Israel · Government
Government and administration in Israel
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of state — President
- Elected by the Knesset for seven years; largely ceremonial.
- Executive — Government led by the Prime Minister
- Requires the confidence of the Knesset.
- Legislative — Knesset
- Unicameral, 120 members, nationwide proportional representation with a threshold.
- Judicial governance — Judicial Selection Committee
- Nine members including judges, ministers, Knesset members and Bar representatives.
- Law officers — Attorney General
- Head of the prosecution and binding legal adviser to government.
How legislation is made
A bill passes a preliminary reading, committee stage and three readings in the Knesset. There is no upper chamber and no presidential veto, so a bare majority of those voting can enact primary legislation and, in most cases, amend a Basic Law. The Attorney General's opinion on legality is treated as binding on government, which makes that office a significant pre-enactment check in the absence of a second chamber.
Enforcement institutions
- Israel Police
- Under the Ministry of National Security; includes the Lahav 433 major crime unit.
- State Attorney's Office
- Prosecutes serious offences under the Attorney General.
- State Comptroller and Ombudsman
- Audits public bodies and handles complaints; reports to the Knesset.
- Israel Securities Authority
- Securities regulation and market enforcement.
- Privacy Protection Authority
- Enforces the Protection of Privacy Law.
Government bodies and regulators
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