Legislature - The Knesset

The name and number of membership –set at 120- of Israel’s legislative body the Knesset (Israel's parliament) is taken from the Knesset Hagedolah (Great Assembly), the representative Jewish council convened in Jerusalem by Ezra and Nehemiah in the 5th century BCE.

The Knesset usually serves a four year term, beginning to function after general elections, which determine its composition. In the first session, Knesset members declare their allegiance, and the Knesset speaker and deputy speakers are elected. The Knesset may dissolve itself or be dissolved by the prime minister any time during its term. Until a new Knesset is formally constituted following elections, full authority remains with the outgoing one.

The Knesset operates in plenary sessions and through 15 standing and special committees: the anti-drug abuse committee; the constitution, law and justice committee; the economic affairs committee; the education and culture committee; the finance committee; the foreign affairs and defense committee; the house committee; the immigration, absorption and diaspora affairs committee; the internal affairs and environment committee; the labor, social welfare and health committee; the state control committee; the committee on foreign workers; the committee on science and technology; the committee on the status of the child; and the committee on the status of women.

In plenary sessions, general debates are conducted on legislation submitted by the government or by individual Knesset members, as well as on government policy and activity. Debates are conducted in Hebrew, but members may speak Arabic, as both are official languages. Simultaneous translation is available.

The Government

The government, made up of a cabinet of ministers, is responsible for administering internal and foreign affairs, including security matters. It is the executive authority of the state with extensive policy-making powers. It is authorized to take action on any issue which is not legally incumbent upon another authority.

The government usually meets once a week, or more when necessary and determines its own working and decision-making procedures. It may also act through ministerial committees.

All governments to date have been based on coalitions of several parties, since no party has ever received enough Knesset seats to form a government by itself.
It is upon the President (following consultations) to present the responsibility of forming a government to one Knesset member. This Knesset member then has 28 days to present a list of ministers for Knesset approval, together with an outline of proposed government guidelines.

Once approved, the ministers are responsible to the prime minister for the fulfillment of their duties and accountable to the Knesset for their actions. Most ministers are assigned a portfolio and head a ministry; ministers who function without portfolio may be called upon to assume responsibility for special projects. The prime minister may also serve as a minister with a specific portfolio.

Like the Knesset, the government usually serves for four years, but its term may be shortened by the resignation or death of the prime minister, or a vote of no-confidence by the Knesset.

The Court System

The independence of the judiciary is guaranteed by law. Judges are appointed by the president, upon recommendation of a nominations committee comprised of Supreme Court judges, members of the bar and public figures. Appointments are permanent, with mandatory retirement at age 70.
The different courts which exist are:

The Magistrates' Court which consists of one judge and deals with Civil and minor criminal offenses; jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases.

The District Court consisting of one or three judges, an appellate jurisdiction over magistrates' courts; and original jurisdiction in more important civil and criminal cases.

The Supreme Court consists of 1,3,5 or in certain cases a larger uneven number of judges. Ultimate appellate jurisdiction nationwide; right to address issues when necessary to intervene for the sake of justice; authority to release persons illegally detained or imprisoned; sitting as a High Court of Justice, hears petitions against any government body or agent and is the court of first and last instance.

There are Special Courts with one judge that deal with Traffic, labor, juvenile, military and municipal courts, with clearly defined jurisdiction; administrative tribunals.  And Religious courts with 1or 3 judges and jurisdiction in matters of personal status (marriage, divorce, maintenance, guardianship, adoption) vested in judicial institutions of the respective religious communities: Jewish rabbinical courts, Muslim sharia courts, Druze religious courts, ecclesiastical courts of the ten recognized Christian communities in Israel.

The Presidency

As the head of state, the nasi (president) bears the ancient title of the head of the Sanhedrin, which was the supreme legislative and judicial body of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel in ancient times. The president is elected by a simple majority of the Knesset from among candidates nominated on the basis of their personal stature and lifelong contribution to the state. Revised legislation (1998) provides for the election of the president for a single term of seven years.

Although Presidential duties, are mostly ceremonial and formal, The presidency is seen as symbolizing the nation's unity, above and beyond party politics. The President’s duties are defined by law and include: opening the first session of a new Knesset; directing a member of Knesset to form a new government; accepting the credentials of foreign envoys; signing treaties and laws adopted by the Knesset; appointing, on recommendation of appropriate bodies, the heads of Israel's diplomatic missions abroad, judges and the governor of the Bank of Israel; and pardoning prisoners, on advice of the minister of justice. In addition, the president performs public functions and informal tasks such as hearing citizens' appeals, lending prestige to community organizations and strengthening campaigns to improve the quality of life in the society at large.

Elections

On election day all citizens from the age of 18 are eligible to vote. The entire country constitutes a single electoral constituency and voters express their democratic right and obligation by casting a ballot for a political party to represent them in the Knesset. Elections are general, national, direct, equal, secret and proportional. A large percentage of registered voters have, in past elections, cast their ballots expressing a high interest (between 77and 90 %) among the Israeli population in national and local politics. Election day is a national holiday, with free transportation available to voters who happen to be outside their polling district on that day. Polling stations are provided for military personnel, hospital patients and prisoners, as well as for merchant seamen and Israelis on official assignment abroad. Regional election committees oversee the proper functioning of local polling committees, which include representatives of at least three parties in the outgoing Knesset.

There are many political parties which run for the Knesset and they reflect a wide range of outlooks and beliefs. Prior to elections, each party presents its platform and a list of Knesset candidates in order of precedence, determined through various internal procedures; candidates must be Israeli citizens over 21 years of age.  In Knesset elections the vote is for a party rather than for individuals.
Parties in the outgoing Knesset may automatically stand for reelection; other parties may present their candidacy by obtaining the signatures of 2,500 eligible voters and depositing a bond, which is refunded if they succeed in receiving at least 1.5 percent of the national vote, entitling them to one Knesset seat. Knesset seats are assigned in proportion to each party's percentage of the total national vote. A party's surplus votes, insufficient for an additional seat, are redistributed among the various parties according to their proportional size, or as agreed between parties prior to the elections. An allocation, funding the expenses of election campaigns is granted to each party from public funds, based on its number of seats in the outgoing Knesset. New parties receive a similar allocation retroactively for each member elected. The state comptroller reviews the disbursement of all campaign expenditures.