Comparisons between the Stuctures of the American and Israeli Governments

What are three important similarities between the governments of the Unites States and Israel?

1. Both vote 2. Both have an assembly in which laws are made 3. Both have a political leader

What are three important differences between the governments of the Unites States and Israel?

1. In America, you vote for a certain person not a political party like in Israel. 2. In America, there are checks and balances between the branches, unlike in Israel. 3. In America, there are only 3 branches of government, unlike in Israel where there are just two.

How many MK's are needed to pass a vote of no confidence?

2/3's

How many seats does a PM need to form a coalition?

61

What is a coalition and how does it POSITIVELY and NEGATIVELY affect the Israeli government?

A coalition an alliance in the government. This can be positively because then things can get done while hearing options on the matter. It may be negative because MKs may say they will only join if you do such and such which would give the PM limits

Bill

A law that pending to be made official

Coalition

An alliance in the government

What does the PM have to do with 45 days?

Create a coalition

How are the PM's Ministries determined?

It is determined by the PM's guide line

What power does the PM have over cabinet members?

He can appoint or remove them.

How is the Speaker of the Knesset chosen?

He is chosen by the Knesset

What is the role of the PM?

He is head of the Cabinet of Israel. Must form a Basic Guideline, coalition, and budget within a certain amount of time.

Deputy Prime Minister

He is like the Vice-President

What is the role of the Israeli President?

He is more like a political figure than a politician

Why does Israel not have a Constitution?

Israel does not have a constitution because they could never really agree about it.

What does Israel have instead of a constitution?

Israel has 11 basic laws.

Although Israel did try to have separate elections for the Prime Minister, why did they go back to their original system?

It went back because, the Prime Minister was from a different party than the MKs therefor had no support and failed.

Proportional Representation

Number of seats depends on how many votes

Speaker of the Knesset

Organizes schedule, has the power to command and arrest inside the Knesset, and when the President is out the state, he is the President

Representative Democracy

People elect representatives

Head of State

President

Head of Government

Prime Minister

Plenum

Required attendance to an assembly

How are the Prime Minister and President elected?

The PM and the President are chosen from the Knesset. The PM is chosen by the political party that won the election and so is the president

How is a bill made into a law in Israel?

STEP ONE: A member of the Knesset (MK), or committee submits a written proposal for a bill to the Knesset Presidium. STEP TWO: The bill must be approved by the Knesset Presidium to be presented to the Knesset STEP THREE: Proposal is given to MK's. A typical wait period of 45 days is issued before formal reading of bill. STEP FOUR: The bill is read in the Plenum. MK's vote. STEP FIVE: If the bill is passed it is publicized in the Official Gazette. If not, the bill goes back and forth to committee for the revision process.

What United States legislative body is the Knesset most similar to?

The House of Representatives

Ministry

The cabinet is divided into Ministries and the people who serve on those committees

What is the purpose of the Knesset committees?

The committees discuss bills after they have passed preliminary and first readings, deal with motions for the agenda that have been passed on to them by the plenum, or discuss urgent motions passed on by the Knesset Presidium, draft recommendations, discuss regulations that require their approval, and handle requests by citizens.

What happens to the current government once a no-confidence motion is passed?

The government becomes a "transitional government" until elections are held (then a new government is formed).

What is the job of the Knesset?

To make laws

How do elections take place in Israel?

You vote for a political party not a specific person

Parliamentary Democracy

a government whose executive branch is chosen by the legislative branch

Unicameral

one body

Bicameral

two bodies