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
Iran

• Iran is a large country with a large population,
  rich history, and valuable natural resources.
• Iran has a population of about 68 millionone of
  the largest in Southwest Asia.
• Ethnic Persians make up a slight majority.
• Other groups include ethnic Azerbaijanis, Kurds,
  Arabs, and Turkomans.
• Persian is the official language.
• Almost all Iranians speak Persian.

3
Iran

• The Shia branch of Islam is Irans official
  religion.
• About 90 percent of Iranians are Shia.
• About 10 percent of Irans residents are Sunni
  Muslim.
• The rest are Christian, Jewish, or practice other
  religions.

4
Iran Form of Government

• In 1979, Muslim revolutionaries overthrew Irans
  constitutional monarchy.
• Iran has been a theocracy (Islamic republic with
  a presidential system) ever since the Islamic
  Revolution of 1979.
• The government of Iran is now based on Islamic
  law.

5
Iran Title of Leader

• The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, is a
  religious leader, is chief of state and has final
  say on all matters.
• The Supreme Leader is commander-in-chief of the
  armed forces, controls military intelligence, and
  has sole power to declare war or peace.

6
Iran Becoming the Leader

• The Supreme Leader is selected by the Council of
  Experts.
• The Council of Experts, as well as the
  legislature and president, are elected by popular
  vote.

7
Iran Becoming the Leader

• While the president, Hasan Fereidun Ruhani, is
  head of government, he may be removed by the
  Supreme Leader at any time.

8
Iran Becoming the LeaderIts Complicated!
9
Iran Role of Citizen (Voting Rights)

• There is universal suffrage (voting) for everyone
  over 18.

10
Iran Role of Citizen (Personal Freedoms)

• The role of the citizen in Iran is to obey the
  Supreme Leader.
• The citizens of Iran have limited personal
  freedoms. Iranian citizens do not have freedom
  of speech or freedom of the press.