do solemnly proclaim our attachment to the bases of freedom, equality, justice and peace envisaged by the prophets of Israel, as confirmed and complemented by the principles of the Declaration of Establishment of the State of Israel of 5 Iyar 5708 (14 May 1948):

Man was formed in the image of God, and will always strive for progress and perfection;
All persons are born free, posess an inherent dignity and rights, and are all subject to one law;
All are endowed with equal, undeniable and inalienable rights, which precede all laws;
The respect given by all mankind to every individual, every group, every community and people – is the foundation, base and anchor to for every nation and to the entire world;
So that the people, for lack of other course of action, would not be forced to rebel against Dictatorship and Tyranny – Human and Citizen's rights must be fortified, and for these ends the regime must ensure the rights and welfare of the People, derive its just powers from the consent of the governed, and be backed by wide and direct participation of the people in ruling and on its final choice over the composition and policies of the government, by preserving the rights of minorities, foreigners, and other weak sections of the people, and on the separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers;
And only by imbuing in these principles a legal quality, through a constitution superior to all other laws and providing the State with elected, regular instituions – can a just governance be guaranteed.

and out of a desire to form a Jewish and Democratic state founded on these bases, while respecting the Arab National Minority and other minorities residing in Israel, and also recognition of the value of the human being, the sanctity of his life, and his freedom, and secures the blessings of these principles to all its citizens;

And hereby Adopt, Enact and Give to Ourselves, through our representatives in the __^th Knesset, sitting as a Constituent Assembly, this Constitution for Israel, which shall be the supreme law of the land.

Part A. PRELIMINARY[edit]

Chapter I. THE STATE OF ISRAEL[edit]

Article 1. Foundations[edit]

(a) The State is Called "The State of Israel".

(b) Israel is a Jewish and Democratic State.

(c) The State shall act with equity towards all of its citizens.

(d) The State is governed as a Democratic Presidential-Parliamentary Republic.

(e) The Preamble is a Part of the Constitution; The Constitution is founded on the principles of the Preamble.

Article 2. Sovereignty[edit]

The Source of Government authority is the Sovereign will of the citizens, as expressed in the Constitution and in free elections, referendums and initiatives.

Article 3. Symbols[edit]

(a) The Flag of Israel is white, with two blue stripes near its ends and a blue Star of David in its center, as drawn and described in the First Schedule.

(b) The Emblem of the State is Bleu celeste, a Menorah Argent between two olive branches of the same; in base the legend "ישראל" (Israel) Argent, as drawn in the Second Schedule.

(c) The Anthem of the State is "Hatikva", in the text and music brought in the Third Schedule.

(d) The Father of the Nation is Binyamin Ze'ev Herzl.

(e) The National Animal is the Mountain Gazelle.

(f) The National Bird is the Hoopoe.

(g) The National Dog Breed is the Canaanite.

(h) The National Flower is the Anemone.

(i) The National Tree is the Olive.

(j) The National Dish is Falafel.

Article 4. Capital[edit]

(a) Jerusalem, complete and united, is the Capital of Israel and the Seat of the President of the State, of the Knesset, of the Government and of the Supreme Court.

(b) The Territory of the State encompasses all territory over which the law, jurisdiction and administration of the State of Israel have had effect on the eve of 19 Kislev 5742 (15 December 1981), and no other territory.

(c) No jurisdiction pertaining to the Territory of the State may be transferred to any foreign political or governing power, or to another similar foreign authority, whether permanently or for a given period.

(d) Without prejudice to sections (b) or (c), should the Government decide, whether by means of an agreement or by other means, that the law, jurisdiction and administration of the State of Israel will cease to apply over a territory where they presently apply, or be applied over a territory where they do not presently apply, the decision shall be subject to approval by referendum after being approved by the Knesset by a majority of members in both Houses, unless the approval was by a two-thirds majority of the members of each house.

Article 5. Languages[edit]

(a) The Language of the State is Hebrew.

(b) Hebrew, Arabic, English, and Russian are Official Languages.

(c) Amharic, Aramean, Armenian, Bukhori, Georgian, Hungarian, Tripolitanian, Yiddish, Ladino, Malayalam, Moroccan, Marathi, Iraqi, Sanskrit, Polish, Romanian, French, Circassian, Farsi, Tigrinya and Yemenite are Recognized Languages.

(d) Regulations of Use of Official Languages shall be set by law or made in accordance therewith.

Article 6. Days of Rest and Official Calendars[edit]

(a) Saturdays, the Jewish Holidays, and the Holidays of Israel are official days of rest in the State of Israel. Non-Jews have the right to rest on their days of rest.

(b) The Hebrew, Gregorian and Lunar Hijri Calendars are official calendars in the State of Israel.

Article 7. Right of Return[edit]

The Following shall be entitled to perform Aliyah to Israel:

(1) A Child of a Jewish Father or Mother according to the Halacha, as long as he has not voluntarily converted to another religion;

(2) A Convert to Judaism;

(3) A Person with a bond with the Jewish People, as determined by law.

Article 8. Citizenship[edit]

(a) Israeli Citizenship shall be given:

(1) To a Child of a Father or Mother who is then a Citizen of Israel;

(2) To an Oleh by virtue of the Right of Return, their Spouse and their Children;

(3) To a Person born in Israeli territory, if they have lived at least six years of their first ten years of life in Israel, or if their father or mother held temporary or permanent residency in Israel at the moment of their birth.

(b) The Giving of Israeli Citizenship to relatives of persons entitled to perform Aliyah shall be set by law.

(c) The Giving, relinquishment, and termination of Israeli citizenship shall be as set by law.

(d) Citizenship shall be terminated only as prescribed by law, provided that the termination shall not render a person stateless.

Article 9. Status of Minorities[edit]

(a) The State of Israel shall guarantee the status of the Arab, Druze, Circassian, Habashean, Baha'i, Aramean, Samaritan, and Armenian minorities, and other minorities in its midst.

(b) The State shall act to allow the national minorities to express their identities, and to develop their cultures, languages and traditions, while maintaining balance with the essence of the state as a Jewish and Democratic State.

(c) National minorities may establish representative institutions in every matter which distinguishes them as national minorities.

Article 10. Status of Religions[edit]

(a) The State shall guarantee the status and independence of all religions in its midst.

(b) The State may finance and provide religious services.

(c) The Holy Places shall be protected from desecration and any other violation and from anything likely to violate the freedom of access of the members of the different religions to the places sacred to them or their feelings towards those places.

(d) The State shall guarantee separation of church and state.

Article 11. Historic and Cultural Heritage of the Land and its Residents[edit]

The State shall guarantee the conservation and development of the Historic and Cultural Heritage of the Land and its Residents.

Article 12. Protection and Development of the Land[edit]

The State shall foster the value of the Landscape, the Environment and the Natural Resources and shall act to prevent harm being done to them, while maintaining balance with the need of development of the Land.

Article 13. Authority of Government Authorities[edit]

Government Authorities shall have authority only by virtue of the Constitution and Laws.

Article 14. Duties of Public Elected Officials and Civil Servants.[edit]

Public Elected Officials, Civil Servants, and other Government Officials shall act to promote the public good, to preserve basic human rights and to prevent their infringement and shall fulfill their duties with loyalty, with fairness, with integrity, with transparency and with responsibility.

Chapter II. HUMAN LIBERTY, DIGNITY AND RIGHTS[edit]

Article 15. Core principles[edit]

(a) Basic Human Rights in Israel are based on the recognition of the value of the human being, the sanctity of his life, and his freedom, and they shall be upheld according to the spirit of the principles set forth in the Preamble.

(b) Every Person as such is entitled to the Basic Human Rights enumerated in this Constitution, and they may not be interpreted as being granted by the state.

(c) There shall be no restriction on doing any action which is not prohibited by law, nor shall there be coercion to do any action which is not mandated by law.

(d) The enumeration of Basic Human Rights in this Constitution may not be interpreted as denying or derogating from other rights recognized by law or conferred on Israeli Citizens by law, except to such extent as the Recognition or Conferral is contrary to the Provisions of this Chapter.

(e) Every person has the right to judicial remedy for any violation of his rights.

Article 16. Equality before the law and Prohibition of discrimination[edit]

(a) All people are equal before the law.

(b) Every Citizen is entitled to equal opportunities.

(c) There shall be no positive or negative discrimination on the grounds of race, origin, ethnicity, color, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, community (edah), religion, nationality, denomination, views, belief, dress, way of life, pregnancy, property, age, disability, personal or social status, political affiliation or any other grounds, and one's civil rights may not be impaired on the basis of these grounds.

Article 17. Preservation and protection of life, body, dignity and property[edit]

(a) There shall be no violation of the life, body, dignity or property of any Person as such; for the purposes of this section, a deliberate termination of a pregnancy shall not be deemed a violation of a life.

