Middle East Unit Middle East Unit ThreeThree

Government & Government & EconomicsEconomics

IranIran In 1979, the Islamic, or Iranian, revolution In 1979, the Islamic, or Iranian, revolution

overthrew the monarchy that had ruled Iran for centuries.overthrew the monarchy that had ruled Iran for centuries. Today, Iran is a Today, Iran is a theocratic (theocracy) republictheocratic (theocracy) republic.. This means that the government is based on religious This means that the government is based on religious

principals (Islam) and the wishes of its people. principals (Islam) and the wishes of its people. The head of state is the Supreme Leader, who is always The head of state is the Supreme Leader, who is always

an an ayatollah, or recognized religious authority., or recognized religious authority.

The Supreme Leader is chosen by the The Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly Assembly of Expertsof Experts and holds the position for life. and holds the position for life.

The assembly consists of 86 religious scholars.The assembly consists of 86 religious scholars. The people elect the assembly and the The people elect the assembly and the

president by popular vote.president by popular vote. The president governs based on the religious The president governs based on the religious

guidance of the ayatollah.guidance of the ayatollah. The supreme leader has final say over many of the The supreme leader has final say over many of the

president’s decisions.president’s decisions. The president can serve two terms of four years each. The president can serve two terms of four years each. Current leader – Mahmoud AhmadinejadCurrent leader – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Iran’s legislature is called the Iran’s legislature is called the Consultative assemblyConsultative assembly.. Citizens 16 and older can vote for the 290 members of the Citizens 16 and older can vote for the 290 members of the

Assembly.Assembly.

IsraelIsrael Israel has a representative Israel has a representative parliamentary democracyparliamentary democracy.. The head of state is the president, who actually does not have The head of state is the president, who actually does not have

much power – current president -Shimon Peresmuch power – current president -Shimon Peres The Israeli prime minister is the head of the government – The Israeli prime minister is the head of the government –

current PM – Benjamin Netanyahucurrent PM – Benjamin Netanyahu The legislature elects the president.The legislature elects the president. The president then chooses the head of the largest political The president then chooses the head of the largest political

party to be the prime minister.party to be the prime minister. The prime minister must organize a coalition to govern.The prime minister must organize a coalition to govern. A coalition is a group of several different political parties that A coalition is a group of several different political parties that

have to cooperate in order to make decisions.have to cooperate in order to make decisions.

This type of government is known as a coalition government.

The Israeli legislature is called the Knesset. The Knesset holds most of the power in the Israeli

government. Israelis eighteen and older elect these officials by popular

vote. While most of Israel’s Jewish citizens see themselves as

secular, meaning they do not feel the country’s laws should be based solely on religious beliefs, many Israeli laws are influenced by the Orthodox Jews, those who want government policy to be made according to religious law

These people represent about 25 percent of the Israeli population.

Elections are held in Israel every four years

Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia Saudi Arabia's government is one of the few Saudi Arabia's government is one of the few absolute monarchiesabsolute monarchies

in the world today.in the world today. The government is a monarchy governed by Islamic The government is a monarchy governed by Islamic Shari’a LawShari’a Law..

(law based on the Quran)(law based on the Quran) In 2004, however, the Saudi government began allowing men who In 2004, however, the Saudi government began allowing men who

are 21 and older to vote for half of their local officials.are 21 and older to vote for half of their local officials. Men can also vote for one-third of the members of the legislature.Men can also vote for one-third of the members of the legislature. The king has a cabinet called the Council of Ministers.The king has a cabinet called the Council of Ministers. Current King - Current King - ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al SaudABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud The Council mostly consists of members of the royal family.The Council mostly consists of members of the royal family. The Saudi legislature is called the Consultative Council.The Saudi legislature is called the Consultative Council. The king chooses two-thirds of the members of the Council.The king chooses two-thirds of the members of the Council.

Saudi Arabia is ruled by a Saudi Arabia is ruled by a hereditary monarchyhereditary monarchy, which means the , which means the government is led by a king who comes from a family that has ruled government is led by a king who comes from a family that has ruled the country for several generations.the country for several generations.

The King of Saudi Arabia has been a member of the al-Saud family The King of Saudi Arabia has been a member of the al-Saud family since the 1920’s.since the 1920’s.

The king and his advisors, many of whom are his family members or The king and his advisors, many of whom are his family members or influential business and religions leaders in the country, make the influential business and religions leaders in the country, make the lawslaws

There is no written constitution, and the king rules for lifeThere is no written constitution, and the king rules for life The people of Saudi Arabia do not choose the kingThe people of Saudi Arabia do not choose the king When a king dies, the Saudi family announces who the next king will When a king dies, the Saudi family announces who the next king will

be from among their male family membersbe from among their male family members Conservative religious leaders also have a great Conservative religious leaders also have a great

deal of influence in decisions made by the deal of influence in decisions made by the monarchy monarchy

Religion and Southwest Asian GovernmentsReligion and Southwest Asian Governments In the United States and many western nations, religion and politics tend to In the United States and many western nations, religion and politics tend to

be separate.be separate. In much of the Middle East, however, religion and politics are often mixed.In much of the Middle East, however, religion and politics are often mixed. Countries like Iran based their systems of gov’t on religion.Countries like Iran based their systems of gov’t on religion. Religion is important even in countries that don’t base their governments on Religion is important even in countries that don’t base their governments on

religion.religion. Many political parties in the Middle East are religiousMany political parties in the Middle East are religious Many parties represent different branches of Islam.Many parties represent different branches of Islam. Since the majority of the people in the region are Muslim, religion also Since the majority of the people in the region are Muslim, religion also

influences the way people voteinfluences the way people vote Israel is a democratic state, but it was founded as a Jewish homeland.Israel is a democratic state, but it was founded as a Jewish homeland.