dr. Ismail Muhammad al-Qarni: Fate and Predestination Among Muslims: A Study and Analysis (Beirut: Scientific Books, 2006).

Dr. Emile Badi' Ya'qub: Encyclopedia of Arabic Linguistics (Beirut: Scientific Books, 2006).

Patricia L. Smith and Tilman J. Ragen: Instructional Design, translated by Mujab Muhammad al-Imam (Riyadh: Al-Ubaikan, 2012).

Bassam Abdul Rahman Al-Mashaqbeh: Dictionary of Parliamentary and Diplomatic Terms (Amman: Al-Ma'mun, 2011).

Jamil Saliba: The Philosophical Dictionary (Beirut: Al-Kutub Al-Lubnani, 1971).

Hassan Al-Haj Ali Ahmad: The Stages of Transition of the Arab Revolutions (included in the book: The Stages of Transitional History: The Fate of the Arab Revolutions), (Doha: A Group of Authors, Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, 2015).

Hussein Mu'nis: The Islamic East in the Modern Era (Cairo: Al-Maktaba Al-Tijariyya Al-Kubra, 1938).

Dr. Hamidi Ben Youssef: The Terminological Definition (Amman: Al-Kutub Al-Akadmi, 2019).

Dr. Raja Wahid Duwaidri: Scientific Terminology in the Arabic Language (Damascus: Al-Fikr, 2010).

Dr. Raad Mahdi Razouki and Dr. Nabil Rafiq Muhammad: Thinking and Its Patterns Series (3), (Beirut: Scientific Books, 2018).

Dr. Sarah Lagd: The Scientific Terminology of Schools, (Amman: Academic Book, 2021).

Dr. Saeed Al-Sayed Ali: Privileges of Public Administration, (Cairo, Egypt, 2019).

Dr. Samir Khairy Tawfiq: The Principle of the Rule of Law: A Study in Legal Philosophy, (Baghdad: Ministry of Culture and Arts, 1978).

Samuel Freeman: Contemporary Trends in the Philosophy of Justice: John Rawls as a Model, translated by Fadel Jatkar, (Doha: Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, 2015).

Taha Jaber Al-Alwani: From the Literature of Difference to the Rejection of Disagreement, (USA: International Institute for Thought, 2017).

Dr. Abdul Fattah Khader: The Impact of Systems and Regulations on Administrative Development (Cairo: Arab Books, 2006).

Abdul Karim bin Abdullah Al-Khudair: Explanation of the Ha'iyya System by Abdullah bin Abi Dawud (Beirut: Scientific Books, 2018).

Dr. Abdul Wahab Al-Kayali: Encyclopedia of Politics (Beirut: Arab Institute for Studies, 2015).

Dr. Adnan Ahmed Abu Diya: Contemporary Methods in Teaching Social Studies (Amman: Osama, 2011).

Dr. Ali Ahmed Khader Al-Maamari: Reshaping the World (Amman: Academicians, 2021).

Ali Al-Qari Al-Mawsili Al-Ja'atari (Al-Wahbi): Discovering Drugs in the Hidden Secrets of Al-Nabulsi (Beirut: Publishers, 2015).

Ali bin Ahmed Al-Wahidi: The Simple Interpretation (Riyadh: Al-Obeikan, 2017).

Ali bin Muhammad al-Jurjani: Al-Hashiya ala al-Mutawwal (Beirut: Scientific Books, 2008).

Dr. Ali Subaih al-Tamimi: The Philosophy of Political Rights and Freedoms and Obstacles to Their Application: An Analytical Study in Political Philosophy (Amman: Amjad, 2016).

Dr. Ali Najib Hamza: Administrative Control Powers in Exceptional Circumstances: A Comparative Study (Cairo: Arab Center, 2017).

Fatima Saadi: Principles of Business Administration and Organizational Theories (London: E-kutub Ltd, 2019).

WordReference.com Dictionary.

Kazem Qazi Zadeh: Public Rights and Freedoms in Islamic Countries, translated by Abbas Safi (included in the book: Public Rights and Freedoms), (Beirut: Al-Hadara, 2010).

Crane Brentin: Ideas and Men: The Story of Western Thought, translated by Mahmoud Mahmoud, (London: Hindawi, 2021).