(b) Every Person is entitled to defense of his life, body, dignity and property.

(c) No Person shall be a slave, serf, or subject to forced labor, and no cruel or unusual punishment, including the Death Penalty, shall be imposed.

(d) No Person shall be tortured or treated cruelly, inhumanly or harmfully.

(e) Every Person has the right to not participate in an uncontested medical or scientific experiment on his body.

Article 18. Privacy and Intimacy[edit]

(a) Every person is entitled to privacy and intimacy.

(b) There shall be no uncontested entry into one's personal space.

(c) There shall be no uncontested entry into one's home.

(d) There shall be no search on one's personal space, nor on his body, in his body, in his personal effects or in his home.

(e) There shall be no infringement upon the confidentiality of one's conversation, writings or records.

Article 19. Personal liberty[edit]

(a) There shall be no deprivation or restriction of one's liberty by imprisonment, arrest, exile, banishment, extradition, or otherwise.

(b) A person who complains of an act that negates or restricts his personal liberty, and is not imposed upon him by a competent court, is entitled to apply to the court for a speedy ruling on the legality of the act.

(c) There shall be no removal of a person outside the jurisdiction of the State, save by a decision of a competent court, before he has the opportunity to apply to the court for a ruling on the legality of the act.

Article 20. Freedom of speech, expression, thought, creation and protest and freedom of assembly, procession, and demonstration[edit]

(a) Every person is entitled to express his opinion, and to publish, promote, and profess it, as well as to publish, present, and distribute information, research, and scientific, artistic, or literary instruction and creation.

(b) There shall be no deprivation or restriction of one's freedom of speech, expression, thought, creation or protest.

(c) There shall be no deprivation or restriction of one's freedom of assembly, procession or demonstration peaceably and without arms.

Article 21. Freedom of movement[edit]

(a) Every person who is lawfully present in Israel is free to move within the land as he pleases.

(b) Every Israeli citizen and every temporary or permanent resident of Israel can establish residence in Israel as he pleases.

(c) Every person is free to leave Israel.

(d) Every Israeli citizen and every resident of Israel is entitled to enter Israel.

Article 22. Freedom of religion, belief and conscience and freedom from religion[edit]

(a) There shall be no infringement upon one's freedom of religion, belief and conscience.

(b) There shall be no coercion on a person or group of persons to belong or to not belong to a given religion, religious community (edah) or religious denomination.

(c) A person or group of persons are entitled to freedom of worship and observation or nonobservation of religious commandments.

Article 23. Right to marry and start a family[edit]

(a) Every adult has the right to marry and start a family in whatever means he chooses without limitation on grounds of race, citizenship, religion or gender.

(b) The spouses will have equal rights and duties in the act of marriage, while being married, and at the cancellation or dissolution of marriage.

Article 24. Freedom of research, instruction and creation and right to information and culture[edit]

(a) Every person has freedom of research, instruction and creation for scientific, literary and artistic ends.

(b) Every Citizen or Resident of the State has the right to receive information from a public authority whenever he requests.

(c) Every person has the right to enjoy works of Art, Drama, Literature, Cinema, Music, and other cultural pursuits.

Article 25. Freedom of internal trade and Freedom from unfair trade practices[edit]

(a) There shall be no restriction on Internal Trade in Israel.

(b) A business shall not cause the goods he sells or the services he offers to be mistaken for the goods or services of another business or for services or goods related to another business.

(c) A business shall not advertise, nor cause to be advertised, something that he knows or that he ought to know is untrue with respect to his own business, profession, goods or services or those of another business.

(d) A business shall not unfairly prevent or burden the access of customers, employees or agents to the business, goods or services of another business.

Article 26. Freedom of Association[edit]

Every Citizen or Resident of the State has the freedom to associate in order to attain lawful goals by lawful means, including association in trade unions to protect and promote his economic and social interests.

Article 27. Political rights[edit]

(a) Every Citizen or Resident of the State has the right to establish political parties and organizations of a political nature.

(b) Every Israeli citizen aged 18 or above is entitled to vote in national elections, to participate in referendums, and to engage in petitions for Initiative or Recall, and every resident of Israel aged 17 or above is entitled to vote in local elections in the local authority in which he lives, and all that – if a Court hasn't deprived them of these rights according to law; the Elections law will determine the moment in which a person will be deemed 18 or 17, as appropriate, in order to utilize these rights.

(c) There shall be no deprivation or restriction of the right to vote on the grounds of an offence which is not related to elections or the punishment for which has been served, and in national elections – also on grounds of being overseas.

(d) Voting shall not be done save at the ballot box, and within Israeli Territory, aboard Israeli Ships or at Israeli Diplomatic and Consular facilities; there shall be no vote except on Election Day; particulars regarding voting among Soldiers, Police Officers and Election Workers, aboard Ships, in Prisons and Detention Centers, at Israeli Diplomatic and Consular facilities, and in Hospitals and institutions for the Mobility-impaired will be set by law.

(e) For the purposes of this Article –

"National elections" – elections to the House of Representatives and the Senate, or of the President of the State;

"Local elections" – elections to the Councils, and of the Heads, of Local Authorities.

Article 28. Legal capacity and rights in judicial proceedings[edit]

(a) Every person has capacity for legal rights, obligations, and actions.

(b) Every person has the right to recourse to judicial bodies.

(c) Every person has the right to a fair, speedy and public trial, without bias and without undue considerations.

(d) Every person has the right to judicial representation according to his choice; the state will provide judicial representation to a person in the causes and according to the conditions set by law.

(e) Every person has the right to receive information about an accusation made against him in a language which he understands, to defend himself against such an accusation, to examine evidence against him and to meet face-to-face with those who testify against him.

(f) Every person has the right to an interpreter in a trial conducted in a language which he does not understand.

Article 29. Innocence until guilt proven[edit]

(a) Every person is innocent as long as his guilt is not lawfully proven.

(b) A person may not bear criminal responsibility for an offense unless it has been proven beyond reasonable doubt.

(c) A person shall not be compelled to incriminate himself.

(d) A person shall not be convicted or accused of an act for which he was convicted or acquitted in the past.

Article 30. Nulla poena sine lege[edit]

(a) There shall be no offense and no punishment therefor unless they have been determined by or in accordance with the law.

(b) A person may not be liable for an act or omission which were not an offense at the time of their commission.

(c) A person may not be punished more severely than the punishment expected from him at the time of committing an offence; but a revalued fine shall not be deemed to be a harsher punishment.

Article 31. Rights in detention[edit]

(a) Every detained person has the following rights:

(1) To be informed of the cause of his detention while being detained;

(2) To have a notice regarding the detention be transmitted to a person close to him without unreasonable delay;

(3) To meet and consult with a Lawyer of his choice without unreasonable delay;

(4) To be brought before a judicial authority to have his detention examined without unreasonable delay;

(5) To be informed of these Rights.

(b) The detention of arrest of a person will be made in a way which promises the maximum preservation of Human Dignity and his other rights.

Article 32. Social rights and duty of the State[edit]

(a) Every person has the right to have his needs as such fulfilled in a reasonable standard appropriate for a dignified existence, including the right to have the rights set out in Articles 33 to 41 equally and without discrimination.

(b) The state is committed to continuously develop and promote the conditions for promising the fulfillment of social rights to the widest possible extent of available resources and gradually according to its economic ability.

Article 33. Freedom of occupation and Right to work[edit]

(a) Every Citizen or Resident of the State is entitled to engage in any occupation, profession, or trade.

(b) Every person has the right to work in his freely-chosen job.

(c) Every person is entitled to enjoy a fair wage and equal pay for equally-valued work, reasonable conditions for work and employment, a safe and healthy work environment, and paid rest and vacation.

(d) Every person is entitled to the freedom of choice to work or rest on the days of rest and observation of his religion according to his conscience; there shall be no positive or negative discrimination on those grounds.

(e) The State shall act to promote the fulfillment of the right to work by taking steps to increase employment and to promote populations and individuals wanting to integrate into the labor market.

Article 34. Workers' organizations and Employers' organizations[edit]

Employees are entitled to associate in Workers' organizations according to their choice, and employers are entitled to associate in Employers' organizations according to their choice; these organizations are entitled to negotiate and to engage in collective agreements, all according to the principles of the Labor law.

Article 35. Strike[edit]

Employees are entitled to strike, according to the principles of the Labor law, to protect their rights and to promote their economic and social interests.

Article 36. Dignified existence[edit]

Every person is entitled to a reasonable standard of living which allows him a dignified existence, including the necessary assistance and social services for cases of unemployment, sickness, lack of fitness for work, widowhood, orphanhood, old age or other lack.

Article 37. Nutritional security[edit]

Every person is entitled to access to clean and drinkable water and to nutritional security, which includes access to nutritious and safe food, in an appropriate amount after putting one's bodily needs and preferences, and the needs for an active and healthy life, into consideration.

