The Pulse of Israel: A Democracy Without A Constitution
This module explores how the Knesset, the Government, and the Supreme Court operate in a democracy without a constitution.
About this Curriculum
Like all democracies, Israel bears the responsibility to protect certain rights and freedoms that generally are enshrined in a constitution — but Israel does not have a constitution. “A Democracy without a Constitution” explores how various state institutions including the Knesset, the Government, and the Supreme Court navigate this complexity as we probe a central question: how does Israeli democracy function without a constitution?
This module is divided into three sections:
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Basic Laws
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Israel’s Basic Laws define the responsibilities of numerous state institutions and government officials, outline the civil rights of citizens, and encapsulate the ethos of the country. But do they comprise a constitution?
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Knesset and Government
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The Knesset is Israel’s parliament, and its government is made up of a select number of Members of Knesset who oversee various state departments. How are these two bodies related and what do they do?
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The Supreme Court
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The Supreme Court plays a unique role in Israeli democracy. Does the Court hold outsized, undemocratic powers? Or is it Israel’s chief guardian of civil liberties, minority groups, and democracy itself?
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