Unit 3 Political Unit 3 Political Development of the Development of the

Middle EastMiddle EastStandardStandard:: Civics and Government Civics and Government

UnderstandingsUnderstandingsSS7CG5SS7CG5 The Student will explain the structures The Student will explain the structures

of the national governments of Southwest of the national governments of Southwest Asia (Middle East)Asia (Middle East)

a.a. Compare the parliamentary democracy of Compare the parliamentary democracy of the State of Israel, the monarchy of the the State of Israel, the monarchy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the theocracy Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the theocracy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, distinguishing of the Islamic Republic of Iran, distinguishing the form of leadership and the role of the the form of leadership and the role of the citizen in terms if voting rights and personal citizen in terms if voting rights and personal freedoms.freedoms.

Essential Question:Essential Question: How are governments in the Middle East How are governments in the Middle East

organized?organized?

Form of Government:Form of Government:

ParliamentaryParliamentary Democracy since its Democracy since its

independence on May 14, 1948. independence on May 14, 1948.

The State of IsraelThe State of Israel

3 Branches of 3 Branches of Government:Government:

1. Executive Branch: 1. Executive Branch:

Head of GovernmentHead of Government – – Prime MinisterPrime Minister, , elected by the people of Israel. elected by the people of Israel. Prime Minister- Prime Minister- Benyamin NetanyahuBenyamin NetanyahuViceVice Prime Ministers- Silva Shalom Prime Ministers- Silva Shalom

and Moshe Yaalon and Moshe Yaalon Chief of State – President Shimon Chief of State – President Shimon

Peres, a Peres, a ceremonialceremonial role, elected by role, elected by the Knesset for one term lasting the Knesset for one term lasting 77 years.years.

3 Branches of 3 Branches of Government:Government:

2. Legislative Branch:2. Legislative Branch:The Knesset The Knesset – – Israel’s parliamentIsrael’s parliament

Their JobTheir Job•Make Make lawslaws, supervises government , supervises government activities, and is empowered to activities, and is empowered to electelect or or removeremove the President of the President of the State.the State.

MembersMembers•120120 seats, members elected by seats, members elected by popularpopular vote, serve vote, serve 44 year terms year terms

•Currently, Currently, 1212 political parties political parties represented in the Knesset. represented in the Knesset.

3 Branches of 3 Branches of Government:Government:

2. Legislative Branch:2. Legislative Branch:

Constitution Constitution – No – No formalformal constitution; constitution; but working on a draft since May 2003. but working on a draft since May 2003.

They follow the: They follow the: Declaration of Declaration of EstablishmentEstablishment 1948 1948The The BasicBasic Laws of the Knesset Laws of the KnessetThe Israeli The Israeli CitizenshipCitizenship Law Law

3 Branches of 3 Branches of Government:Government:

3. Judicial Branch:Legal System

A mixture of English common law and British mandate regulations.

Independent Judicial SystemIncludes secular and religious courts dealing (Jewish, Christians, Muslims) with personal matters.

Supreme CourtThe highest courtSupreme Court Justices are appointed by a Judicial Selection Committee, approved by President, mandatory retirement age is 70.

Role of the CitizenRole 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 rightsReligion, language, education, cultureSpeech, assembly, and occupation

Islamic Republic of IranIslamic Republic of IranForm of Government:Form of Government: Theocratic Theocratic

RepublicRepublic since its independence on since its independence on April 1, 1979. April 1, 1979. A A theocracytheocracy is a government ruled by is a government ruled by

religiousreligious leaders according to leaders according to religiousreligious law. law.

3 Branches of Government:3 Branches of Government: 1. Executive Branch:1. Executive Branch:

Head of GovernmentHead of Government – – AyatollahAyatollah: title : title given to given to Shia religious leaders.Shia religious leaders.

1. Executive Branch:1. Executive Branch: Chief of State – Supreme Chief of State – Supreme LeaderLeader Ayatollah Ali Ayatollah Ali

Hoseini-Khamenei (appointed for Hoseini-Khamenei (appointed for lifelife), is), is Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-Chief of the of the armed forcesarmed forces, , controls the controls the militarymilitary intelligence and intelligence and securitysecurity operations; and has the operations; and has the only poweronly power to to declare war and remove the president.declare war and remove the president.