Article 38. Housing[edit]

Every person is entitled to adequate, attainable and accessible housing, to protection from arbitrary evacuation, to protected possession over his residence and to access to services and infrastructure near his residence; every person has the right to choose his residency as he pleases.

Article 39. Health[edit]

Every person is entitled to enjoy the highest attainable level of physical and mental health, including the right to a healthy environment, the right to access to preventative medicine, and the right to medical care by means of State Medical Insurance; State Medical Insurance shall be based on the principles of justice, equality and mutual help, where medical care will be given without need of direct payment and on basis of medical need only.

Article 40. Education[edit]

(a) Every person is entitled to education and instruction by means of Free State education up to the age of 18, or by means of another institution which the state has recognized according to conditions set by law; every person is also entitled to higher education accessible to all.

(b) Parents are entitled to choose the means of their minor child's education so long as it does not harm him or infringe upon his rights, including the right to core education.

Article 41. Respectable death and burial[edit]

A person is entitled to a respectable death and to burial according to his choice.

Article 42. Right to an adequate environment[edit]

(a) Every person is entitled to an adequate environment which cannot harm his health or quality of life, and to protection of the environment for the good of this and next generations, by appropriate means, for any of these aims:

(1) To prevent pollution or reduction of ecological resources;

(2) To preserve natural resources;

(3) To guarantee sustainable development and wise use of natural resources;

(4) To apply global environmental principles for the welfare of Humanity;

(5) To cooperate with other countries and with international organizations for the purposes of environmental protection in Israel and around the world;

(6) To preserve biological diversity, including for needs of future genetic databases.

(b) Every person is entitled to information necessary to preserve and promote the environment in Israel.

(c) Those duty-bound to respect this article –

(1) Will consider environmental concerns in evert decision and action, and will promise an appropriate weight for these concerns alongside economic and professional concerns;

(2) Will take a systematic and interdisciplinary approach which will promise a combined use of natural, environmental and social sciences while taking decisions which have consequences for the environment.

Article 43. Children's rights[edit]

(a) Every child has the right to basic conditions of life, to personal growth, and to develop his talents and skills, as far as may be possible within the family.

(b) The Parents, being their child's natural guardians, and any other legal guardian has the responsibility, duty and right to guarantee the good of the child.

(c) Should the Parents or any other guardians not fulfill their legal duties towards their children, the State will act to fulfill the parental duties in accordance with the law.

Article 44. Group rights[edit]

Every person belonging to a national ethnic, religious, cultural or linguistic group has the right – alone or with other members of the group – to preserve and develop his culture, religion, language and heritage.

Article 45. Fundamental duties[edit]

Every citizen has the duty –

(1) to obey the Constitution and laws of Israel;

(2) to respect the essence of the State as a Jewish and Democratic state, as well as its flag, emblem and anthem;

(3) to stand by the State and represent it respectfully while abroad;

(4) to render Military service or another form of National Service;

(5) to promote Pan-Israeli fraternity;

(6) to preserve the diversity of Culture and Heritage of Israel;

(7) to strive for excellence in all matters of personal and group activity;

(8) to keep state secrets;

(9) to defend the country in case of enemy invasion;

(10) to refrain from assisting an enemy organization or enemy state insofar as they act against the State of Israel;

(11) to pay taxes in accordance with the law.

Article 46. Derogation of rights[edit]

There shall be no derogation of constitutional rights save by a law enacted for a proper purpose and befitting the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state, or under such a law by reason of explicit authorization therein, and as long as the derogation does not exceed what is demonstrably justified in a free and democratic country.

Article 47. Reservation regarding Security Forces[edit]

There shall be no limitation of constitutional rights of those who serve in the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Police, the Prison Service and other security organizations of the state, nor may conditions be imposed upon them, save in accordance with the law and to an extent not greater than required from the essence and character of the service.

Article 48. Right to asylum[edit]

A person who is not a Citizen or Resident of the state and who is persecuted for political reasons, or denied the full realization of the rights guaranteed in this Constitution as is demonstrably justified in a free and democratic country, is entitled to asylum in the State of Israel.

Article 49. Applicability[edit]

Each and every government authority is duty-bound to respect the rights guaranteed in this chapter.

Article 50. Right to appeal to judicial authorities[edit]

Every person is entitled to appeal to judicial authorities in order to realize and protect his rights according to this chapter.

Article 51. Construction of laws with multiple interpretations[edit]

For every law which is subject to multiple interpretations, the interpretation which allows for a greater extent for upholding human rights, and a lesser extent for limiting them or authorizing their limit, prevails over all others.

Article 52. Human Rights Commission[edit]

(a) A Human Rights Commission, which will act to promote the recognition, respect and protection of human rights under this Constitution and under law, and will deal with complaints regarding these topics, will be established by law.

(b) The said law will determine the Commission's means of appointment and ways of action.

Part B. THE KNESSET[edit]

Chapter III. GENERAL[edit]

Article 53. Essence[edit]

(a) The Knesset is the Legislature of the State.

(b) The Knesset consists of two Houses: The Senate and the House of Representatives.

Chapter IV. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES[edit]

Article 54. Composition of the House of Representatives[edit]

The House of Representatives will be composed of 120 members upon election.

Article 55. Method of Elections to the House of Representatives[edit]

(a) The House of Representatives will be elected by general, national, direct, equal, secret and proportional elections.

(b) A voter will cast his vote once and will give one list vote for a given list of candidates; a voter may also give up to twelve personal votes; a voter will give one personal vote for a given individual candidate.

(c) for the purposes of section (b), it is irrelevant –

(1) if the list vote was given for a party list or for the list of independent candidates;

(2) if the personal votes were given to individual candidates, whether partisan or independent, who all belong to the same list or who each belongs to different lists, whether or not that list, or one of those lists, was the list to which the list vote was given for.

Article 56. The right to propose a candidacy or a list of candidates[edit]

(a) A partisan list of candidates for the House of Representatives can only be proposed by a Political Party as defined by the Parties Law, 5752-1992; the means of association and registration of Political Parties and conditions for submitting a list of candidates will be prescribed by law.

(b) Every group of voters numbering at least 2,500 people is allowed to propose a person qualified to be elected to the House of Representatives according to Article 58 as an independent candidate; All independent candidates will be deemed to run under one list of Independent candidates.

Article 57. Apportionment of Mandates[edit]

(a) In the apportionment of mandates, there may only participate lists of candidates which have each received–

(1) in the case of the list of Independents and of a minority list – valid list votes not less in number than the whole number which results from dividing the number of its valid list votes by the number of members of the House of Representatives;

(2) in the case of lists other than the list of Independents or a minority list – valid list votes not less in number than 5% (five percent) of the total number of all valid list votes.

(b) In section (a), "minority list" – a list in which not less than 65% (sixty-five percent) of the candidates, including the topmost-ranked candidate, belong to one of the minorities set out in Article 9

(c) Each list which participates in the apportionment of mandates will be apportioned one mandate.

(d) The mandates remaining after the apportionment of mandates according to section (c) will be apportioned between the lists which participate in the apportionment of mandates by the following method:

(1) A "division index" will be determined for every list by computing the square root of the product of the number of mandates apportioned to the list by the number of mandates apportioned to the list plus one;

(2) A "list index" will be determined for every list by dividing the number of valid list votes received by the list by the division index [of the list];

(3) The list which has received the largest list index will be apportioned an additional mandate; should two or more lists have an equal list index, a lot drawn by the Central Elections Commission will determine which list is to receive an additional mandate;

(4) The apportionment according to the provisions of clauses (1), (2) and (3) will be continued until all mandates are apportioned, with a new division index and list index being calculated, taking the additional mandate into consideration, for a list that received an additional mandate according to clause (3);

(5) A list which has not received more than one half of all valid list votes, yet has received one half of all mandates, will cease to participate in the apportionment of mandates, which will continue between all other lists.

Article 58. Determination of Representatives[edit]

The members of the House of Representatives for a list which has received mandates will be determined by the following method:

(1) The candidates in every list will be ranked by order of the numbers of personal votes they have received, by descending order from the greatest number; Should two or more candidates have an equal candidate index –

(a) and they are partisan candidates, their position on the list, by descending order from the topmost-ranked candidate, will decide their ranking;

(b) and they are independent candidates, a lot drawn by the Central Elections Commission will decide their ranking;

(2) The persons named in the candidate ranking, by descending order from the topmost-ranked candidate, will become, one by one, members of the House of Representatives.

Article 59. The right to be elected[edit]

(a) Every Israeli Citizen aged 21 or more on the day his candidacy as an Independent, or the list of candidates in which his name is included, is submitted, is eligible to be elected to the House of Representatives, unless he has been deprived of this right by a court or has been sentenced, in a final verdict, to actual imprisonment for a period of over three months and at the day of his nomination seven years have not yet passed from the day he finished serving his prison term, unless the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission has determined that the crime for which he was convicted, under the relevant circumstances, does not carry moral turpitude.

