1. Unit 3 Political Development of the Middle East
Standard: Civics and Government Understandings
SS7CG5 The Student will explain the structures of the national governments of Southwest Asia (Middle East)
Compare the parliamentary democracy of the State of Israel, the monarchy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the theocracy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, distinguishing the form of leadership and the role of the citizen in terms if voting rights and personal freedoms.
Essential Question:
How are governments in the Middle East organized?

2. The State of Israel Form of Government:
Parliamentary Democracy since its
independence on May 14, 1948.

3. 3 Branches of Government:
1. Executive Branch:
Head of Government – Prime Minister, elected by the people of Israel.
Prime Minister- Benyamin Netanyahu
Vice Prime Ministers- Silva Shalom and Moshe Yaalon
Chief of State – President Shimon Peres, a ceremonial role, elected by the Knesset for one term lasting 7 years.

4. 3 Branches of Government:
2. Legislative Branch:
The Knesset – Israel’s parliament
Their Job
Make laws, supervises government activities, and is empowered to elect or remove the President of the State.
Members
120 seats, members elected by popular vote, serve 4 year terms
Currently, 12 political parties represented in the Knesset.

5. 3 Branches of Government:
2. Legislative Branch:
Constitution – No formal constitution; but working on a draft since May 2003.
They follow the:
Declaration of Establishment 1948
The Basic Laws of the Knesset
The Israeli Citizenship Law

6. 3 Branches of Government:
3. Judicial Branch:
Legal System
A mixture of English common law and British mandate regulations.
Independent Judicial System
Includes secular and religious courts dealing (Jewish, Christians, Muslims) with personal matters.
Supreme Court
The highest court
Supreme Court Justices are appointed by a Judicial Selection Committee, approved by President, mandatory retirement age is 70.

7. Role of the Citizen Suffrage – the right to vote at age 18.
Personal Freedoms – Israeli Citizenship Law includes the freedom of:
Equality of social and political rights
Religion, language, education, culture
Speech, assembly, and occupation

8. Islamic Republic of Iran
Form of Government: Theocratic Republic since its independence on April 1, 1979.
A theocracy is a government ruled by religious leaders according to religious law.
3 Branches of Government:
1. Executive Branch:
Head of Government – Ayatollah: title given to Shia religious leaders.

9. 1. Executive Branch:
Chief of State – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei (appointed for life), is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, controls the military intelligence and security operations; and has the only power to declare war and remove the president.
Head of Government – President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad (elected to 4-year term), appoints and supervises the Council of Ministers, coordinates government decisions, oversees economic policy and national affairs, and selects government policies to be placed before the legislature.
First Vice President – Parviz Davudi

10. 3 Bodies of the Executive Branch
Assembly of Experts – a group of 86 clerics (clergy) elected to 8-year terms. The Assembly appoints and removes the “Supreme Leader” (highest level of clergyman) who yields significant power in the country.
Expediency Council – has supervisory authority over the executive, judicial, and legislative branches. It resolves legislative issues and advises religious leaders on national policy.
Council of Guardians of the Constitution – determines whether proposed legislation is both constitutional and faithful to Islamic law, chooses suitable candidates, and supervises national elections.

11. 2. Legislative Branch: Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles)
Their Job
Make laws can summon or impeach ministers or the president, and also drafts legislation and approves the national budget.
Members
290 seats, members elected by popular vote, serve 4 year terms
Constitution - The Constitution of Iran is written following the codes of Islam and the laws of Iran are Islamic law.
Founded December 1979
Revised in 1989 – expanded powers of the presidency and eliminated the prime minister.

12. 3. Judicial Branch: Legal System
Based on Shari’a law system (Islamic law).
Supreme Court and the High Council of the Judiciary
Have a single head and overlapping responsibilities.
Supervises the enforcement of all laws
Establish judicial and legal policies
Lower Courts
Includes a special clerical (religious) court, a revolutionary court and a special administrative court.

13. Role of the Citizen Suffrage – the right to vote at age 15.
Personal Freedoms
All people of Iran enjoy equal rights
The formation of parties, societies, political or professional associations, as well as religious societies is permitted provided they do not violate the principles of independence, freedom, national unity, the criteria of Islam
To provide every citizen with the opportunity to work
To benefit from social security and free education
All citizens have the right to access the court
Publications and the press have freedom of expression except when it is detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam or the rights of the public.

14. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Form of Government: Monarchy (absolute/hereditary) since the kingdom was unified on September 23, 1932.
In an absolute monarchy the king, queen, and royal family has total control.
In Saudi Arabia, the monarchs make all the government decisions and determine the rights of citizens.
The king and those he appoints to different positions run the whole country.

15. 3 Branches of Government:
1. Executive Branch:
Head of Government- The monarch is both the Chief of State and Head of Government.
Chief of State/Head of Government- King and Prime Minister Abdullah bin Abdul al-Aziz Al Saud.
The king’s powers are limited within the bounds of Shari’a and other Saudi traditions.
He must retain a consensus of the Saudi royal family, religious leaders, and other important elements in Saudi society.
He is commander of the armed forces.

16. 1. Executive Branch:
Deputy Prime Minister- The Crown Prince, Sultan bin abdul al-Aziz Al Saud.
Second Deputy Prime Minister- Nayif bin Abdul al-Aziz Al Saud.
Council of Ministers- appointed by the monarch every 4 years
Includes many royal family members
Gives advice on making general policies
Established an Allegiance Commission in November, 2006 that will select future crown princes, after the Crown Prince Sultan becomes king.

17. 2. Legislative Branch:
Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura) their job:
Have limited authority to question ministers and propose new laws and amends existing ones.
The majlis serves as an advisory body the that could make recommendations to the king.
Oct. 2003, announced intent to introduce elections for half of the members of local assemblies and a third of the national Consultative Council, over a 4-5 year period.
To date, no such elections have been held.
Members
150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for a 4-year term.

18. 2. Legislative Branch: 3. Judicial Branch: Legal System
Constitution - No formal constitution; but by a royal decree in 1992, they are governed according to Islamic law, the basic law that articulates the government’s rights and responsibilities.
3. Judicial Branch:
Legal System
Based on Shari’a law (Islamic law) and some secular codes have been introduced, like capital and corporal punishments (death, stoning, amputations, flogging, retribution with blood money, and honor killings).

19. Supreme Council of Justice:
12 are appointed by the monarch, based on Shari’a.
The king acts as the highest court of appeal and has the right to pardon in cases where punishment is not ordained in the Quran.
Citizens have access to high officials and the right to petition them directly:
There are no political parties
Political pressures comes from Ansar Al Marah (supports women’s rights), gas companies, and religious groups.

20. Role of the Citizen
Suffrage - The citizens do not have the right to vote as there are no elections held since the monarchy is hereditary; however, they list suffrage at 21, males only.
The only municipal (local) election held in Saudi Arabia’s history was in 2005.
Personal Freedoms
1992, King Fahd became the first Saudi monarch to compile these regulations into a single document called the main code (nizam).

21. Personal Freedoms
It prohibited government agencies from arbitrarily arresting citizens or violating their privacy, but lacked clauses guaranteeing the basic rights of citizens to freedom of belief, expression, assembly, or political participation.
Freedom of limited education and for women in 1965.
Freedom of occupation, health care, mass media according to Islamic law.
Freedom to address public officials and file law suits.

22. For Your Information: (you do not have to copy this down)
An absolute monarchy limits the rights of the citizens and the king can take away any rights anyone may have.
The rights of its citizens are threatened by the monarch whenever.
Saudi Arabia has been often accused of human rights violations.
It is possible for an absolute monarchy to have a fair and wise ruler; but it is also possible to have an unfair and unwise ruler.

23. For Your Information (Continued): (you do not have to copy this down)
There is no accountability for the actions of an absolute monarch: they answer to no one.
In large countries it is also easy for monarchs to lose control of what is happening in their own country because people appointed by the King can easily take advantage of the citizens in the name of the King without the King’s knowledge or approval.

24. Now, by yourself, answer these Qs:
Right There:
Who in Saudi Arabia’s government holds all the power? Where did you find this answer in your notes?
Putting It Together:
What would be some disadvantages to living under an absolute monarch? Explain why you think so.
On Your Own:
Do you feel that it is the United State’s responsibility to step into a country like Saudi Arabia, Iran, or Israel and make them run their country the same way we do? Be sure to give this lots of thoughts, and back up your answer with facts from our notes!

25. Ticket Out The Door: Compare/Contrast Iran, Saudi Arabia, and our own Governments:
United States