Israel is a parliamentary democracy consisting of Legislative, el Executive y el Judicial. branches. Its institutions are the Presidency, the Knesset (parliament), the government (cabinet of ministers) and the judiciary.The system is based on the principle of separation of powers, in which the executive branch (the government) is subject to the confidence of the legislative branch (the Knesset) and the independence of the judiciary is guaranteed by law.
The nasí (president) bears the ancient title of the head of the Sanhedrin, the supreme legislative and judicial body of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel in ancient times. The president is the head of state, with the presidency symbolizing the nation’s unity, above and beyond party politics.
The president, is elected por simple mayoría de los miembros de la Knéset 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
Presidential duties, which are mostly ceremonial and formal, are defined by law. They 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.
Jaim Weizmann
(1949-52),
Zionist leader, Prominent scientist
Itzjak Ben Tzvi
(1952-63),
Head of the Jewish Agency, historian
Zalman Shazar
(1963-73),
Politician, Scholar, Historian, Author, Poet
Efraim Katzir
(1973-78),
Renowned biochemist
Itzjak Navón
(1978-83),
Politician, Educator, Autor
Jaim Herzog
(1983-93),
Attorney, General, Diplomat, Autor
Ezer Weizman
(1993-2000),
Air force general, Politician, Businessman
Moshé Katsav
(2000-2007),
Social leader, Politician
Shimon Peres
(2007 – 2014),
Statesman, Public servant and parliamentarian
Reuvén Rivlin
(2014 – Actualmente),
Politician and Lawyer
The Knesset (Israel’s unicameral parliament) is the country’s legislative body. The Knesset took its name and fixed its membership at 120 from the Knesset Hagedolah (Great Assembly), the representative Jewish council convened in Jerusalem by Ezra and Nehemiah in the 5th century BCE.
The executive authority of the state is the government (cabinet of ministers), charged with administering internal and foreign affairs, including security matters. Its policy-making powers are very wide, and it is authorized to take action on any issue which is not legally incumbent upon another authority.
The cabinet determines its own working the formation of a government, a list of ministers for Knesset approval, together with an outline of proposed government guidelines. All the ministers must be Israeli citizens and residents of Israel and all must be Knesset members.
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.
Elections are general, national, direct, equal, secret, and proportional. The entire country constitutes a single electoral constituency, and all citizens are eligible to vote from age 18. On Election Day, voters cast a ballot for a political party to represent them in the Knesset.