(b) A candidate for the House of Representatives who is sentenced as stated in section (a), and his verdict becomes final after the submission of candidacy and before he has begun to serve as a Representative, shall be treated as a person who withdrew his candidacy from, or resigned his membership in, the House of Representatives, as appropriate, unless the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission has determined that the crime for which he was convicted, under the relevant circumstances, does not carry moral turpitude.

(c) The determination of the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission shall not be required if the Court determines, under any law, that the circumstances of the event require the crime to carry moral turpitude.

(d) For the purposes of this Article –

"Actual imprisonment" – The sum of all periods of actual imprisonment the convict must serve consecutively, including suspended imprisonments that have been activated, even if they were imposed in different verdicts;

"Offense" – Each of the offences for which the convict has been sentenced to Actual imprisonment.

Article 60. Qualification to candidacy of a Representatives who crossed the floor[edit]

(a) A Representative who crossed the floor and did not resign his membership after having crossed the floor, shall not be included in a list of candidates submitted by a faction of the outgoing House in the elections to the next House; this provision will not apply on the splitting of a faction fulfilling conditions set by law.

(b) For the purposes of this Article –

"Crossing the floor" – including voting inconsistently with the faction's position on the question of confidence or no-confidence in the Prime Minister; but a vote as aforesaid shall not be deemed to be crossing the floor if the Representative voting did not receive any compensation for doing so;

"Compensation" – directly or indirectly, by a promise or a commitment, and including a guarantee of a specific place in a list of candidates for the House of Representatives, or the appointment or non-appointment of the Representative himself or another person to a certain position.

Article 61. Term of the House of Representatives[edit]

The term of the House of Representatives will be four years from its election.

Article 62. Date of Elections[edit]

Elections to the House of Representatives will be held on the third Tuesday of Cheshvan of the Hebrew year in which the term of the incumbent House expires, but if the previous year was a leap year, the elections will be held on the first Tuesday of that month.

Article 63. Extension of Term[edit]

(a) The House of Representatives may not extend its term save by a resolution approved by at least 80 Representatives and if extraordinary circumstances which prevent the holding of elections on time occur; the lengthening may not exceed the period required by the aforesaid circumstances; the said resolution will determine the date of elections.

(b) Without derogating from the provisions of Article 65, the House of Representatives may, by a resolution of a majority of its members, advance the date of elections determined according to section (a), so long as the new date is not earlier than the date of elections according to Article 62.

Article 64. Convening the House of Representatives[edit]

The House of Representatives will convene for its first meeting after the elections within 14 days of the date of elections to the House of Representatives, unless another adjacent date is set by a decision of the Knesset Presidium due to a day of rest, a holiday, a public observation, or a day of remembrance, or proximity to any of them, or due to the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot.

Article 65. Dissolution of the House of Representatives[edit]

The House of Representatives cannot be dissolved before the end of its term, save by—

(1) deciding to dissolve itself by adopting a resolution to that effect, by a majority of Representatives

(2) being dissolved according to the provisions of Articles 68, 133 or [29] of this Constitution.

Article 66. Date of Elections after self-dissolution of the House of Representatives[edit]

A resolution of the House of Representatives to dissolve itself will include a provision on the date of the next elections, which will be not later than five months from the date the decision is adopted.

Article 67. Term of the House of Representatives after a dissolution[edit]

Should the House of Representatives be dissolved, the term of the succeeding House shall run until the Hebrew Month of Cheshvan, four years after the elections.

Article 68. Dissolution due to non-adoption of the budget[edit]

(a) Should the Budget law not be adopted in the first three months of the financial year, the House of Representatives will be dissolved at the end of the said period (Hereinafter — the determining day), and early elections wil be held on the last Tuesday before the end of 90 days from the determining day, unless

Article 69. Continuity of the House of Representatives[edit]

Article 70. Replacement of Representatives[edit]

Article 71. Special elections held to fill up to two vacancies[edit]

Article 72. Special elections held to three or more vacancies[edit]

Article 73. Special elections – General[edit]

Chapter 5. THE SENATE[edit]

74. Composition of the Senate[edit]

(a) These are the members of the Senate, referred to as "Senators":

(1) 60 Senators who will be elected by personal, general, national, direct, equal and secret elections;

(2) Up to five Senators who will be appointed by the President of the State, after consulting with the delegates of Factions in the Knesset;

(3) Every former President of the State, subject to section (c).

(b) In appointments under section (a)(2), the President will make sure to appoint persons who made outstanding contributions to the State in the agricultural, industrial, commercial, social, scientific, artistic, literary, cultural, or educational field.

(c) A former President of the State would not be a Senator by virtue of section (a)(3), if he fulfills the following:

(1) He requested the President of the Senate, in writing, to view his seat as unfilled;

(2) He was convicted of a crime in a final verdict, and the Court determined, by its own decision or at the request of the Attorney-General, that the crime carries moral turpitude.

75. Method of Elections to the Senate 76. The right to be elected 77. Term of Senators 78. Division into Classes 79. Renewal of Elected Senators 80. Extension of Term 81. Convening the Senate 82. Hearing Committee 83. Dissolution of the Senate 84. Continuity of the Senate 85. Replacement of Elected Senators

Chapter 6. THE CONGRESS OF THE KNESSET[edit]

86. Convening Joint Sittings 87. State of the Nation address 88. Presiding in a Joint Sitting

Chapter 7. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BOTH HOUSES[edit]

89. Who cannot be a candidate 90. Prohibition of mandate accumulation 91. Prevention of participation in elections 92. Election Day to be a sabbatical day 93. Publication of election results 94. Opening sitting 95. Oath of office of MKs 96. Non-declaration 97. Immunity of MKs 98. Immunity of Knesset Facilities 99. Procedure and Standing orders 100. Chairman and deputies 101. Interim and Acting Chairman of a House 102. Knesset Presidium and House Presidiums 103. Committees 104. Committees of Inquiry 105. Status of Members of the Government 106. Quorum 107. Majority 108. Presiding in meetings 109. Meetings 110. Publicity 111. Publication 112. Sessions 113. Moment of Opening Sessions 114. Convening the Knesset outside sessions 115. Prolonging of effect of legislation 116. Salary of MKs 117. Resignation of MKs 118. Consequences of Resignation 119. Expiry of Term or Candidacy 120. Termination of membership of Convicted MK 121. Recall of MKs 122. Expulsion of MKs 123. Suspension 124. Termination of membership of a Minister or Deputy Minister.

Chapter 8. THE LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE[edit]

125. Constitutional Amendment[edit]

(a) Constitutional Amendments are enacted by the Knesset, in exercise of its constituent power.

(b) The titles of amendments to the Constitution will reflect the chronological sequence of their ratification, by numbering upwards in one, single sequence.

(c) This constitution may not be changed, save by a Constitutional Amendment; for the purpose of this article, "change" – whether explicit or implied.

(d) Constitutional amendments may not harden the amendment requirements, unless the hardening was approved by the hardened procedure.

126. Constitutional Amendment Proposals[edit]

(a) A proposal for a Constitutional Amendment may be submitted to the House of Representatives by the Government or by the Joint Committee on the Constitution, Law and Justice or by at least 30 Members of the Knesset or by a group of voters numbering at least 100,000 people, and will be published in the Reshumot and tabled in the House of Representatives.

(b) A proposal for a Constitutional Amendment submitted to the Knesset will be deliberated over in the Joint Committee on the Constitution, Law and Justice.

127. Procedure for approving Constitutional Amendments in the Knesset[edit]

(a) A Constitutional Amendment will be passed in three readings in the House Plenum and in three readings in the Senate Plenum; should the Amendment be passed in three readings in the Plenae of both House, it will be deemed adopted by the Knesset if it was passed in identical text in both Houses.

(b) A Private Member's proposal for a Constitutional Amendment...

(c)

128. Signing and Ratification by referendum of Constitutional Amendments[edit]

129. Laws[edit]

131. Bills[edit]

132. Stages of Legislation[edit]

133. Conflict between the Houses[edit]

134. Signing and returning Laws[edit]

135. Supremacy over Laws.[edit]

136. New Text, Official-language Texts, and Consolidated Text[edit]

137. Regulations[edit]

138. Enactment of Regulations[edit]

139. Supremacy over Regulations[edit]

140. Knesset supervision over enactment of Regulations[edit]

141. Procedures of submission and discussion[edit]

142. Promulgation[edit]

(a) Constitutional Amendments, Laws, Presidential Decrees and Regulations will be promulgated in the Reshumot.

(b) The text of Constitutional Amendments, Laws, Presidential Decrees and Regulations promulgated in the Reshumot is the binding text.