Dr. Liwaa Abdul Hassan Attia: The Lexical Companion, (Beirut: Scientific Books, 2018).

Dr. Laitim Nadia: Administrative Activity: A Judicial and Jurisprudential Legal Study in Light of the Latest Constitutional and Legal Amendments, (Amman: Academic Book, 2025).

M. Rosenthal and B. Yudin: The Philosophical Encyclopedia, translated by Samir Karam, (Beirut: Al-Tali'aa, n.d.).

Dr. Mazen Lilo Radi: The Authority of the Administration in Issuing Administrative Decisions, (Denmark: Academic Book, 2008).

Dr. Mubarak Triki: The Source in the Holy Qur'an: A Morphological, Syntactic, and Semantic Study, (Amman: Academic Book, 2021).

The Arabic Language Academy: Al-Mu'jam al-Waseet, 5th ed. (Cairo: Al-Shorouk, 2011).

Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr al-Razi: Mukhtar al-Sihah (Beirut: Al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2015).

Muhammad ibn Ali al-Shawkani: Fath al-Qadir (Beirut: Al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1997).

Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sabban: Al-Hashiyah 'ala al-Ashmouni (Beirut: Al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2014).

Muhammad ibn Manzur: Lisan al-Arab (Beirut: Al-Fikr, 2015).

Muhammad Abd al-Ra'uf al-Manawi: Al-Tawqif (Beirut: Al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2010).

Muhammad Murtada ibn Muhammad al-Zubaidi: Taj al-'Arus (Beirut: Al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2011).

Dr. Medhat Muhammad Abu al-Nasr: Distinguished Administrative Performance (Cairo: Arab Training Group, 2010).

Mustafa Talaa Khalil: The Legal Regulation of Freedom of Audiovisual Media: A Comparative Study (Cairo: Arab Center, 2019).

Manal Ahmed Al-Baroudi: Creative Methods in Problem-Solving and Decision-Making (Cairo: Arab Training Group, 2015).

Dr. Munji Al-Omari: Syntactic Constraint in the Arabic Sentence (Tunis: Tunisian Book House, 2015).

Dr. Munther Al-Shawi: The General Theory of Constitutional Law (Cairo: Ward, 2007).

Nujum Ghanem Al-Hajri: Discretionary Power in Administrative Decisions: A Comparative Study (Cairo: Arab Center, 2019).

Yahya bin Ali Al-Khatib Al-Tabrizi: Explanation of the Ten Poems (Beirut: Scientific Books, 1997).

- Journals

Dr. Ali Hamza Asal and Ahmed Jabr Muhsin, Penal Controls on Freedom of Assembly and Peaceful Demonstration: A Comparative Study, (Kufa Journal of Legal and Political Sciences: Vol. 5, No. 19, 2014).

Aliwat Yaqouta: The Administrative Discretionary Power, (Emir Abdelkader University Journal of Islamic Sciences: Vol. 29, No. 1, 2015).

Muhammad Taha Al-Husseini: The Standards of Discretionary Discrimination and Its Scope, (Kufa Studies Center Journal: Vol. 1, No. 27, 2012).

Hana Abbas Kazim and Dr. Saab Naji Abboud: The Administrative Discretionary Power and the Principle of Legitimacy, (Journal of the Islamic University College: Vol. 1, No. 15, 2011).

- Electronic Articles

Dr. Abdul Amir Alwan: Public Freedoms in the Iraqi Constitution, published on the following website: (https://www.aljazeera.net/2005/10/05).

Dr. Abdullah Hamid Al-Attabi: Demonstrations in Iraqi Constitutions, (Article: 2019), published on the following website: (https://alsabaah.iq/18280-html).

Dr. Abdul Nasser Bouali: The Function of the Synthetic Source in Terminology, (Article: 2018), published on the following website: (https://www.alukah.net/literature_language/0/127443).

Second: Foreign Sources

Les Johnston: Marxism: Class Analysis and Socialist Pluralism, (London: Taylor & Francis, 2015).

Richard Morgan and Christian P. Potholm and John Donovan: People and Power and Politics (New York: Random House, 1986).

Sir George Edward Gordon Catlin: A Study of the Principles of Politics, (New York: Macmillan, 1930).

Walter Buckley: Sociology and Modern Systems Theory, (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1967).