Step 1 of 5 · Government, a member, or a committee
Tabling
Government bills come from ministries; a member's private bill first needs a preliminary reading in the plenum. Committees may also initiate bills on certain subjects.
✶ State of Israel · Parliamentary republic · as of 4 November 2026
No single constitution,
thirteen Basic Laws.
The Knesset elects the President, gives or withholds confidence in the government, and can bring it down. Instead of one written constitution, Israel has Basic Laws passed one at a time since 1958, which the Supreme Court treats as having constitutional rank. The 37th government remains in office as a transitional government until the 26th Knesset, elected on 27 October 2026, gives its confidence to a new one.
Basic Laws · חוקי היסוד
A constitution
chapter by chapter.
In 1950 the First Knesset decided (the Harari decision) to write the constitution in chapters, each a Basic Law, to be combined later. They have never been combined. Most can be amended by an ordinary majority; some clauses are entrenched.
| Year | Basic Law | חוק־יסוד | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | The Knesset | הכנסת | Composition, elections (s.4: general, national, direct, equal, secret, proportional), term, dissolution. |
| 1960 | Israel Lands | מקרקעי ישראל | State and national lands are not to be transferred. |
| 1964 | The President of the State | נשיא המדינה | Election by the Knesset; since 2000 one seven-year term. |
| 1975 | The State Economy | משק המדינה | Taxes, the budget, the state's accounts. |
| 1976 | The Military | הצבא | The army is subject to the government's authority. |
| 1980 | Jerusalem, the Capital of Israel | ירושלים בירת ישראל | Declares Jerusalem, “complete and united”, the capital; the UN does not recognise the annexation of East Jerusalem. |
| 1984 | The Judiciary | השפיטה | Courts, independence of judges, the Judicial Selection Committee. |
| 1988 | The State Comptroller | מבקר המדינה | Audit of the state and of public bodies; the Ombudsman. |
| 1992 | Human Dignity and Liberty | כבוד האדם וחירותו | Life, body, dignity, property, privacy, liberty; a law may infringe them only within the limitation clause. |
| 1994 | Freedom of Occupation | חופש העיסוק | First passed in 1992, re-enacted in 1994; entrenched by a majority of members. |
| 2001 | The Government | הממשלה | Current version (the 1992 law had a directly elected prime minister, used in 1996, 1999 and 2001). |
| 2014 | Referendum | משאל עם | Ceding sovereign territory needs 80 members or a referendum. |
| 2018 | Israel — the Nation-State of the Jewish People | ישראל – מדינת הלאום של העם היהודי | National self-determination, symbols, language (Hebrew; Arabic given a “special status”). |
In July 2023 the Knesset amended Basic Law: The Judiciary to bar courts from reviewing government decisions for “reasonableness”. On 1 January 2024 the Supreme Court, sitting as fifteen justices, struck the amendment down by eight to seven. The Basic Laws in English ↗
Who holds office · 4 November 2026
President, Prime Minister,
Speaker, courts.
-
President נשיא המדינה · יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog Since 7 July 2021 Elected by the Knesset for a single seven-year term (Basic Law: The President of the State). Consults every list and names who tries to form a government. -
Prime Minister ראש הממשלה · בנימין נתניהו Benjamin Netanyahu Since 29 December 2022 Heads the 37th government, which stays in office as a transitional government until a new one wins confidence. -
Speaker of the Knesset יושב ראש הכנסת · אמיר אוחנה Amir Ohana Since 29 December 2022 Speaker of the 25th Knesset; the 26th elects its own Speaker after it is sworn in on 10 November. -
Leader of the Opposition ראש האופוזיציה · יאיר לפיד Yair Lapid Since 2 January 2023 In the 25th Knesset. Yesh Atid ran in 2026 inside Naftali Bennett's Together list. -
President of the Supreme Court נשיא בית המשפט העליון · יצחק עמית Isaac Amit Since 26 January 2025 Chosen by the court's justices in January 2025; the government did not recognise the election, and the Justice Minister did not convene the Judicial Selection Committee for it. -
Chair, Central Elections Committee יושב ראש ועדת הבחירות המרכזית · נעם סולברג Noam Sohlberg Since 1 January 2023 A Supreme Court justice chosen by the court's justices to chair the committee, whose other members are nominated by the Knesset factions. -
State Comptroller מבקר המדינה · מתניהו אנגלמן Matanyahu Englman Since 1 July 2019 Audits party finances and election spending (Parties Financing Law 1973).
Photos: Benjamin Netanyahu — Avi Ohayon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Amir Ohana — Avi Ohayon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Yair Lapid — Avi Ohayon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Isaac Amit — Spokesman's Office of The judiciary of Israel, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Noam Sohlberg — קובי גדעון , לשכת העיתונות הממשלתית, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Matanyahu Englman — איציק הררי, CC BY-SA 4.0 . Others public domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.
Basic Law: The President of the State
A President
chosen by the Knesset.