(c) Details regarding the method of promulgation and error correction will be set by law.

143. Entry into force[edit]

Part C. THE EXECUTIVE[edit]

Chapter IX. GENERAL[edit]

144. Essence[edit]

(a) The Executive branch consists of the following:

(1) The Presidency of the State;

(2) The Government and its Ministries;

(3) The Israel Defense Forces and the Security and Intelligence Corps;

(4) Every other body which fulfills functions of a governmental nature and is not part

of the other authorities of the State, save if it is prescribed by law that the body concerned is not part of the Executive branch by reason of it not subject to the exclusive authority of the Presidency of the State, the Government or a Local authority.

(b) Other public bodies may be designated by law as part of the Executive branch if such a

designation is for the public good.

Chapter X. THE PRESIDENCY OF THE STATE[edit]

145. Status (a) A President, who expresses the Independence and Sovereignty of the State and is responsible for ensuring the proper performance of the powers and functions of government authorities, stands at the head of the State and of the Executive branch. (b) A Vice-President, elected jointly with the President and for the same term, assists the President of the State in the exercise of his functions. (c) The Presidency of the State consists of the President and Vice-President of the State.

146. Election and Term (a) The President of the State is elected for five years, by general, national, direct, equal and secret balloting, according to the Presidential Elections law; should a person be elected as President in special elections, he will serve until he has completed his predecessor's term. (b) A person who has held the office of President for two successive terms, cannot be a candidate in the elections for the subsequent term; should special elections be held within two and a half years of the beginning of that term, the same person cannot be a candidate in them.

�147. Eligibility for President (a) Every Israeli citizen who is resident in Israel, aged 30 years or more at the day of his nomination, is eligible to be a candidate for President, unless he has been deprived of this right by a court or has been sentenced, in a final verdict, to actual imprisonment for a period of over three months and at the day of his nomination seven years have not yet passed from the day he finished serving his prison term, unless the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission has determined that the crime for which he was convicted, under the relevant circumstances, does not carry moral turpitude. (b) A candidate for President who is sentenced as stated in section (a), and his verdict becomes final after the submission of candidacy and before he has begun to serve as President of the State, shall be treated as a person who withdrew his candidacy, or resigned his office, as appropriate, unless the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission has determined that the crime for which he was convicted, under the relevant circumstances, does not carry moral turpitude. (c) The determination of the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission shall not be required if the Court determines, under any law, that the circumstances of the event require the crime to carry moral turpitude. (d) A person who has served in the office or position specified in Article 89 of this Constitution cannot be a candidate for President, unless he has finished holding that office or position before the moment of nominating candidatures for President of the State, or if an earlier moment has been set by law – that moment. (e) A person who holds an additional, non-Israeli citizenship cannot be a candidate for President, if the laws of the country of which he is a citizen allow him to relinquish that citizenship, unless he has done all acts which are required on his part to relinquish it. (f) For the purposes of this Article – "Actual imprisonment" – The sum of all periods of actual imprisonment the convict must serve consecutively, including suspended imprisonments that have been activated, even if they were imposed in different verdicts; "Offense" – Each of the offences for which the convict has been sentenced to Actual imprisonment.

148. Election Day (a) Elections for President of the State will be held on the third Tuesday of Cheshvan of the Hebrew year in which the term of the incumbent President expires, but if the previous year was a leap year, the elections will be held on the first Tuesday of that month. (b) Should the office of President of the State become vacant before the end of the President's term – (1) the Vice-President of the State will become President and serve until he has completed the term;

�(2) and if there is no serving Vice-President of the State or the Vice-President is unable to become President, special elections will be held on the last Tuesday before the expiry of 90 days from the date of the vacancy in the Presidential office. (c) Subject to the provisions of section (b)(2), should the office of Vice-President of the State become vacant, a new Vice-President will be chosen on the basis of a proposal by the President of the State which is approved by the Knesset, by a majority of members in each house; the President of the State may not propose a new Vice-President not later than three months following the vacancy in the office of Vice-President, or the rejection of a previous nominee, whichever is later. (d) Should the period in which the President may act under section (c) expire, the new VicePresident will be appointed by the Government, by a decision of a majority of its members.

149. Proposing Candidates (a) Every group of voters numbering at least 50,000 people, every group of Members of the Knesset numbering at least 10 MKs, and every Political Party as defined by the Parties Law, 5752-1992, may nominate a person who is eligible to be a candidate for President under Article 147 as a candidate for President of the State. (b) Should a candidate for President withdraw on or before the 10th day before Election Day, that candidate's nominator may, not later than the 7th day before Election Day, nominate another person who is eligible to be a candidate for President under Article 147 in his stead. (c) Should a candidate for President die, the candidate he proposed for Vice-President will come in his stead.

150. Election of the Vice-President (a) Every candidate for President will propose a candidate for Vice-President. (b) A vote for a given candidate for President will be deemed to be a vote for the candidate he proposed for Vice-President.

151. Eligibility for Vice-President (a) Every person who is eligible to be a candidate for President is eligible to be a candidate for Vice-President. (b) Article 147 will apply, mutatis mutandi, on candidates for Vice-President. (c) A person who has held the office of President or Vice-President for two successive terms, whether in the same office or once as President and once as Vice-President, cannot be a candidate for Vice-President in the elections for the subsequent term; should special elections be held within two and a half years of the beginning of that term, the same person cannot be a candidate in them.

�152. Election by Majority vote (a) Should there be two or more candidates, the candidate who received the greatest number of valid votes is elected, so long as he received at least 50% of those votes and the number of votes he received is at least 40% of the number of all registered voters in the elections. (b) Should no candidate receive the number of votes prescribed in section (a), or should two or more candidates each receive and equal number of votes which is such a number, a runoff will be held, within 14 days of Election Day, to elect one of the candidates who received the two greatest numbers of votes in the first round; the candidate who received the greatest number of valid votes in the run-off – is the elected candidate. (c) Should two or more candidates receive an equal number of votes which is the greatest such number, the number of votes given to each such candidate in the first round will be added to the number of votes given to him in the run-off, and the candidate who received the greatest number of valid votes in both rounds combined – is the elected candidate; should two or more candidates receive an equal number of votes after such an addition, a lot drawn by the Central Elections Commission will determine which one of them is to be elected. (d) Should there only be one candidate, the elections will be held as a vote for or against him, and he will be elected if the number of votes for him exceeds the number of votes against, so long as the number of votes for him is at least 40% of the number of all registered voters in the elections; should the candidate not be elected as aforesaid, special elections will be held. (e) Election Day will be a sabbatical day, but transportation services and other public services will function as normal. (f) The results of the election will be published in the Reshumot within eight days after Election Day. (g) For the purposes of sections (e) and (f), it is irrelevant if the Election Day is for the first round or the run-off.

153. In the absence of the possibility of electing two or more candidates in the run-off (a) Should there be a need to hold a run-off according to Article 152(b), and one of the candidates in the run-off ceases to stand for election by reason of death, the candidate he proposed for Vice-President will come in his stead; should that candidate cease to stand for election by reason of withdrawal or any other reason, and should there be no other candidates who have each received, in the first round, a number of votes equal to that of the candidate who ceases to stand, the candidate who received the next-greatest number of valid votes will come in his stead; should two or more candidates receive, in the first round, an equal number of votes which is the next-greatest such number, all of them will come in his stead. (b) Should there be only one candidate left standing for election in the runoff due to any of the reasons specified in section (a), the run-off will be held as a vote for or against the candidate remaining, and he will be elected if the number of votes for him exceeds the

�number of votes against, so long as the number of votes for him is at least 40% of the number of all registered voters in the elections; should the candidate not be elected as aforesaid, the Presidential elections will be held again, within 14 days of the run-off, in which all candidates who have stood in the first round will stand, but the provisions of Article 149(b) and (c) will apply to the candidates who have ceased to stand.

154. In the absence of candidates Should no candidate be nominated or have their nomination approved, or should a sole candidate withdraw without another candidates being nominated in his stead, special elections will be held.

155. Oath of office (a) The President-elect will recite and sign before the Knesset, in joint sitting, the Following oath, which will be administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: "I, (name), do swear to bear allegiance to the State of Israel, its laws and its Constitution, to faithfully execute my office as President of the State, and to realize the decisions of the Knesset." (b) The Vice-President-elect will recite and sign before the Knesset, in joint sitting, the Following oath, which will be administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: "I, (name), do swear to bear allegiance to the State of Israel, its laws and its Constitution, to faithfully execute my office as Vice-President of the State, and to realize the decisions of the Knesset." (c) The President- and Vice-President-elect will take their oath at the end of the Preceding President's term, or as close to it as possible beforehand.

