Did You Know?Democracy in Israel?

members. A bill becomes a law after it has passed three readings and a vote in the Knes-set plenum.

The Executive branch of government is headed by the Prime Minister, who serves as the head of the government. He or she serves as the head of the government coalition. It is the Prime Minister’s responsibility to assemble a cabinet of ministers charged with executing the duties of government.

Israel is a parliamentary democracy with three branches of government – the execu-tive, legislative, and judicial. The three branches of government create a separa-tion of powers, in which one branch has the power and ability to check the power of another branch.

Israel’s legislative branch is the Knesset, a reference to the Knesset Ha-Gedolah (Great Assembly), the legislative body established by Ezra the Scribe in 70 CE. Like its ancient precursor, the Knesset has 120 members, all of whom are voted into office by the electorate. In order to gain representation in the Knesset, a party must receive at least 2% of the votes cast by the voters. Any Israeli citizen who reaches the age of 18 is entitled to vote.

The Knesset operates through many committee meetings and plenary sessions in which all Members of Knesset partici-pate. Bills may be submitted by the government or by individual Knesset

Inside the Knesset

Embassy of IsraelWashington, D.C.

www.israelemb.org

The Supreme CourtIsrael Ministry of Tourism

Israel Ministry of Tourism

The Knesset, Israel’s Parliament

The Declaration of the Establishment of the

State of Israel was publicly read and signed

in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948, before the

expiration of the British Mandate of Pales-

tine at midnight. On that day, the Vaad Leumi

(Jewish National Council) gathered at the

first site of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, today

known as Independence Hall, and approved

the proclamation.

Following the signing of the Declaration, a

13-member Provisional Government and a

Provisional Council of 37 members were

established. With the departure of the British

Mandatory forces, they became the provi-

sional government and legislature of the

state.

The Declaration discusses the Jewish

struggle to renew national life in the historic

land of Israel, especially after the tragedy of

the Holocaust in Europe. The founders

The Judicial branch of the government is

composed of three levels of courts: the Supreme

Court, district courts and magistrate courts.

Additionally, various types of tribunals take place

in independent judicial systems, among them,

the military, labor and religious courts.

The Supreme Court is the nation’s highest appel-

late court. Sitting as the High Court of Justice,

the Supreme Court also hears appeals against

the government. In addition, the Court maintains

the power of judicial review over Knesset legisla-

tion, empowering it to ensure the consistency of

laws with Israel’s Basic Laws.

The President is Israel’s head of state and serves

as a symbol of Israel. Once every seven years, the

Knesset holds a vote to elect the president. After

he or she is elected, the president is sworn into

office in a special session of Knesset.

The President receives heads of state visiting

Israel and ambassadors from foreign states. In

addition, the President represents Israel on state

visits abroad.

.

In 1949, Israel enacted a series of Basic Laws that

practically serves as a national constitution.

Israel’s Basic Laws include chapters on all

branches of government as well as on the basic

human right to liberty, dignity, and freedom of

livelihood.

The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel

declared the Jewish people’s right to live in a

sovereign state, and opens the doors for

Jewish immigration.

Moreover, it declares the state will be based

on freedom, justice and peace and will ensure

equality of social and political rights to all

inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or

sex.

Eleven minutes after the Declaration, the

United States formally recognized Israel.

.

The Declaration of theEstablishment of the

State of Israel

Israel’s first President, ChaimWeizman casts his vote in the

first general elections

The Knesset in session

For more information, please visit:• The Knesset: www.knesset.gov.il• The Prime Minister’s Office: www.pmo.gov.il• The Judicial Authority www.court.gov.il

David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first PrimeMinister, reads the Declaration

in Independence Hall

Prime Minister Olmert and his wife Alizameeting with President Bush