Lesson

Israel and Its Neighbors: Government and Economy

Students learn about the constitutional monarchy in Jordan and the presidential republic in Syria. Then they learn about the parliamentary republic in Lebanon, with its guaranteed proportional representation based on religion. Finally, they examine Israel’s parliamentary democracy and the nature of a coalition government.

Preview the Lesson Back to Southwest Asia and North Africa

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Overview

In this experience, students learn about the constitutional monarchy in Jordan and the presidential republic in Syria. Then they learn about the parliamentary republic in Lebanon, with its guaranteed proportional representation based on religion. Finally, they examine Israel’s parliamentary democracy and the nature of a coalition government.

Objectives:

Explain the governments of Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Define constitutional monarchy, presidential republic, parliamentary republic, parliamentary democracy, and coalition government.

Throughout history, the lands that make up the countries of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria were ruled by empires and dynasties. Since Jordan’s independence in the 1940s, it continues to be ruled by a monarch. The other countries in this region are all republics, although their systems of government vary greatly from one country to the next. In this experience, you will learn about these governments.

Objectives:

Explain the governments of Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Define constitutional monarchy, presidential republic, parliamentary republic, parliamentary democracy, and coalition government.

King Abdullah II of Jordan meeting with President Obama, 2009

Name as many different types of government as you can. Separate them with a comma, like this: island, peninsula.

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Depending on the order in which you have taught the units of the World Geography course, students may be able to name many or few different types of government. If they have not yet learned about government, help them come up with general descriptions like democracy, monarchy, and dictatorship.

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