1. GOVERNMENT IN SOUTHWEST ASIA
SS7CG4 - The student will explain various forms of government
SS7CG5 – The student will explain the structures of the national government of Southwest Asia
GOVERNMENT IN SOUTHWEST ASIA

2. ELEMENTS
Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal 
Explain how governments determine citizen participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic 
Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential 
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 of voting rights and personal freedoms.

3. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
How do the unitary, confederation, and federal government systems distribute power?
How do autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic governments determine citizen participation?
What are the components of parliamentary and presidential government?
What distinguishes the form of leadership, public voting procedures and personal freedoms in 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?

4. DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT
Governments have three basic ways they can distribute power
Unitary System
In this system, one central government has all the power and makes the laws, while also giving out smaller units like cities and towns other forms of power.
The central government as the final say on all decision making
Federal System
In this system, the central government divides, or shares, the power with smaller units, like a state
Power is given to the regional and local governments, but the central government deals with issues that affect the entire country
Confederation System
In this system, each smaller unit has the final say on all decision making and laws and the central government has no power
Central government only makes decisions when they affect the entire confederation
Rarest system in the world

5. EXAMPLES OF GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS
UNITARY FEDERAL CONFEDERATION

6. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT
Autocracy
“Rule by one”
One leader holds all the power
Citizens do not participate in any government choices (voting, taxes)
Oligarchy
“Rule by few”
Small group holds all the power
Usually the wealthy
Only the powerful people have citizenship participation
Democracy
“Rule by the people”
Citizens hold the power
Citizens participate in the government (voting)
Citizens are all equal

7. EXAMPLES OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Autocracy – Nazi Germany Oligarchy – U.S.S.R Democracy – United States

8. TYPES OF DEMOCRACY: PARLIAMENTARY VS PRESIDENTIAL
Parliamentary Democracy
Presidential Democracy
Power controlled by legislature, or law making group
Called Parliament
Headed by prime minister
Has a cabinet
Answers to the legislature
Government stays in power indefinitely
Three branches of government with equal powers
Executive (enforces laws) Legislative (makes laws), Judicial (interprets laws)
Checks and balances allows each branch to keep the other from having too much power
People elect the president, and he or she answers to the voters

9. EXAMPLE OF PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

10. EXAMPLE OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

11. Israel – Parliamentary Democracy
Israel has a unitary system where a central government handles decisions. The prime minister is the head of the government, while the president of Israel is a figurehead with little power. The law making branch is the Knesset, which has 120 members, and the Supreme Court is the court system. Citizens can vote when they are 18, but there is no constitution for set laws

12. Iran - Theocracy
Iran has a theocracy, or a government run by religious leaders. Iran’s lawmaking group is the Assembly of Experts, who choose a Supreme Leader that lasts for life unless voted out. The Supreme Leader is more powerful than the president of Iran. The Assembly has 290 members who serve 4 years, while a Supreme Court and a High Council of Judiciary make sure laws are being enforced. Citizens can vote when they reach 18. Citizens though face different laws, such as being arrested if you disagree with the government, women having little to no rights, and certain rights being based on Islam

13. Saudi Arabia - Monarchy
Saudi Arabia has a monarchy and is run by a King, as he is the head of the government and the religious head. The laws are based on Islam and there is no constitution. There is also no legislative branch to make laws. Men can only vote, and they must be 21. Human rights issues are high in Saudi Arabia, such as cruel punishments, unfair trials and abuse. Citizens must obey the Islam law to the highest level