Monarchy, Republican Government and Military Government

CONTENT

• Definition and Forms of Monarchy.
• Merits and Demerits of Monarchy.
• Features of Monarchy.
• Republican Government: Meaning and Functions.
• Military Government: Features, Reasons for Military Intervention, Differences between Republicanism and Monarchy.

MEANING OF MONARCHY

Monarchy may be defined as a system of government in which a king or a queen is the head of state and the government. In some countries, the monarch is the sole ruler and has absolute authority. This means that the power of the monarch is unlimited

FORMS OF MONARCHY

• Constitutional Monarch: This is the type of monarchy whereby the monarch has limited power and authority, which he or she derives from the constitution. In this system of monarchy, the monarch is only a ceremonial head of state. Examples of constitutional monarchies are; Morocco, Jordan, Kuwait, Britain.
• Absolute Monarch: This is the type of monarchy whereby the monarch has absolute or unlimited powers. The monarch does not derive his powers from the constitution but rules by divine right. Examples of absolute monarchies are; Tsar Nicholas 11 of Russia, king Khaled of Saudi Arabia and so on.

MERITS OF MONARCHY

• Unity and Orderliness: Monarchy brings about unity and orderliness in the political system since power is vested in a single ruler.
• Emergency: It can easily adapt to emergency situations as the monarch need not consult anyone before making decisions.
• Harmonization:  it helps to harmonize different interests and prevent social strife.
• The monarch is an historical and spiritual figure as the custodian of the customs and traditions of the people.
• National loyalty is encouraged because obedience to the monarch is seen as obedience to God.
• The king or queen may serve as the protector of the people.

DEMERITS OF MONARCHY

• Monarchy does not accept the principles of popular sovereignty.
• A monarch could be despotic to keep the people weak, so that they may be unable to resist him.
• The divine right of the monarch makes their subjects passive participants in the political system.
• Most public officials in a monarch are not elected.
• Competent citizens, who are not from the royal family, may be left out of government.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MONARCHY

• Ownership of Government: The authority and powers of the state rest on the king.
• Hereditary: Ascension to leadership position is by birth.
• Checks and Balances: In some forms of monarch, constitutional monarchy, the ruler is under check by the constitution.
• There is no separation of powers, as the executive, legislature and in some cases even judicial powers are all concentrated in the reigning monarch.
• No constitutional limitation: in some forms of monarchy, absolute monarchy, the ruler has no constitutional limitations.
• Despotic ruler: A monarch could be despotic and not ready to change.
• Countries using the monarchical system of government are characterized by religious homogeneity.
• Emergency: Monarchy could be adopted to make for emergencies.

EVALUATION QUESTION

• What is Monarchy?
• List 5 features of Monarchy.

CONTENT: REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT

MEANING: A Republican system of government can be defined as one in which there is an elected head of state called a president, elected by the people for a fixed term of office. A sovereign state is referred to as a republic if the country has no traditional ruler as a head of state. Government is constituted strictly by election and there is freedom of the judiciary.

FEATURES OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT

• The head of state known as the president is elected by the people.
• A republican must be politically independent.
• Members of the legislature in a republic are directly elected by the people.
• Elections are usually periodic. In some political system, it is held every four or five years.
• The constitution is supreme under the Republican system of government; both the rulers and the followers must abide by its provision.
• All citizens have equal opportunity to vote or to be voted for in an election.
• It is usually characterized by a multi-party democratic system.
• The political leaders must be responsive and accountable to the people they are representing.

EVALUATION QUESTION

• What is a republican government?
• List 5 features of a republican government.

CONTENT:THE MILITARY IN GOVERNMENT

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Military rule is not peculiar to Nigeria; it is a continental phenomenon in Africa. The first military coup in Africa took place in Egypt in 1962 when Colonel Gamel Abdel Nasser swept king Farouk off the seat of power. Since then till the present day, military coup has become a ritual and turnover rate of putsch on the continent of Africa.

