World Governments

Kings are a biblical idea The Israelites wanted an earthly king, against God’s wishes 1 Samuel 8:4-10, 194 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.7 And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”10 Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

Biblical Perspective

Monarchy Federation Democracy Republic Constitution Dictatorship Anarchy

Research these words to find out how they related to government and find examples of countries relating to each.

Research the following

Supreme power in the hands of a king/queen/emperor/empress Reigns over a state or territory Usually for life and by hereditary right Can be:

Absolute monarchy (monarch controls everything), or Constitutional monarchy (monarch’s power limited by constitution) Parliamentary monarchy (monarch is just a ceremonial figurehead)

Examples: Spain (Parliamentary Monarchy) Canada, Japan, Tonga, United Kingdom (Constitutional Monarchy) Historical France and Sweden, ie. Not anymore (Absolute Monarchy)

Monarchy

sovereign power is formally divided usually by means of a constitution

Divided between a central authority and a number of regions Such as states, colonies, or provinces

Each region retains some management of its internal affairs Examples:

Canada (has states which have some of their own power) Russia (has regions/provinces with their own power) USA (federal republic, states have own power) Australia (federal parliamentary democracy)

Federation

Parliamentary Democracy: parliament selects the government according to party strength as expressed in elections

Constitutional Democracy: sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution

Democratic Republic: supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them

Supreme power is retained by the people Usually exercised indirectly through a system of

representation and delegated authority They have elections to vote for their leaders

Periodically renewed Such as a Prime Minister being in for 4 years

Examples: Australia, Canada, PNG, New Zealand, Samoa

(Parliamentary Democracy – we have states and our government is chosen based on the political party people vote for)

Nepal (democratic republic) Ghana, Panama, Sierra Leone (Constitutional

Democracy)

Democracy

A representative democracy The people's elected representatives, not the people themselves, vote on laws Examples:

France, Fiji, Indonesia (Republics) Germany, India, USA (Federal Republics – have states/regions and are republics) Singapore (Parliamentary Republic – a republic with a parliament) Peru (Constitutional Republic – a republic operating under a constitution)

Republic

Constitutional governments operate under an authoritative document (constitution) Constitution sets forth the system of fundamental laws/principles determining the

nature, functions, and limits of that government Constitutional democracy - the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a

governing constitution (such as in Australia) Constitutional monarchy - monarch is guided by a constitution whereby rights, duties,

and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom

Constitution

A ruler or small clique (group) wield absolute power Not restricted by a constitution or laws Example:

North Korea (communist dictatorship)

Dictatorship

A condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority

Example: Somalia during their civil war (1991-2006)

No government existed, so regions turned to their own way to solve problems

Often a transitional phase between governments Albania in 1997

Citizens could get away with anything after people lost their money in scams

Anarchy

Daniel 5:5-6,10-30 1 Samuel 8:4-20 Romans 13:1-7

What does the Bible say about leadership and government?Look at the following verses and comment on what they say.