156. Taking the oath and commencement of the term of office (a) The term of the President and Vice-President will commence at noon, on the third Tuesday of January in the Gregorian Year following the year of elections; their term will run until the term of their successors begins; should the Presidential elections be held on a day other than that on which they were to be held under Article 148(a), the year in which the elections were to be held – will be deemed the year of elections. (b) Should the date set out in section (a) lapse without the election of a new President, the outgoing President and Vice-President will continue to hold office until the new President and Vice-President are elected; should the new President and Vice-President be elected after that period, they will begin to serve at the moment of their election, but they will take their oath of office as soon as may be after their election. (c) Should the office of President of the State become vacant before the end of the President's term –

�(1) and the Vice-President of the State has become President, the former VicePresident will begin to serve as President for the remainder of the Previous President's term from the moment he became president, but he will take his oath of office as soon as may be after becoming President; (2) and the Vice-President of the State has not become President, the President and Vice-President elect will take their oath of office as soon as may be after their election, and will begin to serve for the remainder of the Previous President's and Vice-President's terms at the moment of taking their oaths. (d) Subject to the provisions of section (c)(2), should the office of Vice-President of the State become vacant, the Vice-President-designate will take his oath of office as soon as may be after his designation, and will begin to serve for the remainder of the Previous VicePresident's term at the moment of taking his oath.

157. The President of the State and the functioning of the Government (a) The President of the State will appoint the Prime Minister and remove him from office in accordance with this Constitution. (b) The President of the State will appoint the Ministers and remove them from office after consulting the Prime Minister, and, having done so, shall notify the Knesset of that fact. (c) The President of the State may, with the approval of the House of Representatives – (1) Change the division of responsibilities between the Ministers, excluding those of the Prime Minister; (2) Transfer a role vested in one Minister by law, or a duty imposed on him by law, entirely or partially, to another Minister; (3) Merge Ministries, divide them, abolish them and establish new Ministries. (d) The President of the State may transfer domains of jurisdiction from one Ministry to another. (e) The President of the State may appoint permanent, temporary, or special Ministerial Committees; once such a committee is appointed, the Government may act through it. (f) The President of the State will summon meetings of the Government, manage them and chair them, will determine the procedure of the meetings and work of the Government, its manner of debate and the method its decisions are adopted, whether regularly or for a certain matter.

158. Presidential decrees (a) The President of the State may issue a presidential decree either generally or for a specific matter, with the exception of decrees falling within the authorities of the Judiciary or the State Comptroller.

�(b) Once a decree has been issued, it will be tabled before the Senate, and be bought for the approval of the Senate; the Senate may refuse to approve it, in whole or in part. (c) Should a decree be approved by the Senate, it will be promulgated in the Reshumot, it will be valid from the day of its promulgation. (d) A Presidential decree may not annul, modify or come in conflict with the provisions of a law or of the Constitution.

159. Additional responsibilities and powers (a) The President of the State – (1) will sign laws in accordance with Article 134; (2) will receive from the Government a report of its meetings, and from the Ministers a report on their work; (3) will accredit the diplomatic representatives of the State, receive the Letters of Credit of diplomatic representatives sent to Israel by foreign countries, empower the consular representatives of the state and realize the appointment of consular representatives sent to Israel by foreign countries; (4) will sign treaties with foreign countries which were ratified by the Senate; (5) will fulfill every responsibility given to him by law as regards the appointment of Judges and other officeholders and their removal from office. (b) The President of the State has the power to pardon offenders and to mitigate penalties by way of reduction or commutation. (c) The President of the State has the power, subject to Article […], to appoint and dismiss functionaries, to temporarily suspend their terms and to determine their titles and responsibilities. (d) The President of the State is the Commander-in-Chief of the Israel Defense Forces and of the Security and Intelligence Corps. (e) The President of the State is authorized to do, in the name of the State, every action which is not legally vested in any other authority.

160. Countersignature The signature of the President of the State on an official document requires the countersignature of the Prime Minister or of another Minister decided on by the Government, save a Law, a Presidential decree, a letter of resignation, or a document relating to the formation of the Government, to Reconsideration of a Government decision, to the dissolution of the House of Representatives, to a pardon or to a mitigation of a penalty.

�161. Reconsideration of Government decisions (a) The President of the State may, within 48 hours of the adoption of a decision by the Government, notify the Prime Minister in writing of his will to bring the decision for reconsideration by the Government and on the day of reconsideration. (b) Reconsideration will be made at a special meeting of the Government which will be held within 10 days of the day of adoption of the decision, or within a shorter time period if 40% of the ministers so request. (c) The validity of a decision on which a notice under section (a) has been made will be suspended until the Government makes a decision after reconsideration or until the President retracts his decision (d) A government decision adopted after reconsideration may not be the subject of reconsideration under this Article. (e) This Article does not apply to a decision whose adoption requires a qualified majority and was adopted by such a majority. (f) An Interim or Acting President may not use the power given under this Article to the President of the State.

162. Immunity in discharge of functions (a) Neither the President nor the Vice-President may not be accountable before a Court or Tribunal for anything connected to the functions and powers of each, and they will be immune before every legal action on this account. (b) The President and Vice-President of the State are not required to disclose as evidence anything of which they gained knowledge while exercising their functions as President or Vice-President of the State (c) The immunity of the President and Vice-President of the State will continue to apply to them even after they have left office.

163. Immunity from criminal procedures The President and Vice-President of the State may not be bought to criminal trial; the period during which bringing the President or Vice-President of the state to criminal trial for a given offense is prohibited will not affect the statute of limitations for that offense.

164. Evidence Should the President or Vice-President of the State be required to give evidence, the evidence will be given in a place and at a time determined with his agreement.

�165. Salary and other payments The Salaries of the President and Vice-President of the State will be determined by a resolution of the Knesset, which may entrust that function to the Joint Committee on Finance; resolutions according to this Article will be published in the Reshumot.

166. Exclusivity of office (a) The President and Vice-President of the State may not serve in any position, nor may they fulfill any function, other than their positions and functions as President or VicePresident, as appropriate, without the consent of the Government. (b) The President and Vice-President of the State are exempt from any mandatory service.

167. Departure for abroad The President and Vice-President of the State may not leave the boundaries of the State without the consent of the Government.

168. Resignation (a) The President of the State may resign from office by delivering a letter of resignation to the President of the Senate; the office of President becomes vacant on the letter of Resignation reaching the President of the Senate. (b) The Vice-President of the State may resign from office by delivering a letter of resignation to the Prime Minister; the office of Vice-President becomes vacant on the letter of Resignation reaching the Prime Minister.

169. Removal of the President from office (a) The Senate may, by resolution, remove the President of the State from office, if it has determined that he is unworthy of his office by reason of conduct inappropriate for his status as President. (b) The Senate may not remove the President of the State from office, save after a complaint has been brought before the House of Representatives by at least 20 MKs and Articles of Impeachment have been adopted by a majority of Representatives; the Decision of the Senate regarding the removal of the President from office will be adopted by a majority of two-thirds of the Senators. (c) The House of Representatives may not impeach the President, until after he has been given the opportunity to appeal the complaint according to procedures prescribed by the Supreme Court with the approval of the House of Representatives; and the Senate may not decide to remove the President until he has been given the opportunity to state his case according to procedures prescribed by the Supreme Court with the approval of the Senate.

�(d) The President of the State may be represented before the House of Representatives and the Senate by his counsel, so long as a Member of the Government or of the Knesset, or a Justice of the Supreme Court, does not serve as the President's counsel; And the House of Representatives and the Senate may invite the President to be present during the deliberations under this Article. (e) The deliberations of the House of Representatives and the Senate will be held in a sitting held for that matter only or in adjacent sittings held as aforesaid; the deliberations of the House of Representatives will commence not later than 20 days after the complaint has been brought before it, and those of the Senate – not later than 20 days after the decision of the House of Representatives; the Chairman of each House will notify that House's members on the date of commencement of its deliberations; Should deliberations commence outside the Knesset session, the Chairman of the relevant House will convene the House for deliberation. (f) The provisions of this Article will apply, mutatis mutandi, to the Vice-President of the State. (g) The Senate may, by resolution adopted by a majority of its members, remove the VicePresident of the State from office if he is serving with an impeached President; the Senate may only remove the Vice-President from office under this section before the President is removed.

170. Recall of the President (a) Every group of voters numbering at least 50,000 people may initiate a referendum on the recall of the President; an initiative under this article may not proposed during the last year of the outgoing President's term, or while the president has temporarily ceased to fulfill his functions and to exercise his powers, or during the first 15 months of the incoming President's term. (b) An initiative under this Article will be lodged before the Central Elections Committee; the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee will check if the initiative has been validly adopted, and upon so approving he will proclaim the holding of the referendum in a decree which will be published in the Reshumot; the decree will enter into force 21 days after being published. (c) The recall of the President will be approved by Referendum if the number of votes in favor exceeds the number of votes against, so long as the number of votes in favor is at least 40% of the number of all registered voters in the referendum; should the recall be approved by Referendum, the offices of President and Vice-President will become vacant on the publication of the referendum results.

