Middle East Government

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How do governments distribute power?

Unitary Government System

• The central government holds nearly all of the power.

• Some unitary governments have elected officials who carry out laws without taking the opinions of locals

• Monarchies are unitary• Example; Saudi Arabia

Confederation

• Local governments hold all of the power and the central government depends on the local governments for its existence.

• The central government has only as much power as the local gives it.

• No countries today that have a confederation.

• Example: OPEC

Central Government

= direction of power

= political unit ie. state

Federal Government

• A political system in which power is shared among different levels of governments.

• Power is divided into national and state governments.

• Example: Israel

Central Government

= political unit ie. state

= direction of power

How do citizen’s participate in the government?

Autocratic Government

• One is which the ruler has absolute power to do whatever he wishes and makes and enforces whatever laws he chooses.

• People have little or no choice.

• Many different types of autocratic governments

• Examples:

Oligarchy

• Means “government by the few”

• A political party or other small group takes over a government and makes all of the major decisions.

• People have little choice and go along with decisions these leaders make.

• Examples: Iran and Syria

Democratic Government System

• A great deal of power is in the hands of the people.

• Goal is to have as much individual freedom as possible.

• Decisions are often made by majority votes.

• Example: Israel, Iraq

DEMOCRACY•Parliamentary

• People vote for the political party that they want to represent them.

• This group is called the Parliament

• The Parliament makes and carries out laws

• In many cases Parliament chooses a leader called the Prime Minister

• Example: Israel

•Presidential • A President or chief executive

is chosen separately from the legislature.

• The legislature is also chosen. Its job is to pass laws.

• The president is given specific powers.

REPUBLIC• A Republic is a

representative democracy. The people FREELY choose leaders who will represent their views in government. Countries in the Middle East, however, use the term loosely. Many countries that claim to be republics are actually dictatorships.

• Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and *Israel (a true Republic)

HEREDITARY MONARCHY• In an Absolute

Monarchy the king/queen/etc. has total control. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman are Monarchs. There is no constitution and the king rules for life. The people do not choose the king.

THEOCRACY• A Theocracy is a

government ruled by religious leaders according to religious law.

• The constitution of Iran is written following the codes of Islam and the law of Iran are Islamic law. It has elected leaders chosen from two main parties both of which are Muslim. Its Chief of State is a religious leader appointed for life.

• Country - Iran