The Vatican is an independent sovereign unit, which is the smallest state city in the world. And no matter what the country is located in the Italian capital. How did it come about? What form of government does the Vatican have?
History of the Vatican
Back in the VIII century, the ruling Frankish king Pepin presented a part of the Roman lands as a gift to the Pope. Subsequently, in 1870, Italian troops occupied Rome, depriving the pontiff of power. The confrontation between the government and the Holy See lasted almost 60 years. And finally it ended with the signing of the Lateran Agreement. It gave the Vatican the sovereignty and annual monetary compensation from Italy.
Vatican City Attractions
The main attraction that makes crowds of tourists come here, of course, is St. Peter's Basilica. This is a unique place. The greatest architects and artists, such as Bernini and Michelangelo, took part in the construction and decoration.
One of the mysterious sights of the Vatican is the Apostolic Library. It is considered open, but access to its funds is so limited that it may take more than a century to reveal all the secrets. Here are answers to many historical questions. For example, the manuscripts of Leonardo da Vinci, which are stored here, can cast a shadow on the prestige of the church. According to rumors, a copy of the work of the famous mystic Cagliostro, with which you can find youth, is hidden in the cellars of the library.
Territory of the state
The territory of the Vatican occupies only 44 hectares. But, despite the size, it has its own postal service, radio station, railway and armed forces. Becoming a citizen of this country is not so simple. Citizenship is not inherited, but issued on the basis of service to the Holy See. Life here is pretty calm. But since the state is too small, the number of crimes, according to statistics, is several times larger than in Italy.
Vatican: interesting facts
The state has its own attributes of power: a flag and an anthem. The banner consists of a yellow and white strip, it depicts the coat of arms of the Vatican. The national anthem is divided into two parts. The first is sung in Latin, and the second in Italian. In addition to the police, there is a special Swiss guard. It has existed to protect the pontiff since 1506. It is worth noting a few interesting facts about this service:
- The costumes of the guardsmen are made according to the designs of Raphael. The headpiece is a black beret, in which the artist liked to portray himself.
- Young people from 18 to 25 years old are selected for the service. They must be Catholics and have Swiss citizenship.
- Guardsmen are not allowed to wear a beard or mustache. And they can get married by special permission.
- The service lasts 2 years, but can be extended up to 25 years.
- A salary is not taxable. Free housing and retirement benefits are provided.
- The Swiss Guard does not participate in wars. The exception is the salvation of Pope Clement VII in 1527, where 147 guardsmen died.
Vatican: a form of government
As for the dominant device, in this regard there is some legal conflict. It is generally accepted that the form of government of the Vatican City is an absolute theocratic monarchy. Its distinguishing features are the following characteristics:
- The concentration of all branches of power in one hand.
- Power is inherited.
- The monarch is not responsible as such.
- The term of election of the monarch is unlimited.
So what is the form of government in the Vatican? It is known that it has its own Constitution, consisting of six acts. The Basic Law does not mention that the Pope is a monarch. Article 1 states that he is the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the Supreme Pontiff. All three branches of power are concentrated in his hands . However, legislative powers are delegated to the Pontifical Commission, the composition of which is formed by the Lord for 5 years. Its chairman exercises executive power in the state.
In certain cases, the Secretary General may also exercise executive power. The judicial branch is entirely in the hands of the Pope, on behalf of whom the relevant authorities are created. It is they who make the decision on behalf of the Lord, who has the right to amnesty, forgive, have mercy, or release from punishment.
What else is remarkable about the Vatican? A form of government could set a precedent in jurisprudence if it were not for the fact that the Pope independently appoints persons to whom he delegates his own powers. Thus, it is fully consistent with the definition of the monarchy as a whole. As for the inheritance of power, the Constitution does not regulate the election of a monarch. This lies in the field of canon law, which is paramount in the hierarchy of legal sources of the Vatican city state. The form of government, as we see, is justified not only by the Constitutional Acts.
The Conclave (College of Cardinals) secretly elects a chapter, which is an unconventional method for the monarchy. This often provides food for controversy. A similar method of election is connected with historical premises - Pope Gregory VII abolished the institution of inheritance, which is associated with the reluctance of the church to lose wealth. On the other hand, a relationship with a woman was always considered sinful, so the transfer of power by inheritance became impossible for the pontiff.
Vatican: form of government and government
This small state is ruled by the Holy See and is an absolute monarchy. The Pope is the sovereign of the state and is chosen by the cardinals for life. The head of the executive branch is the Secretary of State, while the administrative branch is the governor appointed by the Pontifical Commission. Legally, the Vatican has the status of the sovereign territory of the Holy See. The main administrative authority is the Roman Curia.
Independent and having its own views, the city-state is the Vatican. The form of government is one of the oldest in the world. Although it is not industrial and does not have its own agriculture, it plays an important role for moral and political development.