Download - ISRAELISRAEL IRANIRAN SAUDI ARABIASAUDI ARABIA Comparing & Contrasting SW Asian Governments
•ISRAEL ISRAEL •IRANIRAN •SAUDI SAUDI ARABIAARABIAComparing & Contrasting SW Asian Comparing & Contrasting SW Asian
GovernmentsGovernments
ISRAELISRAEL
System of Government•Unitary: Central Government makes all the decisions!
Type of Democracy•Parliamentary Democracy: Citizens vote for members of the Knesset. •Legislative Branch…UNICAMERAL
•Holds most power in government
•120 members who serve 4-year terms
Leadership•President: Reuven Rivlin (2014)•Head of Country•Ceremonial role, not much power
•Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu•Head of Government
•Knesset • Legislative Branch•(US: Congress:: Israel: Knesset)
Becoming A Leader•President: •Elected by Knesset for a 7-year term
•Prime Minister: •Chosen by Knesset•Head of largest political party in Knesset
•Knesset: •Elected by popular vote by citizens.
Citizen Rights• All citizens 18 years & older can vote for Knesset.
•Can travel in & out of Israel freely, but citizens must carry a blue ID card when traveling across West Bank.
•Basic freedom of speech & press.
SAUDI SAUDI ARABIAARABIA
System of Government•Unitary: Central Government makes all the decisions!
Type of Democracy•No Democracy •They are an AUTOCRACY!•Absolute Monarchy•Governed by Sharia law!
Leadership
•King: Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (2005)•Head of the country & government!
Becoming A Leader•You have to be born in the family in order be king!
•Heir: Half-brother Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud•In 2006 a decree was made that created a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but this new system will not go into effect until after Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud becomes king.
Citizen Rights•Must be Muslim to be citizen.•Public practice of any other religion other than Islam is against the law.•Men: 21 & older can vote in local elections.•Women: •Very little freedom•Can vote in local elections•Cannot drive & must dress modestly.
•Limited freedom of press & speech.
IRANIRAN
System of Government•Unitary: Central Government makes all the decisions!
Type of Democracy•Presidential Democracy•Theocracy•Governed by Sharia law.
Leadership•Supreme (Religious) Leader:• Known as the AYATOLLAH•Ali Hoseini-Khameni (1989)•Head of the State
•President:•Head of Government•Hassan Rouhani (2013)
Becoming A Leader•Ayatollah (Supreme Leader): •Appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts, a group of religious leaders.
•President: •Elected by popular vote to a 4-year term
Citizen Rights•All citizens 18 & older can vote.•No freedom of press or speech.•Must obey strict Sharia law.•Women: little freedom.