�171. Vacation of post for health reasons (a) The Government may, by a decision adopted by two-thirds of its members, determine that the President or Vice-President is permanently unable to fulfill his functions for medical reasons. (b) The Government may not make a decision as aforesaid save on the basis of a medical opinion given according to procedures prescribed by the Government. (c) Should the government decide as aforesaid, the office of President or Vice-President, as appropriate, will become vacant on the day of its decision.

172. Temporary suspension (a) The President and Vice-President of the State will each temporarily cease to fulfill his duties and to exercise his powers: (1) If he has left the borders of the State – from his leaving until his return; (2) If he has notified the Government that he is temporarily unable to fulfill his functions, and the government has approved his notice by a majority vote – from the approval of the notice until the end of the period set out in the Government's decision or until the President or Vice-President, as appropriate, has notified the government that he is no longer unable to fulfill his functions, whichever is earlier; (3) If the Government has decided, by a majority of two-thirds of its members, and on the basis of a medical opinion given according to procedures prescribed by the Government, that the President or Vice-President, as appropriate, is temporarily unable to fulfill his functions for medical reasons– from the adoption of the decision until the end of the period set out in the Government's decision or until the Government has decided that the President or Vice-President, as appropriate, is no longer unable to fulfill his functions, whichever is earlier. (b) The Government may not set out, according to section (a)(2) or (3), a period which exceeds three months; it may extend it, progressively, for not more than three additional months; should the period be further extended, the President or Vice-President, as appropriate, will be deemed to be permanently unable to fulfill his functions.

173. Acting and Interim President (a) Should the office of President become vacant and until the new President of the State has begun to serve, the first-mentioned person in the Presidential line of succession will serve as Interim President. (b) While the President of the State temporarily ceases to fulfill his duties and to exercise his powers, the first-mentioned person in the Presidential line of succession will serve as Acting President. (c) For the purposes of this Article, the Presidential line of succession is as follows: (1) The Vice-President of the State;

�(2) The President of the Senate; (3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives; (4) The Prime Minister; (5) The Vice-Prime Minister; (6) The Deputy Prime Ministers, one by one and by order of seniority; (7) The Ministers, one by one and by order of seniority; (8) The Deputy Ministers, one by one and by order of seniority; (9) The Members of the Knesset, whether Senators or Representatives, one by one and by order of seniority; (10) A designated survivor appointed pursuant to a Knesset resolution or Government decision; (11) The holder of any other office determined by law. (d) In section (c), "Senior" – the person who's term of service in the Government or the Knesset, as appropriate, is the longest, whether consecutively or cumulatively, and from among persons of equal seniority, the oldest among them; (e) The Interim or Acting President will fulfill the functions of the President of the State and use the functions given to the President according to law. (f) The provisions of this Article apply, mutatis mutandi, even if the circumstances set out in sections (a) or (b) as regarding the President of the State exist in a person who is serving as Interim or Acting President.

174. Substituting the Vice-President (a) Should the office of Vice-President become vacant or should the Vice-President temporarily cease to fulfill his duties and to exercise his powers, the Prime Minister or another Minister designated by the President of the State will substitute for him. (b) The substitute will fulfill the functions of the Vice-President of the State, other than his functions under Articles 148(b)(1) and 173, and use the functions given to the Vice-President according to law.

Chapter X. THE GOVERNMENT[edit]

PART C. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH Chapter XI. The Government 175. Status The Executive Branch will act via the Government; this provision does not prejudice the authorities of the other components of the Executive Branch according to this Constitution or any other law.

176. Source of Authority The Government serves by virtue of the confidence of the House of Representatives and President of the State.

177. Responsibility The Government is collectively responsible before the House of Representatives and President of the State; a Minister is responsible before the Prime Minister for the functions entrusted to the Minister.

178. Composition of the Government (a) The Government consists of the President of the State, of the Vice-President of the State and of the Prime Minister and other Ministers. (b) A Minister will be in charge of a Ministry, but there may be a Minister without Portfolio. (c) A Minister may be a Deputy Prime Minister, so long as the number of Deputy Prime Ministers does not exceed one-third of the number of Ministers; one of the Ministers who is a Deputy Prime Minister may be Vice-Prime Minister. (d) The number of members of the Government, including the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister, may not exceed 21, unless the House of Representatives has approved the appointment of an additional minister under Article 187.

179. Qualifications of Ministers (a) A person who is not an Adult Israeli Citizen who is resident in Israel cannot be appointed Minister. (b) A person who has served in an office or position specified in Article 89 cannot be appointed Minister, unless he has finished holding that office or position before his appointment, or in such earlier moment as may be set by law. (c) (1) A person who has been convicted of an offense and sentenced to imprisonment and at the day of his appointment seven years have not yet passed from the day he finished serving his prison term, or from the day his verdict was given, whichever is later, cannot be appointed Minister, unless the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission has determined that the crime for which he was convicted, under the relevant circumstances, does not carry moral turpitude. (2) The determination of the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission shall not be required if the Court determines, under any law, that the circumstances of the event require the crime to carry moral turpitude. (d) A person who holds an additional, non-Israeli citizenship cannot be appointed Minister, if the laws of the country of which he is a citizen allow him to relinquish that citizenship, unless he has done all acts which are required on his part to relinquish it. (e) An MK who crossed the floor and did not resign his membership after having crossed the floor, cannot be appointed Minister during the term of the House of Representatives for which he was elected, or of the Senators of the same class as in which he was elected, as appropriate; this provision will not apply on the splitting of a faction fulfilling conditions set by law; for the purposes of this section, "Crossing the floor" – as defined by Article 60.

180. Publication of Agreements (a) Should a written agreement regarding the matters set out in section (d) be made, the Parties to the agreement will deliver its full text to the Knesset Secretary, within three days of the day of signature and not later than 48 hours prior to Election Day, or 24 Hours prior to the installation of the Prime Minister or the voting in the House of Representatives or the notice to the House of Representatives, as appropriate; in the calculation of days and hours legal days of Rest or Sabbatical days will be excluded; should the agreement be made by a Presidential Candidate or a list of Candidates to the House of Representatives, the Parties to the agreement will deliver its full text to the Knesset Secretary immediately. (b) The Secretary of the Knesset will inform the Members of the Knesset, and during an election period to one of the Houses – also the delegates of candidates to the Senate and lists of candidates to the House of Representatives, as appropriate – every agreement which is delivered to him under this Article. (c) After the moment set out in section (a), no agreement regarding the matters set out in section (d) may be signed, unless a new period for that matter, which allows the publication of that agreement in accordance with this Article, is set. (d) And these are the matters on which this Article applies: (1) Elections to the Presidency of the State; (2) The Formation of the Government; (3) The Installation of the Prime Minister or the expression of no-confidence in him; (4) Voting on the Budget Law; (5) Co-opting of additional Ministers to a government whose number of members exceeds 21; (6) The Appointment of a Minister or Deputy Minister.

181. Reservations regarding Agreements (a) Where a power is given by law to remove a person from a post in the Knesset, the Government, the Civil Service, a Statutory Corporation, a Government Company, or any other public body – no agreement may be made and no commitment may be given regarding the removal or non-removal of that person from his post. (b) No surety for guaranteeing the execution of such an agreement may be paid, directly or indirectly, using money, a money equivalent, a service or any other benefit, and any such surety will be invalid.

182. Appointment of the Prime Minister (a) Should the President of the State be convinced, after consulting with the delegates of Factions in the Knesset, that a given person would enjoy the support of a majority of Representatives as Prime Minister, he will appoint him as Prime Minister if the Prime Minister-designate consents to his appointment as such. (b) Should the consultation be made after elections to the House of Representatives and before the new House of Representatives has been convened, the President will consult with the delegates of Factions in the Senate, as well as those of the list of candidates to be represented in the incoming House.

183. Appointment of a Prime Minister according to a request of a majority of Representatives (a) Should the President of the State appoint a Prime Minister and the House of Representatives reject the request to express confidence in him according to Article 185(b), and should the President again appoint a Prime Minister within 42 days of the first request being rejected, and the House of Representatives again reject the request to express confidence in him according to Article 185(b), a majority of Representatives may request the President, in writing, to appoint a given person who consents to his appointment as Prime Minister. (b) Should a request be submitted to the President as said in section (a), the President will appoint the person specified in the request as Prime Minister within two days.

184. Early elections in the absence of a Prime Minister (a) Should a request not be submitted to the President as said in Article 183(a), the President will notify the Speaker of the House of Representatives of that fact. (b) Should the president notify as said in section (a), or should the House of Representatives reject, in accordance with Article 185(b), a request to express confidence in a Prime Minister appointed according to Article 183, the House of Representatives will be dissolved and elections to the new House of Representatives will be held on the last Tuesday before the expiry of 90 days from the date of the President's notification, or of the rejection of the Request to express confidence in the Prime Minister, as appropriate.

