Social Studies Terms

• Theocracy- government that believes God is the supreme ruler and religious leaders are political leaders

• Republic -a political system or form of government in which people elect representatives to exercise power for them

• Theocratic Republic – a government based on religious principals and the wishes of its people.

• Ayatollah- A Shia religious leader, who takes an important political as religious role.

SS7CG5 The student will explain the structures of the national governments of Southwest Asia (Middle East). a. 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.

EQ: What are the structures of government in Southwest Asia?

Let’s review Government

• What are the different government systems we talked about last week?

• What are the different systems of citizen participation?

• What are some similarities and differences between a presidential democratic system of government and a parliamentary democratic system of government?

Iran

In 1979, the Islamic, or Iranian, revolution overthrew the monarchy that had ruled Iran for centuries.

Today, Iran is a theocratic republic.

Iran The head of state is the Supreme Leader, who is

always an ayatollah, or recognized religious authority.

The supreme leader, he has constitutional authority or substantial influence over the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government as well as the military and media.

The Supreme Leader is more powerful than the president.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts and holds the position for life unless the Assembly decides he is no longer fit for office.

The assembly consists of 86 religious scholars. The people elect the assembly by popular vote. At the age of 16 all Iranians gain the right to vote.

The people also elect the president. The president governs based on the religious

guidance of the ayatollah. The supreme leader has final say over many of the

president’s decisions. The president can serve two terms of four years

each.

Hassan Rouhani is the 7th and current President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Ali KhameneiHis Eminence

Ayatollah

Iran’s legislature is called the Consultative assembly.

It consists of 290 members who serve four years. The Supreme Court and the four member High

Council of the Judiciary supervise the enforcement of all laws and establish legal policies.

Iran’s Constitution

• The constitution guarantees certain personal freedoms and equal rights regardless of ethnic group or tribe. Only when these right do not conflict with the principals of Islam.

• Treads of Islam are throughout the Iranian government.

• A person can be arrested for treason if he or she disagrees with the government.

• Women have fewer rights than men.

Quick Quiz

Fact or Opinion1.The Supreme Leader in Iran has more power

than the President.2.It must be hard to live in a theocracy.3.Both men and women can vote in Iran.4.Iran has a constitution.5.It’s fine that men have more rights than

women.

Social Studies Terms

• Monarchy- a political system in which a state is ruled by a king or queen

SS7CG5 The student will explain the structures of the national governments of Southwest Asia (Middle East). a. 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.

EQ: What are the structures of government in Southwest Asia?

Israel

Israel has a unitary system of government. Israel has a representative parliamentary democracy. The head of state is the president, who actually does

not have much power. The Israeli prime minister is the head of the

government.

Israel

The legislature elects the president. The president then chooses the head of the largest

political party to be the prime minister. The prime minister must organize a coalition to

govern. A coalition is a group of several different political

parties that have to cooperate in order to make decisions.

President of Israel:Shimon Peres serves 7 years (once)

Prime Minister of Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu

The Israeli legislature is called the Knesset. The Knesset holds most of the power in the

Israeli government. The Supreme Court is the head of the judicial

branch.

All of Israel’s citizens can vote after the age of 18. Elections are held in Israel every four years. Israel has no written constitution, but they do

protect the basic rights of their citizens. Most of their problems are discrimination and

unequal rights for Arab-Israelis and domestic violence against women.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's government is one of the few absolute monarchies in the world today.

It is a heredity monarchy meaning it stays in the family. The king is both chief of government and religious official.

The words on the flag are: The is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.

King Abdullah

Saudi Arabia The government is a monarchy governed by Islamic

Shari’a Law.(law based on the teachings of the Quran)

In 2004, however, the Saudi government began allowing men who are 21 and older to vote for half of their local officials.

Saudi Arabia The king has a cabinet called the Council of Ministers

which consists of members of the royal family. The Saudi legislature is called the Consultative Council. The king chooses 2/3 of the members of the Council. Men who are 21 and older to vote for half of their local

officials and 1/3 of the Consultative Council.

There is no written constitution, and the king rules for life

The people of Saudi Arabia do not choose the king

When a king dies, the Saudi family announces who the next king will be from among their male family members.

Human rights and personal freedoms are often denied in Saudi Arabia.

Because they value their position in the world they are trying to correct some of these injustices.

Religion and Southwest Asian Governments

In the United States and many western nations, religion and politics tend to be separate.

In much of the Middle East, however, religion and politics are often mixed.

Since the majority of the people in the region are Muslim, religion also influences the way people vote