The Knesset elects the President by secret ballot for a single seven-year term. The office is largely ceremonial, with two powers that matter in politics: after an election the President consults every list and decides who gets the first chance to form a government, and the President may pardon offenders and commute sentences.
Isaac Herzog was elected by the Knesset in June 2021 and took office on 7 July 2021. His consultations on the 26th Knesset begin on 4 November 2026. How a government is formed →
Basic Law: The Government (2001)
A government
that serves on confidence.
“The government serves by virtue of the Knesset's confidence” (s.3). The Prime Minister must be a member of the Knesset; other ministers need not be. The government takes office when the Knesset expresses confidence in it — more votes for than against (s.13).
It can be removed only by a constructive vote of no confidence: 61 members must vote confidence in an alternative government (s.28). After an election, a resignation or a lost vote, the outgoing government carries on until a new one takes office (s.30) — today's transitional government.
The 37th government · transitional since the 2026 election
The outgoing cabinet,
as the Knesset records it.
Ministers with an open post in the Knesset's database, with their Hebrew titles and an English gloss. A minister may hold several portfolios; a transitional government may fill a vacancy without a Knesset vote (s.30(d)).
- Benjamin Netanyahu בנימין נתניהו
- ראש הממשלה · Prime Minister
-
Amichai Chikli עמיחי שיקלי- שר התפוצות והמאבק באנטישמיות · Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism
-
Avi Dichter אבי דיכטר- שר החקלאות וביטחון המזון · Agriculture and Food Security
-
Bezalel Smotrich בצלאל סמוטריץ'- שר האוצר · Finance
- שר נוסף במשרד הביטחון · Additional minister, Defence
-
Chaim Katz חיים כץ- שר התיירות · Tourism
- שר הבינוי והשיכון · Construction and Housing
- שר הבריאות · Health
- שר הרווחה והביטחון החברתי · Welfare and Social Security
-
Idit Silman עידית סילמן- השרה להגנת הסביבה · Environmental Protection
-
Mickey Zohar מכלוף מיקי זוהר- שר התרבות והספורט · Culture and Sport
-
Nir Barkat ניר ברקת- שר הכלכלה והתעשייה · Economy and Industry
-
Ofir Sofer אופיר סופר- שר העלייה והקליטה · Aliyah and Integration
-
Orit Strock אורית מלכה סטרוק- שרת ההתיישבות והמשימות הלאומיות · Settlement and National Missions
-
Shlomo Karhi שלמה קרעי- שר התקשורת · Communications
-
Yariv Levin יריב לוין- סגן ראש הממשלה · Deputy Prime Minister
- שר המשפטים · Justice
- שר העבודה · Labour
- השר לשירותי דת · Religious Services
- שר ירושלים ומסורת ישראל · Jerusalem and Jewish Tradition
-
Yoav Kisch יואב קיש- שר החינוך · Education
-
מירי מרים רגב מירי מרים רגב- שרת התחבורה והבטיחות בדרכים · Transport and Road Safety
-
Dudi Amsalem דוד אמסלם- שר נוסף במשרד המשפטים · Additional minister, Justice
- השר לשיתוף פעולה אזורי · Regional Cooperation
- השר המקשר בין הממשלה לבין הכנסת · Liaison between the Government and the Knesset
-
Eli Cohen אלי כהן- שר האנרגיה והתשתיות · Energy and Infrastructure
-
May Golan מאי גולן- השרה לשוויון חברתי וקידום מעמד האישה · Social Equality and the Status of Women
-
Gila Gamliel גילה גמליאל- שרת החדשנות, המדע והטכנולוגיה · Innovation, Science and Technology
-
Gideon Sa'ar גדעון סער- שר החוץ · Foreign Affairs
-
Israel Katz ישראל כץ- שר הביטחון · Defence
-
Ze'ev Elkin זאב אלקין- שר נוסף במשרד האוצר · Additional minister, Finance
-
Amichai Eliyahu עמיחי אליהו- שר המורשת · Heritage
-
Itamar Ben-Gvir איתמר בן גביר- השר לביטחון לאומי · National Security
-
יצחק שמעון וסרלאוף יצחק שמעון וסרלאוף- שר הנגב, הגליל והחוסן הלאומי · Negev, Galilee and National Resilience
Photos: Benjamin Netanyahu — Avi Ohayon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Amichai Chikli — ראובן קופיצינסקי , צלם 053514246, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Avi Dichter — Shirley Steinberg (שירלי שטיינברג), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bezalel Smotrich — Avi Ohayon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Chaim Katz — Avi Ohayon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Idit Silman — Baruch Greenberg, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mickey Zohar — צילום: אורן כהן, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nir Barkat — Mark Neyman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ofir Sofer — יהודה ולד, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Orit Strock — Nati Shohat, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Shlomo Karhi — Hagar Cohen (הגר כהן), CC BY-SA 4.0 · Yariv Levin — Avi Ohayon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Yoav Kisch — Shlomi Amsalem, CC BY-SA 4.0 · מירי מרים רגב — גיא פלומבו / IDF Spokesperson's Unit, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Dudi Amsalem — נתי גולד (Nati Gold), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Eli Cohen — Ofir Abe (אופיר אייבי), CC BY-SA 4.0 · May Golan — Kfir Ziv (כפיר זיו), הראל הרשקוביץ (עריכה), CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gila Gamliel — Haim Zach, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gideon Sa'ar — Sharon Gabay, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Israel Katz — ששון תירם. The original uploader was Yarondvash at Hebrew Wikipedia . ( Original text : צילום: ששון תירם ), CC BY 4.0 · Ze'ev Elkin — Reuven Kopitchinski, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Amichai Eliyahu — יוסי לוגסי פלשמן, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Itamar Ben-Gvir — אלון נוריאל, CC BY-SA 3.0 · יצחק שמעון וסרלאוף — יוסי לוגסי פלשמן, CC BY-SA 3.0 . Via Wikimedia Commons.
