for first 7 years following 1969 revolution, colonel gaddafi , 12 fellow army officers, revolutionary command council, began complete overhaul of libya s political system, society, , economy. on 2 march 1977, gaddafi convened general people s congress (gpc) proclaim establishment of people s power, change country s name socialist people s libyan arab jamahiriya, , vest, theoretically, primary authority in gpc. gaddafi remained de facto chief of state , secretary general of gpc until 1980, when gave office. continued control aspects of libyan government through direct appeals masses, pervasive security apparatus, , powerful revolutionary committees. although held no formal office, gaddafi exercised absolute power assistance of small group of trusted advisers, included relatives home base in sirte region, lies between rival provinces of tripolitania , cyrenaica. during rule, gaddafi took increasing control of government, attempted achieve greater popular participation in local governme...