Theoretical approaches to the study of political systems, especially the constitutional approach. Governmental structure, its religious dimension and institutions: president office, legislative body (the Knesset), the executive branch, the judiciary, state controller, and the local government. Political elites and decision-making in the Yishuv (The Zionist Jewish settlements before 1948) and in the State of Israel. Political parties, their histories, divisions, and ideologies. Electoral participation in the Knesset and in local government. Critical issues: the absence of a constitution, human rights, the mandate of the High Court of Justice, Israel's definition as Jewish and democratic, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the status of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel.
