"The Land of Two Mosques" (Mecca and Medina) - soin a different way often called Saudi Arabia. The form of government of this state is an absolute monarchy. Geographical information, a brief history and information about the political structure of Saudi Arabia will help to form a general picture of this country.
Saudi Arabia is the largestThe Arabian Peninsula. In the north, it borders Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan, in the east - with the UAE and Qatar, in the southeast - with Oman, and in the south - with Yemen. It owns more than 80 percent of the peninsula, as well as several islands in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.
Более половины территории страны занято пустыней Rub al-Khali. In addition, in the north is part of the Syrian desert, and in the south is An-Nafud - another great desert. Plateau in the center of the country is crossed by several rivers, usually dry in a hot period.
Saudi Arabia is exceptionally rich in oil.The government partially invests profits from the sale of "black gold" in the development of the country, partly invests in industrialized countries and uses it to provide loans to other Arab powers.
The form of the government of Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy. Islam is recognized as the state religion. Arabic is the official language.
The name of the country was given by the ruling dynasty - Saudi Arabia. Its capital is the city of Riyadh. The population of the country is 22.7 million people, mostly Arabs.
In the first millennium BC on the shores of the Red Sea was the Minean kingdom. On the east coast was located Dilmun, considered a political and cultural federation in the region.
In 570 there was an event that determinedthe fate of the Arabian Peninsula - Mukhammed, the future prophet, was born in Mecca. His teaching literally turned the history of these lands, later influenced the peculiarities of the form of government of Saudi Arabia and the culture of the country.
Prophet's followers, known as Caliphs(caliphs), conquered almost all the territories of the Middle East, carrying Islam. However, with the advent of the caliphate, whose capital was first Damascus, later - Baghdad, the significance of the homeland of the prophet was gradually losing importance. At the end of the XIII century, the territory of Saudi Arabia was almost entirely under the rule of Egypt, and after another two and a half centuries these lands moved to the Ottoman Port.
В середине XVII века появилось государство Нажд, which managed to achieve from the Port of Independence. In the middle of the XIX century, Riyadh became its capital. But the civil war that broke out in a few years, led to the fact that the weakened country was divided among themselves by neighboring powers.
In 1902, the son of Shaykh Oasis Diraiah, Abdul-AzizIbn Saud, managed to take Riyadh. Four years later, under his control, was almost all of the Chief. In 1932, emphasizing the special significance of the royal house in history, he officially gave the country the name of Saudi Arabia. The form of government of the state allowed the Saudis to gain absolute power in its territory.
Since the middle of the last century, this state has become the main ally and strategic partner of the United States in the Middle East region.
The constitution of this state is officiallythe Koran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad were proclaimed. However, the state structure of Saudi Arabia, the form of government and the general principles of power are determined by the Basic Nizam (law), which came into force in 1992.
This act contains the provision that Saudi Arabia is a sovereign Islamic state, the system of power in which is monarchical. The state structure of the country is based on Sharia.
Король из правящего рода Саудидов является также the religious leader and the highest authority in relation to all types of power. At the same time, he is the supreme commander-in-chief of the army, has the right to make appointments to all important civil and military posts, declare war and a state of emergency in the country. He also watches to ensure that the overall political orientation meets the norms of Islam and controls the implementation of the principles of Sharia.
Executive power in the state exercisesCouncil of Ministers. The king holds the post of its chairman, it is he who is engaged in its formation and reorganization. The Nizamas, approved by the Council of Ministers, enact royal decrees. Ministers are headed by the relevant ministries and departments, for whose activities they are responsible to the king.
Legislative power is also exercisedKing, under which the Advisory Council operates with advisory rights. The members of this council express their opinion on the projects of the Nizam adopted by the ministers. The Chairman of the Advisory Council and sixty members are also appointed by the King (four years).
The Supreme Judicial Council is at the head of the judiciary. On the recommendation of this council, the king appoints and dismisses judges.
Saudi Arabia, the form of government andwhose state structure is based on the almost absolute power of the king and the worship of the Islamic religion, officially has neither trade unions nor political parties. Service of a different religion, except for Islam, is also prohibited here.