185. Installation of the Prime Minister (a) Should the President of the State appoint a person as Prime Minister, he will notify the Speaker of the House of Representatives of that fact, and the Speaker of the House will notify the House of that fact and designate a sitting for the installation of the Prime Minister, within seven days of the notification to the House of Representatives under this section. (b) At the sitting for the installation of the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister will stand before the House of Representatives, declare the fundamental lines of his policy, and request an expression of confidence.

186. Oath of Office Upon being vested with the confidence of the House of Representatives or as soon as may be after that, the Prime Minister will recite before the House of Representatives this oath: "I, (name), do swear to bear allegiance to the State of Israel, its laws and its Constitution, to faithfully execute my office as Prime Minister, and to realize the decisions of the Knesset." Upon being appointed or as soon as may be after that, a Minister will recite before the President of the State this oath: "I, (name), do swear to bear allegiance to the State of Israel, its laws and its Constitution, to faithfully execute my office as a member of the Government, and to realize the decisions of the Knesset."

187. Appointment of an Additional Minister The President of the State may co-opt an additional minister to a Government whose number of members, including the President and Vice-President of the State and the Prime Minister, exceeds 21; should the President of the State decide to co-opt a minister, he will notify the Speaker of the House of Representatives of that fact, as well as of the additional Minister's duties; upon the approval of the message by the House of Representatives by a majority of 70 of its members, the additional Minister will enter upon his office and will make his oath of office as soon as may be after the approval.

188. Substituting the Prime Minister (a) Should the Prime Minister be temporarily unable to fulfill his functions, the Vice-Prime Minister will substitute for him. (b) Should there be no Vice-Prime Minister or should he be unable to serve, or be absent from the Country, or be unable to substitute for the Prime Minister, the substitute will be the representative of the largest faction among the Deputy Prime Ministers; should there be two representatives or more for the largest faction among the Deputy Prime Ministers

189. Investigation of the Prime Minister during and after his term, indictment and conviction 190. Termination of the Prime Minister's term by reason of an offense 191. Removal of the Prime Minister from office 192. Removal of a Minister from office 193. Termination of a Minister's term by reason of an offense 194. Substituting a Minister 195. Deputy Ministers 196. End of a Deputy Minister's term 197. Termination of a Deputy Minister's term by reason of an offense 198. Expression of no-confidence in the Prime Minister 199. Power to dissolve the House of Representatives 200. Continuity of the Government 201. Powers of the Government 202. Delegation of Powers 203. Assumption of Powers 204. Secrecy 205. Salary and Pension 206. Secretary to the Government 207. Functionaries 208. The Government and the Knesset Committees 209. Changing the election date

Chapter XI. THE STATE COMPTROLLER[edit]

Chapter XII. THE MILITARY[edit]

Chapter XIII. STATE OF EMERGENCY[edit]

Part IV. THE JUDICIARY[edit]

Chapter 14. GENERAL[edit]

Chapter 15. THE JUDGES[edit]

Chapter 16. THE COURTS[edit]

Chapter 17. MISCELLANEOUS[edit]

Part V. ECONOMIC PROVISIONS[edit]

Chapter 18. THE NATIONAL ECONOMY[edit]

Chapter 19. STATE LANDS[edit]

PART VI. MISCELLANEOUS[edit]

Chapter 20. DISTRICTS AND MUNICIPALITIES[edit]

Chapter 21. INTERNATIONAL TREATIES[edit]

Chapter 22. STATUS OF THE WZO/JA[edit]

Chapter 23. THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY[edit]

Chapter 24. KEREN HAYESOD[edit]

Chapter 25. REFERENDUM[edit]

Chapter 26. TRNASITIONAL PROVISONS[edit]

FIRST SCHEDULE[edit]

The flag is 44 units long and 32 units wide. The background is white and on it are two stripes of dark sky-blue, each being 5 units broad, running for the whole length of the flag from end to end. The upper stripe being at a distance of 3 units from the top [of the flag], and the lower being at a distance of 3 units from the bottom. In the middle of the white background, between the two blue stripes and at equal distance from both – is a Star of David composed of six sky-blue stripes, each being 1.1 units wide, forming two equilateral triangles, the bases of which are parallel to the two horizontal stripes, each triangle's sides being 9.9 units long.

Shade of Blue: #0038b8 (Red 0, Green 56, Blue 184) / Pantone 2728 C

Shade of White: #ffffff (Red 255, Green 255, Blue 255) / Pantone P 1-1 C

SECOND SCHEDULE[edit]

THIRD SCHEDULE[edit]

$\relative c' { \set Score.barNumberVisibility = #all-bar-numbers-visible \bar "" a8 ^\markup \fontsize #1 \smallCaps "As long as in the heart, within" ( b) c d e4 e | f8( e) f( a) e2 | d4 ^\markup \fontsize #1 \smallCaps "A jewish soul still yearns," d8 d c4 c | b8( a) b( c) a4 e \break \overrideProperty Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn.line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 25) (alignment-distances . (40))) a8 ^\markup \fontsize #1 \smallCaps "And onward, to the eastern expanses" b c( d) e4 e | f8( e) f( a) e2 | d4 ^\markup \fontsize #1 \smallCaps "An eye still gazes toward Zion," d8 d c4 c | b8( a) b( c) a2 \break \overrideProperty Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn.line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 50) (alignment-distances . (40))) a4 ^\markup \fontsize #1 \smallCaps "Our hope is not yet lost," a' a a | g8. a16 g8( f) e2 | a,4 ^\markup \fontsize #1 \smallCaps "The hope of two thousand years," a' a a | g8. a16 g8( f) e2 \break \overrideProperty Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn.line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 75) (alignment-distances . (40))) g4 ^\markup \fontsize #1 \smallCaps "To be a free people in our land," g8 g c,4 c | d8( e f) g e4( d8) c | d4 ^\markup \fontsize #1 \smallCaps "The land of Zion and Jerusalem;" d c c c | b8 a b( c) a4 | \break \overrideProperty Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn.line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 100) (alignment-distances . (40))) d4 ^\markup \fontsize #1 \smallCaps "To be a free people in our land," d8 d c4 c | d8( e f) g e4( d8) c | d4 ^\markup \fontsize #1 \smallCaps "The land of Zion and Jerusalem." d c c c | b8 a b( c) a4 \bar "|." } \addlyrics { כָּל __ עוֹד בַּ -- לֵּ -- בָב | פְּ __ -- נִי __ -- מָה | נֶ -- פֶשׁ יְ -- הוּ -- דִי | הוֹ __ -- מִיָּ __ -- ה, וּלְ | פַ -- אֲ -- תֵי __ מִזְ -- רָח | קָ __ -- דִי __ -- מָה | עַ -- יִן לְ -- צִיּ -- וֹן | צוֹ __ -- פִ __ -- יָּה, | עוֹד לֹא אָבְ -- דָה | תִּקְ -- וָ -- תֵ __ -- נוּ | הַ -- תִּקְ -- וָה בַּת | שְׁנוֹת אַלְ -- פַּ __ -- יִם, | לִ -- הְיוֹת עַם חָפְ -- שִׁי | בְּ __ -- אַרְ -- צֵ __ -- נוּ, | אֶ -- רֶץ צִיּ -- וֹן | וִי -- רוּ -- שָׁ -- לַ __ -- יִם; | לִ -- הְיוֹת עַם חָפְ -- שִׁי | בְּ __ -- אַרְ -- צֵ __ -- נוּ, | אֶ -- רֶץ צִיּ -- וֹן | וִי -- רוּ -- שָׁ -- לַ __ -- יִם. | } \addlyrics { Kol __ ‘od ba -- le -- vav | pe __ -- ni __ -- mah Ne -- fesh Ye -- hu -- di | ho __ -- mi __ -- yah, Ul | fa -- ’a -- tei __ miz -- rach | ka __ -- di __ -- mah, ‘A -- yin le -- Tzi -- yon | tzo __ -- fi __ -- yah; ‘Od lo av -- dah | tik -- va -- te __ -- nu, Ha -- tik -- vah bat | shnot ’al -- pa __ -- yim, Li -- hyot ‘am chof -- shi | be __ -- ’ar -- tze __ -- nu, ’E -- retz -- Tzi -- yon | uy -- ru -- sha -- la __ -- yim; Li -- hyot ‘am chof -- shi | be __ -- ’ar -- tze __ -- nu, ’E -- retz -- Tzi -- yon | uy -- ru -- sha -- la __ -- yim. }$

User:Glide08/Sandbox/Constitution of the State of Israel

Preamble to the Constitution[edit]