Compare and Contrast Middle East Governments

1
Compare and Contrast Middle East Governments

• Read through the Power Point Presentation
  pertaining to your Middle Eastern Country
  (Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran) and complete your
  criteria organizer including the following
  information
• Identify the form of government
• title of the leader
• Identify how the person becomes the leader
• Determine what role the citizen plays in the
  government
• Determine personal freedoms (Freedom of Speech,
  Freedom of the Press)

2
Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Arabia is by far the largest country of the
  Arabian Peninsula.
• Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter Mecca,
  Islams holiest city.

3
Saudi Arabia

• In the 1920s a local ruler from the Saud family
  of central Arabia conquered his neighbors and in
  1932 created the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Members of the Saud family have ruled the country
  ever since.
• Riyadh, a city near the center of the country,
  became the capital.    

4
Saudi Arabia Form of Government

• The government of Saudi Arabia is an Islamic
  Absolute Monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons
  of the first king, Abd Al Aziz Al Saud.

5
Saudi Arabia Form of Government

• Saudi Arabias government has no written
  constitution or elected legislature however, its
  basic law of government proclaims that the Quran
  is the constitution of the country which is
  governed on the basis of the Sharia (Islamic
  Law).

6
Saudi Arabia Title of Leader

• King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud is the is
  the current King of Saudi Arabia and Head of the
  House of Saud.
• Most government officials are relatives of the
  king.
• The king may ask members of his family, Islamic
  scholars, and tribal leaders for advice on
  important decisions.

7
Saudi Arabia Becoming the Leader

• The right of succession is hereditary (passed
  down through the family).
• A newly established council selects a successor
  among the crown princes of the Saudi royal
  family.
• The Kings power is limited by Islamic law and he
  must build consensus among religious leaders and
  other influential Saudis.

8
Saudi Arabia Role of Citizen (Voting Rights)

• There are no voting rights or official political
  parties in this country.
• The role of the citizen in Saudi Arabia is to
  obey the King.

9
Saudi Arabia Role of Citizen (Personal Freedoms)

• The citizens of Saudi Arabia have limited
  personal freedoms. Saudi Arabian citizens do not
  have freedom of speech or freedom of press.