GOVERNMENT IN SOUTHWEST ASIA

SS7CG4 - The student will explain various forms of governmentSS7CG5 – The student will explain the structures of the national government of Southwest Asia

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.

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?

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

EXAMPLES OF GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS

UNITARY FEDERAL CONFEDERATION

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

EXAMPLES OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

Autocracy – Nazi Germany Oligarchy – U.S.S.R. Democracy – United States

TYPES OF DEMOCRACY: PARLIAMENTARY VS PRESIDENTIAL

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

Parliamentary DemocracyPresidential Democracy

EXAMPLE OF PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

EXAMPLE OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

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

Israel – Parliamentary Democracy

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

Iran - Theocracy

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

Saudi Arabia - Monarchy