Elections in Israel
Encyclopedia : E : EL : ELE : Elections in Israel
Israel elects its national legislature, the Knesset, by proportional representation on a national list basis. The Knesset has 120 members, elected for terms of four years. However, most of the elections in the country's history were not held on their scheduled date but after less than 4 years (only one of the last 8 Knesset assemblies completed its full term). Early elections can be called by a vote of the majority of Knesset members, or by an edict of the President, and normally occur on occasions of political stalement and inability of the government to get the parliament's support for its policy. Failure to get the annual budget bill approved by the Knesset by March 31st (3 months after the start of the fiscal year) also leads automatically to early elections.
The Israeli electoral system has an electoral threshold of 2%, making it more favourable to minor parties than systems used in other countries. Israel has a multi-party system and generally no one party is able to form a government, requiring the parties to form coalition governments. In 1992, Israel adopted a system of direct election of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was directly elected separately from the Knesset in 1996, 1999 and 2001. The direct election of the Prime Minister was abandoned after the 2001 election, because it didn't produce more stable governments (the 2001 elections were held less than 2 years after the previous one), and led to further fragmentation of the parliament.
Israel also has a President, but his/her role is essentially a figurehead position, with the real governmental power being in the hands of the Prime Minister.
Every Israeli of age 18 or greater may vote in elections. Any Israeli citizen over 21 may be elected to the Knesset, except holders of several high positions in the civil service and officers or career soldiers (those should resign from their post before the elections), soldiers in compulsory service, and felons who were convicted and sentenced to prison terms exceeding 3 months (until 7 years after their prison term expired). Also, Israelis who have another citizenship should forfeit it to be eligible for elections.
Israeli elections
- Israel legislative election, 2003
- Israel prime ministerial election, 2001
- Israel legislative election, 1999
- Israel legislative election, 1996
- Israel legislative election, 1992
- Israel legislative election, 1988
- Israel legislative election, 1984
- Israel legislative election, 1981
- Israel legislative election, 1977
- Israel legislative election, 1973
- Israel legislative election, 1969
- Israel legislative election, 1965
- Israel legislative election, 1961
- Israel legislative election, 1959
- Israel legislative election, 1955
- Israel legislative election, 1951
- Israel constituent assembly election, 1949
See also
External links
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