Name: ____________________________________
Governments of the Middle East
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.
Country
The State of
Israel
The Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia
The Islamic
Republic of
Iran
Government Type
Is the
government
based on
religion?
Leader
How is the
leader
chosen?
Voting
Rights
Personal
Freedoms
KEY
Governments of the Middle East
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.
Country
The State of
Israel
Government Type
Parliamentary
Democracy
Is the
government
based on
religion?
No
Leader
Prime
Minister
How is the
leader
chosen?
Voting
Rights
Personal
Freedoms
Citizens elect
members of the
Knesset (Israel’s
legislature)
Prime Minister is then
picked from the
majority party in the
Knesset
Citizens
18 and
older
Freedom of Press
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Speech
Few personal
The Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia
Monarchy
Yes
(Islam)
King
(King is also
considered the
religious official
of Saudi Arabia)
King inherits the
leadership role.
(There is a newly
established council
whose responsibilities
include selecting a
successor from the
Saudi royal family.)
Legislature: 1/3rd
elected by voters,
2/3rd appointed by
King
Men 21
and
older,
few to
zero
elections
are held
freedoms.
Not allowed to speak
out against their
government, and have
limited human rights.
Religious police who
roam the streets to
make sure that Saudi
Arabians follow strict
codes of behavior and
dress outlined by
Islamic law.
The Islamic
Republic of
Iran
Theocracy
Yes
Supreme
Leader
(Islam)
President
Supreme Leader
chosen by
Assembly of
Experts and rules
for life.
President and
legislature are
elected by citizens
but not as
powerful as
Supreme Leader
Citizens
18 and
older
Do not have many
personal
freedoms.
They do have the
freedom of press
as long as it is not
damaging to the
principles of Islam.
Women have
fewer rights than
men.