INTRODUCTION
In any country, the rights and liberties enjoy by citizens are affected by the type or form of government adopted by the State.
a) Merits
• It is undisputable that Monarchy is the oldest form of government and has passed through centuries to the modern times hence, it has been seen as the most stable system of government since the succession is by hereditary and once he attains the position the monarch cannot be removed from office by either impeachment or a vote of no confidence. The system provides for less rancor and animosity in the decision making process since the final say belongs to the monarch who his not obliged to seem or accept the advice from anybody.
In any country, the rights and liberties enjoy by citizens are affected by the type or form of government adopted by the State.
For example, it is obvious that citizens’ freedom are better guaranteed under a (democratic) government chosen by the people than a dictatorial regime whose power runs through the barrels of the gun. It should be noted that this topic could be classified into two categories i.e. main and subsidiary.
Main forms of government are those that can easily be identified such as monarchy, democracy or dictatorship, while subsidiaries are those that exist under the cover of the main forms. For example, parliamentary government is associated with monarchical system, which could be democratic, federal or unitary in nature while presidential or parliamentary system of government could be subsidiaries of a democratic system. Therefore, examining types of government is an important issue in the discussion of political theory and we are going to consider some of them in this unit.
This is the oldest type of government in which a King or Queen exercise the ruling powers of the State. In an absolute monarchy, the King or Queen has unlimited powers to rule the country and his/her authority is not subject to any legal limitations and cannot be challenged because he/she is sovereign and it is believed that he/she does no wrong especially when it is by hereditary succession. Perhaps to emphasise the powerful nature the position of a monarch, King James I of England in his book ‘The Trew Law of Free Monarchies (1603)’ has this to say:
Even if the King is wicked, it means God has sent him as a
punishment for people’s sins, and it is unlawful to shake off the
burden that God has laid upon them. Patience, earnest prayer and
amendment of their lives are the only lawful means to move God to
relieve them of that heavy curse! (Appadorai, A., 1975:230)
However, in an elective or constitutional monarchy, the King or Queen reigns but does not rule. The monarch has his/her powers regulated by the constitution; he/she is a titular Head of State and simply performs ceremonial functions while a Prime Minister who is appointed amongst the elected Parliament, exercises effective powers of the State as the Head government. In administration, the King or ceremonial President is obliged to accept the advice of the Prime Minister or Ministers with cabinet rank as occasion arises and can only enjoy obedience as recognized by the constitution or conventions. This is the practice in Britain, India and most Commonwealth Nations. This system was practiced in Nigeria’s First Republic (1960 - 1966) when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the ceremonial President (Head of State) who performed dignified functions while Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the Head of government. It must be stressed that some scholars have differentiated constitutional monarchy by classifying it under democracy because the manifestations of democratic features in the system.
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:- • Discuss different types of government
- • Explain the merits and demerits of each type
- • Compare and contrast different types of government
MAIN CONTENT
Monarchy
This is the oldest type of government in which a King or Queen exercise the ruling powers of the State. In an absolute monarchy, the King or Queen has unlimited powers to rule the country and his/her authority is not subject to any legal limitations and cannot be challenged because he/she is sovereign and it is believed that he/she does no wrong especially when it is by hereditary succession. Perhaps to emphasise the powerful nature the position of a monarch, King James I of England in his book ‘The Trew Law of Free Monarchies (1603)’ has this to say:
Even if the King is wicked, it means God has sent him as a
punishment for people’s sins, and it is unlawful to shake off the
burden that God has laid upon them. Patience, earnest prayer and
amendment of their lives are the only lawful means to move God to
relieve them of that heavy curse! (Appadorai, A., 1975:230)
However, in an elective or constitutional monarchy, the King or Queen reigns but does not rule. The monarch has his/her powers regulated by the constitution; he/she is a titular Head of State and simply performs ceremonial functions while a Prime Minister who is appointed amongst the elected Parliament, exercises effective powers of the State as the Head government. In administration, the King or ceremonial President is obliged to accept the advice of the Prime Minister or Ministers with cabinet rank as occasion arises and can only enjoy obedience as recognized by the constitution or conventions. This is the practice in Britain, India and most Commonwealth Nations. This system was practiced in Nigeria’s First Republic (1960 - 1966) when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the ceremonial President (Head of State) who performed dignified functions while Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the Head of government. It must be stressed that some scholars have differentiated constitutional monarchy by classifying it under democracy because the manifestations of democratic features in the system.