Source: Knesset OData, KNS_PersonToPosition ↗ · fetched 4 November 2026. Posts the database has not closed are listed as it shows them.
Basic Law: The Knesset (1958)
One chamber,
120 members.
The Knesset is elected for four years in one nationwide constituency. It legislates, elects the President and the State Comptroller, oversees the government through committees and questions, and passes the budget. The Speaker is elected by the members at the start of each Knesset.
It can end its own term early by a dissolution law passed by 61 members, which must set an election within five months (ss.34–35). If the budget is not passed within three months of the start of the fiscal year, the Knesset is treated as dissolved (s.36A) — the route that ended the 23rd Knesset in December 2020.
26th Knesset, elected 27 October 2026, sworn in on 10 November 2026. Seats as certified by the Central Elections Committee.
How a bill becomes law
Three readings in the plenum
Most laws pass by a simple majority of those voting; entrenched clauses need more.
Step 2 of 5 · Plenum
First reading
The plenum debates the principles and votes to send the bill to a committee. A simple majority of those voting is enough for most bills.
Step 3 of 5 · A Knesset committee
Committee
The committee prepares the bill clause by clause, hears ministries and the public, and votes on reservations from members.
Step 4 of 5 · Plenum
Second and third readings
Clause by clause (second reading), then the whole law (third). Entrenched clauses need a special majority — e.g. 61 members to change the election system in Basic Law: The Knesset s.4.
Step 5 of 5 · President, PM, minister; Reshumot
Signature and publication
The law is signed and published in the official gazette, Reshumot, and takes effect as it provides. The President has no veto.
Four ways out
How a government
or a Knesset ends early.
No confidence, a dissolution law, a missed budget, or a Prime Minister's decree: try each route.
In every case the outgoing government stays in office until a new one wins the Knesset's confidence (Basic Law: The Government s.30).
Courts and watchdogs
Judges, lawyers,
auditors.
-
Supreme Court
Fifteen justices at full strength. It hears appeals and, sitting as the High Court of Justice (בג״ץ), petitions against state bodies, including challenges to Knesset laws and to Basic Laws.
-
Judicial Selection Committee
Nine members. Until now: three Supreme Court justices, two ministers, two members of the Knesset and two Bar Association representatives, with seven of nine needed for a Supreme Court appointment. A March 2025 amendment to Basic Law: The Judiciary, applying from the 26th Knesset, replaces the Bar Association members with two public representatives named by the coalition and the opposition.
-
Judicial review
Since 1995 (the Mizrahi Bank ruling) the court has struck down laws that conflict with Basic Laws. On 1 January 2024 it struck down the July 2023 amendment to Basic Law: The Judiciary that barred review on grounds of reasonableness, the first time it annulled part of a Basic Law.
-
Attorney General
Legal adviser to the government and head of the public prosecution, appointed by the government on the recommendation of a search committee. The adviser's legal opinion binds ministries under court rulings.
-
State Comptroller
Elected by the Knesset by secret ballot for one seven-year term. Audits ministries, local authorities and the parties' accounts (Parties Financing Law 1973); also the Ombudsman.
-
Central Elections Committee
Chaired by a Supreme Court justice, with members nominated by the Knesset factions in proportion to their size. Runs Knesset elections, rules on disqualifications (subject to appeal to the Supreme Court) and certifies results.
Local government
Cities, local councils,
regional councils.
More than 250 local authorities: municipalities (cities), local councils for towns, and regional councils that group villages, kibbutzim and moshavim. Voters elect the mayor or council head directly — a run-off follows if no candidate reaches 40% — and the council by list proportional representation. Permanent residents who are not citizens may vote in local elections, which is how most Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem are eligible to vote for Jerusalem's council but not for the Knesset.
The last nationwide municipal elections, due on 31 October 2023, were postponed after the attacks of 7 October and held on 27 February 2024, with run-offs on 10 March 2024. The next regular round is due in 2028. Places and results by locality →