Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the defense establishment, political parties, and local municipalities for accountability, effi -
ciency, and corruption.
The state comptroller's offi ce publishes an annual report that makes very specifi c criticisms
of institutions and individuals. The ombudsman's offi ce responds directly to specifi c com-
plaints made by citizens.
The Plenum and Committees
The Knesset's work is carried out largely in the plenum and in committees. The plenum, when
all members meet together, has two sessions each year that last for a total of eight months. It
elects a speaker, who is responsible for arranging the Knesset's schedule. The plenum sessions
enable all members, including MKs who are also cabinet ministers, to debate issues, introduce
and vote on bills and the government budget, and ask questions of the executive branch —
which must be answered within two days.
Individual MKs can propose private bills not supported by their whole parties or the gov-
ernment. Sometimes a bill's sponsors may come from several different parties. After its fi rst
reading, a member-backed or party-backed bill is assigned to a committee, which may discuss
its provisions, add amendments, hold hearings, or kill the proposal. If the committee passes
the bill, the bill returns to the plenum for a second reading. After discussion, MKs vote on
whether to make any amendments, after which there is a third reading to decide whether the
bill should be passed into law.
A simple majority of the MKs in the Knesset chamber at voting time is suffi cient for pas-
sage, no matter how few MKs are present. Basic Laws, however, require an absolute majority
of at least sixty-one votes. If passed, the bill is signed by the Knesset speaker and published in
the
Gazette
, the Knesset's offi cial publication.
There are twelve permanent Knesset committees, the most important being those on for-
eign affairs and defense, economy, education, and the environment. Their membership, which
includes both government and opposition MKs, is determined at the start of every new Knesset
term. The composition roughly resembles the ratio of each party in Knesset. The ruling party
determines the makeup of committees, often using the assignment of leadership or member-
ship positions in more important committees as bargaining chips in coalition negotiations.
Opposition parties sometimes lead less important committees. At times, the Knesset estab-
lishes special committees to deal with new issues that arise or to conduct major investigations,
including complaints against specifi c MKs. Chairing a committee or being on a key committee
greatly enhances an MK's power and ability to push his or her party's agenda.
Members of the Knesset (MKs)
The individual Knesset members do not have a great deal of autonomy vis-à-vis their party
since they are in offi ce as party members rather than as individuals. MKs' power rests on an
ability to build coalitions within the party and across party lines to back their proposals. Ulti-
mately, though, it is the party that determines an individual's place in the political hierarchy —
by choosing who is to be on the party list of candidates, setting positions on the list, giving out
cabinet posts and committee assignments. Knesset members who decide to leave their party