Head of Government – President Mahmud Head of Government – President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad (elected to Ahmadi-Nejad (elected to 4-year4-year term), term), appoints and supervises the Council of appoints and supervises the Council of MinistersMinisters, coordinates government decisions, , coordinates government decisions, oversees oversees economiceconomic policy and policy and national national affairsaffairs, and selects government policies to be , and selects government policies to be placed before the legislature.placed before the legislature.

First Vice President – Parviz Davudi First Vice President – Parviz Davudi

3 Bodies of the Executive 3 Bodies of the Executive BranchBranch

Assembly of ExpertsAssembly of Experts – a group of – a group of 8686 clerics (clergy) clerics (clergy) elected to elected to 8-year8-year terms. The Assembly appoints and terms. The Assembly appoints and removes the removes the ““Supreme LeaderSupreme Leader”” (highest level of (highest level of clergyman) who yields significant power in the clergyman) who yields significant power in the country.country.

Expediency Council – has supervisory authority over Expediency Council – has supervisory authority over the the executiveexecutive, , judicialjudicial, and , and legislativelegislative branches. It branches. It resolves legislative issues and advises religious resolves legislative issues and advises religious leaders on national policy.leaders on national policy.

Council of Guardians of the Constitution – determines Council of Guardians of the Constitution – determines whether proposed legislation is both whether proposed legislation is both constitutionalconstitutional and faithful to and faithful to IslamicIslamic law, chooses suitable law, chooses suitable candidatescandidates, and supervises national , and supervises national electionselections..

2. Legislative Branch:2. Legislative Branch:Islamic Consultative AssemblyIslamic Consultative Assembly (Majles) (Majles) Their JobTheir Job

Make Make lawslaws can summon or can summon or impeachimpeach ministers or ministers or the president, and also the president, and also draftsdrafts legislation and legislation and approves the national approves the national budgetbudget..

MembersMembers 290290 seats, members seats, members electedelected by popular vote, by popular vote,

serve serve 4 year4 year terms termsConstitution Constitution - The Constitution of Iran is written - The Constitution of Iran is written

following the codes of following the codes of IslamIslam and the laws of and the laws of Iran are Iran are Islamic lawIslamic law. .

Founded December 1979Founded December 1979 Revised in 1989 – Revised in 1989 – expandedexpanded powers of the powers of the

presidency and presidency and eliminatedeliminated the prime the prime minister. minister.

3. Judicial Branch:3. Judicial Branch:Legal SystemLegal System Based on Based on Shari’aShari’a law system ( law system (Islamic lawIslamic law).).

Supreme Court and the High Council of the Supreme Court and the High Council of the JudiciaryJudiciary

Have a Have a singlesingle head and overlapping head and overlapping responsibilities.responsibilities.

Supervises the enforcement of all Supervises the enforcement of all lawslaws Establish Establish judicialjudicial and and legallegal policies policies

Lower CourtsLower Courts Includes a special clerical (Includes a special clerical (religiousreligious) court, a ) court, a

revolutionaryrevolutionary court and a special court and a special administrativeadministrative court. court.

Role of the CitizenRole of the CitizenSuffrageSuffrage – the right to vote at age – the right to vote at age 1515..Personal FreedomsPersonal Freedoms AllAll people of Iran enjoy people of Iran enjoy equalequal rights rights The formation of The formation of partiesparties, societies, political or , societies, political or

professional associations, as well as professional associations, as well as religiousreligious societies is permitted provided they do not societies is permitted provided they do not violateviolate the principles of independence, freedom, national the principles of independence, freedom, national unity, the criteria of unity, the criteria of IslamIslam

To provide every citizen with the To provide every citizen with the opportunityopportunity to work to work To benefit from social security and free To benefit from social security and free educationeducation All citizens have the right to access the All citizens have the right to access the courtcourt Publications and the press have Publications and the press have freedomfreedom of of

expression expression exceptexcept when it is when it is detrimentaldetrimental to the to the fundamental principles of fundamental principles of IslamIslam or the rights of the or the rights of the public.public.

Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaKingdom of Saudi Arabia

Form of GovernmentForm of Government:: MonarchyMonarchy (absolute/hereditary) since the kingdom (absolute/hereditary) since the kingdom was unified on September 23, 1932.was unified on September 23, 1932.

In an In an absoluteabsolute monarchy the king, queen, monarchy the king, queen, and royal family has total control.and royal family has total control.

In Saudi Arabia, the monarchs make In Saudi Arabia, the monarchs make allall the government decisions and determine the government decisions and determine the rights of the rights of citizenscitizens..

The king and those he The king and those he appointsappoints to to different positions run the whole country.different positions run the whole country.

3 Branches of Government:3 Branches of Government:1. Executive Branch:1. Executive Branch:

Head of Government-Head of Government- The The monarchmonarch is is both the both the ChiefChief of State and of State and HeadHead of of Government.Government.Chief of State/Head of Government- King Chief of State/Head of Government- King

and Prime Minister Abdullah bin Abdul al-and Prime Minister Abdullah bin Abdul al-Aziz Al Saud.Aziz Al Saud. The king’s powers are The king’s powers are limited limited within the bounds within the bounds

of Shari’a and other Saudi traditions. of Shari’a and other Saudi traditions. He must retain a He must retain a consensusconsensus of the Saudi of the Saudi royalroyal

family, family, religiousreligious leaders, and other important leaders, and other important elements in Saudi society. elements in Saudi society.

He is commander of the He is commander of the armed forcesarmed forces..

1. Executive Branch:1. Executive Branch: Deputy Prime Minister- The Crown Deputy Prime Minister- The Crown

Prince, Sultan bin abdul al-Aziz Al Saud.Prince, Sultan bin abdul al-Aziz Al Saud. Second Deputy Prime Minister- Nayif Second Deputy Prime Minister- Nayif

bin Abdul al-Aziz Al Saud.bin Abdul al-Aziz Al Saud.Council of Council of MinistersMinisters-- appointed by the appointed by the monarch every monarch every 44 years yearsIncludes many royal Includes many royal familyfamily members membersGives Gives adviceadvice on making general policies on making general policiesEstablished an Allegiance Commission in Established an Allegiance Commission in

November, 2006 that will select November, 2006 that will select futurefuture crown princes, after the Crown Prince crown princes, after the Crown Prince Sultan becomes king.Sultan becomes king.

2. Legislative Branch:2. Legislative Branch:Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura) their Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura) their

job:job: Have Have limitedlimited authority to question ministers and authority to question ministers and

propose new laws and amends existing ones.propose new laws and amends existing ones. The majlis serves as an advisory body the that The majlis serves as an advisory body the that

could make recommendations to the could make recommendations to the kingking.. Oct. 2003, announced intent to introduce Oct. 2003, announced intent to introduce

electionselections for for halfhalf of the members of local of the members of local assemblies and a third of the national assemblies and a third of the national Consultative Council, over a 4-5 year period. Consultative Council, over a 4-5 year period.

To date, To date, nono such such electionselections have been held. have been held. MembersMembers

150150 members and a chairman appointed by the members and a chairman appointed by the monarchmonarch for a for a 4-year4-year term. term.

2. Legislative Branch:2. Legislative Branch:ConstitutionConstitution - - No No formalformal constitution; but by a constitution; but by a

royal decreeroyal decree in in 19921992, they are governed , they are governed according to according to IslamicIslamic law, the basic law that law, the basic law that articulates the government’s articulates the government’s rightsrights and and responsibilitiesresponsibilities..

3. 3. Judicial Branch:Judicial Branch:Legal SystemLegal System Based on Shari’a law (Based on Shari’a law (IslamicIslamic law) and law) and

some secular codes have been introduced, some secular codes have been introduced, like capital and like capital and corporalcorporal punishments punishments ((deathdeath, stoning, amputations, flogging, , stoning, amputations, flogging, retribution with retribution with bloodblood money, and money, and honorhonor killings).killings).

Supreme Council of Justice:Supreme Council of Justice: 1212 are appointed by the monarch, based are appointed by the monarch, based

on Shari’a.on Shari’a. The The kingking acts as the acts as the highesthighest court of court of

appeal and has the right to appeal and has the right to pardonpardon in in cases where punishment is not ordained cases where punishment is not ordained in the in the QuranQuran..

