MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
|
|
Israel
Index
The Knesset, or Parliament, of Israel, Jerusalem
Courtesy Embassy of Israel, Washington
A Yitzhaq Shamir, Prime Minister of Israel and head of
the Likud Party
Courtesy Embassy of Israel, Washington
Shimon Peres, leader of the Labor Party
Courtesy Embassy of Israel, Washington
The Knesset is a unicameral parliament and the supreme
authority of the state. Its 120 members are elected by universal
suffrage for a four-year term under a system of proportional
representation. Basic Law: the Knesset provides for "general
countryside, direct, equal, secret, and proportional" elections.
This provision means that if, for example, in a national election
a given party list received approximately 36,000 votes, it would be
entitled to two seats in the Knesset. As a result, the top two
names on the party's list would obtain Knesset seats. The
legislative authority of the Knesset is unlimited, and legislative
enactments cannot be vetoed by either the president or the prime
minister nor can such enactments be nullified by the Supreme Court.
The regular four-year term of the Knesset can be terminated only by
the Knesset, which can then call for a new general election before
its term expires.
The Knesset also has broad power of direction and supervision
over government operations. It approves budgets, monitors
government performance by questioning cabinet ministers, provides
a public forum for debate of important issues, conducts
wide-ranging legislative inquiries, and can topple the cabinet
through a vote of no confidence that takes precedence over all
other parliamentary business. The Knesset works through eleven
permanent legislative committees, including the House Committee,
which handles parliamentary rules and procedures, and the Law and
Justice Committee, usually referred to as "Law." The jurisdictions
of the remaining committees are the constitution, finance, foreign
affairs and security, immigration and absorption, economics,
education and culture, internal affairs and environment, labor and
welfare, and state control. Committee assignments are made by the
Arrangements Committee, a committee consisting of representatives
of the various parties established at the beginning of each Knesset
session, enabling each party to determine for itself where it wants
its stronger delegates placed. Committee assignments are for the
duration of the Knesset's tenure. Committee chairmen are formally
elected at the first meeting of each respective committee upon the
nomination of the House Committee. As a rule, however, the
chairmanship of important committees is reserved for members of the
ruling coalition. If a member resigns from his or her party, the
place on the committee reverts to the party, even if the member
remains in the Knesset.
Among the first tasks of a new Knesset is to assign members to
the various standing committees and to elect a speaker, his or her
deputies, and the chairmen of committees. The speaker is assisted
by a presidium of several deputies chosen by the Knesset from the
major parties. At a minimum, the Knesset is required to hold two
sessions a year and to sit not fewer than eight months during the
two sessions. The Knesset meets weekly to consider items on its
agenda, but not on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in deference to
its Muslim, Jewish, and Christian members. Agendas are set by the
speaker to permit the questioning of ministers and the
consideration of proposals from the government or motions from
members. Time allocations to individual members and parties are
made in advance by the speaker so as to preclude filibusters or
cloture. Other than national emergencies, budgetary issues have
usually been the most important items dealt with by the Knesset at
any of its session.
Following the British pattern, legislation is generally
introduced by the cabinet; to a lesser extent it is initiated by
various Knesset committees; and in limited cases, private bills are
initiated by individual Knesset members. Bills are drafted by the
ministries concerned in consultation with the Ministry of Justice.
By majority vote of the cabinet, draft bills are sent to the
speaker of the Knesset for legislative action. Proposed bills are
considered by appropriate committees and go through three readings
before being voted on by the Knesset after the third reading. Any
number of Knesset members present constitutes a quorum, and a
simple majority of those present is required for passage.
Exceptions to this rule apply in the election or removal of the
president of the state, removal of the state comptroller, changes
to the system of proportional elections, and changes to or repeal
of Basic Laws; in these instances, required majorities are
specified by law.
Apart from the Knesset, which is the principal source of
legislation, such public institutions as ministries, local
authorities, and independent bodies can frame rules and regulations
or subsidiary legislation on a wide range of matters. Subsidiary
legislation has the effect of law, but it can be declared invalid
by the courts when it contravenes any enactment of the Knesset.
Knesset members are granted extensive legal immunity and
privileges. Their special legal status, which many observers regard
as excessive, ranges from parliamentary immunity to protection from
criminal proceedings for the entire period of Knesset membership.
Immunity extends to acts committed before becoming a Knesset
member, although such immunity can be removed by the Knesset upon
the recommendation of the House Committee. Knesset members are also
exempt from compulsory military service. The official language of
the Knesset is Hebrew, but Arab members may address the legislature
in Arabic, with simultaneous translation provided.
Data as of December 1988
|
|