Some Merits and Demerits of Absolute Monarchy
a) Merits
• It is undisputable that Monarchy is the oldest form of government and has passed through centuries to the modern times hence, it has been seen as the most stable system of government since the succession is by hereditary and once he attains the position the monarch cannot be removed from office by either impeachment or a vote of no confidence. The system provides for less rancor and animosity in the decision making process since the final say belongs to the monarch who his not obliged to seem or accept the advice from anybody.
In African settings, a monarch is seen as the pivot of unity and centre of dispute resolution, which guarantees peace and tranquility.
The policy formulation and implementation is easier and quicker under a monarchy than in any other systems of government. The society is saved of the trouble of time wasting on debates, claims, counter-claims and lengthy discussions on public issues. • With the longevity of the position of a monarch, there is consistency and continuity on both domestic and foreign policies that makes for sustainable development.
• One of the greatest demerits of a monarchical system of government is that it is undemocratic in nature and in practice. The process of ascension to office is not through popular elections or any democratic norms other than by ‘divine right’ as the only qualification, which cannot be challenged by anybody. Under this system, there are no citizens but subjects of the monarch who has no right to any freedom except as granted by the monarch. • Since the system does not accommodate the doctrine of checks and balances, the tendency is that the monarch becomes, more often than not, a
despot and tyrant to the people. This explains why King Charles I of England was beheaded in a revolution led by Oliver Cromwell in 1625. • Absolute monarchy is associated with inefficiency, corruption, nepotism, and high-handedness culminating into turning the subjects to sycophants in order to enter the good books of the monarch for patronage.
Self-Assessment Exercise (SAE) 3.1
Examine the merits and drawbacks of monarchy as a form of government
This could be defined as a system of government in which a few wealthy, gifted or the nobles rule, which Rousseau literally describes as ‘government by the best citizens’ (Appadorai, A., 1975:134). The fulcrum of aristocracy depends on the respectability accorded it by other members of the society, which is usually enhanced more by deeds than words. Aristocracy stands for the exercise of power by a few persons distinguished by their superiority, ability and merit. Joharis (2007), defines it as ‘a form of government in which only a relatively small proportion of the citizens have a voice in the choosing of public officials and in determining public policies’. The followings are some of the distinctions of aristocracy:
• Circumstances of birth (aristocratic family)
• Culture and education (aristocracy of intellectuals)
• Military prowess or talent
• Property or wealth (aristocracy of landowners)
• Charismatic potentialities
• Religious position
The policy formulation and implementation is easier and quicker under a monarchy than in any other systems of government. The society is saved of the trouble of time wasting on debates, claims, counter-claims and lengthy discussions on public issues. • With the longevity of the position of a monarch, there is consistency and continuity on both domestic and foreign policies that makes for sustainable development.
b) Demerits
• One of the greatest demerits of a monarchical system of government is that it is undemocratic in nature and in practice. The process of ascension to office is not through popular elections or any democratic norms other than by ‘divine right’ as the only qualification, which cannot be challenged by anybody. Under this system, there are no citizens but subjects of the monarch who has no right to any freedom except as granted by the monarch. • Since the system does not accommodate the doctrine of checks and balances, the tendency is that the monarch becomes, more often than not, a
despot and tyrant to the people. This explains why King Charles I of England was beheaded in a revolution led by Oliver Cromwell in 1625. • Absolute monarchy is associated with inefficiency, corruption, nepotism, and high-handedness culminating into turning the subjects to sycophants in order to enter the good books of the monarch for patronage.
Self-Assessment Exercise (SAE) 3.1
Examine the merits and drawbacks of monarchy as a form of government
Aristocracy
This could be defined as a system of government in which a few wealthy, gifted or the nobles rule, which Rousseau literally describes as ‘government by the best citizens’ (Appadorai, A., 1975:134). The fulcrum of aristocracy depends on the respectability accorded it by other members of the society, which is usually enhanced more by deeds than words. Aristocracy stands for the exercise of power by a few persons distinguished by their superiority, ability and merit. Joharis (2007), defines it as ‘a form of government in which only a relatively small proportion of the citizens have a voice in the choosing of public officials and in determining public policies’. The followings are some of the distinctions of aristocracy:
• Circumstances of birth (aristocratic family)
• Culture and education (aristocracy of intellectuals)
• Military prowess or talent
• Property or wealth (aristocracy of landowners)
• Charismatic potentialities
• Religious position
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