Nearly all West Africa countries have experienced military intervention at one time or the other. The first military coup in West Africa took place in Togo on January 13, 1963 in which President Silvanus Olympio was assassinated, followed by Benin Republic, Nov 1963, the Central Africa Republic, Burkina Faso and Lilana 1966.Nigeria was not left out of this continental phenomenon.

On January 15, 1966 a broadcast was made by late Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeagwu, a leader of a group of Majors that planned and executed the coup. The coup was very bloody, occasioning the killing of prominent politicians including the Prime Minister Sir Abubakar, TafawaBalewa , the Sardauna of Sokoto and the premier of Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the premier of Western region chief S.L. Akintola, the federal finance Minister OkotieEboh, as well as some senior Army officers of the Northern and Western region. The January 1966 coup was later hijacked by the Army leader Major General J.U. Aguiyi Ironsi, who assumed leadership of Nigeria. The history of military rule in Nigeria can be divided into two phases with each having four regimes or four head of state. The first phase was from 1966-1979; second phase from 1983 October to May 1999.

FEATURES OF MILITARY RULE

• The suspension of the constitution.
• Dictatorial form of government.
• A highly centralized system of government.
• Absence of all forms of opposition.
• Absence of elections.
• The use of coercion in the implementation of policies.
• Inclusion of civilians in the administration.
• The use of decrees.
• Absence of the rule of law.

REASONS FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION IN POLITICS

• Weak political leadership.
• Bitterness and hatred among politicians.
• Inability to conduct acceptable census in 1962-1963.
• Regional/ethnic discrimination and expression of fear of domination by minorities.
• Breakdown of law and order.
• Politicization of the military
• Corruption among politicians.
• Personal ambition. Some soldiers are too ambitious to occupy political power.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REPUBLICANISM AND MONARCHY

• In a republican state, the head of state is the president, while in a monarchy the king, queen or emperor is the head of state. 
• In a republican state the president is elected by the people, while in a monarchy, ascension to throne is hereditary.
• While in a republican state, the president stays in office for a fixed term, in a monarchy the monarch does not have a fixed term.
• In a republican government, the elected representatives are responsible and accountable to the people, while in a monarchy, representatives are not accountable to the people.
• There are limitations to the exercise of powers in a republican government, while in a monarchy, limitations to the exercise of powers in constitutional monarch not in absolute monarch.
• In a republican state, people abide by the provisions of the constitution, while in a monarchy (absolute monarch), powers of the head of state are supreme.
• A republican government is democratic and there is respect for the rule of law, but a monarchy is undemocratic and there is no respect for the rule of law.
• There are periodic elections in a republican government, while in a monarchy, succession to some political office is through appointments.

EVALUATION QUESTION

• State 5 features of military rule.
• Differentiate between a republican and monarchical government.

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTIONS

1. A. What is Power?  B. State the forms of power.
2. Highlight five reasons why military intervene in politics
3. Differentiate between power and authority.
4. Explain the following terms; (i) Constitutional Monarch (ii) Absolute Monarch

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. Military rule in West Africa started in A. Nigeria B. Ghana  C. EgyptD. Cameroon
2. Nigeria became a republic in A. 1964 B. 1963 C. 1965 D. 1967
3. All but one of the following are features of a republic A. absence of election B. the constitution is supreme C. the president is elected popularlyD. there is fixed term of office
4. The first military head of state in Nigeria is A.Yakubu Gowon B.AguiyiIronsiC.Murtala Mohammed D.OlusegunObasanjo
5. The first military intervention in Africa took place inA. Nigeria B. Togo C. Egypt D. Ghana

THEORY

1. Discuss 6 reasons for military intervention in politics.
2. Mention 6 characteristics of a republican government.

READING ASSIGNMENT

TOPIC:  CONSTITUTIONS

Comprehensive Government Pages 54.

Essential Government Pages 52.