Name ________________________________ Part 1:Study Guide
Government Systems of the Middle East
1. What is the difference between a Federal and Unitary government structure?
2. What is the difference between an autocratic, oligarchic and democratic government (role
of citizen)?
3. What type of government structure/system is OPEC? EXPLAIN THE DISTRIBUTION OF
POWER.
4. Unitary, Confederation, or Federal? EXPLAIN WHY.
a. Israel
b. Iran
c. Saudi Arabia
5. What type of government allows ALL qualified citizens to elect (vote for) their leaders?
6. When a citizen INDIRECTLY elects the leader of their country, WHO do they elect (VOTE
FOR)?
7. What type of government is described in #6?
8. When a citizen DIRECTLY elects the leader of their country, what type of government is it?
9. In which type of government, does a small group of a ‘few’ citizens make decisions or have
any type of role in government?
10. How are the members of the small group decided?
11. How is a democratic government different than an oligarchic one?
12. Another name for the parliament is
13. What are the two types of democratic governments?
14. What is the difference between the two types of democratic governments from #13?
15. Which branch of government is responsible for making and carrying out laws in a
parliamentary system?
16. What is the form of leadership in Israel?
For 17-20 (not 19) choose from these words: UNITARY, FEDERAL, AUTOCRATIC,
OLIGARCHIC, AND DEMOCRATIC
17. Two words that describe the State of Israel are
18. Two words that describe Saudi Arabia are
19. Iran’s official name is: Islamic Republic of Iran. Explain why this is a really good name for
Iran.
20. What are the 3 words that describe Iran’s government? EXPLAIN WHY.
21. How does the leader of Israel come to power?
22. How does the leader of Saudi Arabia come to power?
23. How does the leader of Iran come to power?
24. Who is the Supreme Leader and where is he located?
25. What is unique about the leadership of Iran that Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have?
26. What is similar about the governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia?
27. Explain this statement: Iran looks like a presidential democracy but it doesn’t function
like one.
28. What term (autocratic, oligarchic or democratic) is associated with the ‘role of the citizen’
in Israel? Explain why.
29. What term (autocratic, oligarchic or democratic) is associated with the ‘role of the citizen’
in Iran? Explain why.
30. What term (autocratic, oligarchic or democratic) is associated with the ‘role of the citizen’
in Saudi Arabia? Explain why.
31. Place Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia on the continuum based on the personal freedoms of
the citizens.
Free
Free
Partly Free
32. Explain why you placed them on the continuum where you did.
Iran-
Israel-
Saudi Arabia-
Not