CitizensCitizens have access to high officials and have access to high officials and the right to petition them directly:the right to petition them directly: There are no There are no political partiespolitical parties Political pressures comes from Ansar Al Political pressures comes from Ansar Al

Marah (supports Marah (supports women’swomen’s rights), rights), gasgas companies, and companies, and religiousreligious groups. groups.

Role of the CitizenRole of the CitizenSuffrageSuffrage - The citizens - The citizens do notdo not have the have the right to right to

votevote as there are as there are nono elections held since the elections held since the monarchy is monarchy is hereditary;hereditary; however, they list however, they list suffrage at suffrage at 2121, , malesmales only. only.

The only municipal (local) election held in The only municipal (local) election held in Saudi Arabia’s history was in Saudi Arabia’s history was in 20052005..

Personal FreedomsPersonal Freedoms 19921992, King Fahd became the , King Fahd became the firstfirst Saudi Saudi

monarch to compile these regulations into a monarch to compile these regulations into a singlesingle document called the main code document called the main code (nizam).(nizam).

Personal FreedomsPersonal Freedoms It prohibited government agencies from It prohibited government agencies from

arbitrarily arbitrarily arrestingarresting citizens or citizens or violatingviolating their privacy, but lacked clauses their privacy, but lacked clauses guaranteeingguaranteeing the the basicbasic rights of citizens rights of citizens to freedom of to freedom of beliefbelief, expression, , expression, assemblyassembly, or political participation., or political participation.Freedom of Freedom of limitedlimited education and for education and for

womenwomen in 1965. in 1965.Freedom of occupation, Freedom of occupation, healthhealth care, mass care, mass

mediamedia according to Islamic law. according to Islamic law.Freedom to Freedom to addressaddress public officials and public officials and filefile

law suits.law suits.

For Your Information: For Your Information: (you do not (you do not have to copy this down)have to copy this down)

►An absolute monarchy limits the rights An absolute monarchy limits the rights of the citizens and the king can take of the citizens and the king can take away any rights anyone may have.away any rights anyone may have.

►The rights of its citizens are threatened The rights of its citizens are threatened by the monarch whenever.by the monarch whenever.

►Saudi Arabia has been often accused of Saudi Arabia has been often accused of human rights violations.human rights violations.

► It is possible for an absolute monarchy It is possible for an absolute monarchy to have a fair and wise ruler; but it is to have a fair and wise ruler; but it is also possible to have an unfair and also possible to have an unfair and unwise ruler.unwise ruler.

For Your Information For Your Information (Continued): (Continued): (you do not have to copy this (you do not have to copy this down)down)

►There is no accountability for the actions of There is no accountability for the actions of an absolute monarch: they answer to no an absolute monarch: they answer to no one.one.

► In large countries it is also easy for In large countries it is also easy for monarchs to lose control of what is monarchs to lose control of what is happening in their own country because happening in their own country because people appointed by the King can easily people appointed by the King can easily take advantage of the citizens in the name take advantage of the citizens in the name of the King without the King’s knowledge or of the King without the King’s knowledge or approval.approval.

Now, by yourself, answer these Now, by yourself, answer these Qs:Qs:

Right There:Right There:► Who in Saudi Arabia’s government holds all the Who in Saudi Arabia’s government holds all the

power? power? Where did you find this answer in your Where did you find this answer in your notes?notes?

Putting It Together:Putting It Together:► What would be some disadvantages to living What would be some disadvantages to living

under an absolute monarch? under an absolute monarch? Explain why you Explain why you think sothink so..

On Your Own:On Your Own:► Do you feel that it is the United State’s Do you feel that it is the United State’s

responsibility to step into a country like Saudi responsibility to step into a country like Saudi Arabia, Iran, or Israel and make them run their Arabia, Iran, or Israel and make them run their country the same way we do? country the same way we do? Be sure to give Be sure to give this lots of thoughts, and back up your answer this lots of thoughts, and back up your answer with facts from our notes!with facts from our notes!

Ticket Out The Door:Ticket Out The Door:Compare/Contrast Iran, Saudi Arabia, Compare/Contrast Iran, Saudi Arabia,

and our own Governments:and our own Governments:Iran

United States

Saudi Arabia