Changes

The prime minister (head of government) exercises executive power and has in the past been selected by the president as the party leader most able to form a government. Between May 1996 and March 2001, Israelis voted for the prime minister directly. (The legislation, which required the direct election of the prime minister, was rescinded by the Knesset in March 2001.) The members of the cabinet must be collectively approved by the Knesset.  

The prime minister (head of government) exercises executive power and has in the past been selected by the president as the party leader most able to form a government. Between May 1996 and March 2001, Israelis voted for the prime minister directly. (The legislation, which required the direct election of the prime minister, was rescinded by the Knesset in March 2001.) The members of the cabinet must be collectively approved by the Knesset.  

The Knesset's 120 members are elected by secret ballot to 4-year terms, although the prime minister may decide to call for new elections before the end of the 4-year term (this is frequent since, due to the multi-party system in place, no single party has enough members to control the Knesset, thus requiring coalitions which nearly always collapse before the term ends). Voting is for party lists rather than for individual candidates, and the total number of seats assigned each party reflects that party's percentage of the vote (except that a party must receive 3.25% of the national vote to be assigned a seat). Successful Knesset candidates are drawn from the lists in order of party-assigned rank. Under the present electoral system, all members of the Knesset are elected at large.  

The Knesset's 120 members are elected by secret ballot to 4-year terms, although the prime minister may decide to call for new elections before the end of the 4-year term (this is frequent since, due to the multi-party system in place, no single party has enough members to control the Knesset, thus requiring coalitions which nearly always collapse before the term ends). Voting is for party lists rather than for individual candidates, and the total number of seats assigned each party reflects that party's percentage of the vote (except that a party must receive 3.25% of the national vote to be assigned a seat). Successful Knesset candidates are drawn from the lists in order of party-assigned rank. Under the present electoral system, all members of the Knesset are elected at large.  Parties may, and frequently do, ally with each other in order to maximize the number of seats awarded ([[United Torah Judaism]], an alliance of two ultra-Orthdox parties, is a notable example).

The independent judicial system includes secular and religious courts. The courts' right of judicial review of the Knesset's legislation is limited. Judicial interpretation is restricted to problems of execution of laws and validity of subsidiary legislation. The highest court in Israel is the Supreme Court, whose judges are approved by the President.  

The independent judicial system includes secular and religious courts. The courts' right of judicial review of the Knesset's legislation is limited. Judicial interpretation is restricted to problems of execution of laws and validity of subsidiary legislation. The highest court in Israel is the Supreme Court, whose judges are approved by the President.