User:BomBom/Sandbox1

Theocracies

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines a theocracy as a "government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided". According to this definition, only the Vatican City and Iran can be classified as theocracies, the former being ruled by the Pope and the latter by the Supreme Leader. It should be noted that although some countries have a head of state who holds a religious role (for instance, the Bishop of Urgel is ex officio one of Andorra's two co-princes, and the Danish monarch is the official leader of the Danish National Church), they are generally not considered theocracies since the head of state in such countries is a ceremonial figure with very little political power. This definition cannot apply either to a country like Saudi Arabia even though its government and legal system are very heavily influenced by Islam, since political power in Saudi Arabia is exercised not by the clerics but by the secular Royal Family, which does not claim to be "divinely guided" (in fact, such an idea would even be considered somewhat blasphemous according to strict Wahhabi doctrine).

Country	Relationship between state and religion (as defined in Constitution or other similar document)	Official religion
Iran	row 1, cell 2
Vatican City	"The Supreme Pontiff, Sovereign of Vatican City State, has the fullness of legislative, executive and judicial powers." (Fundamental Law of Vatican City State - Article 1, §1)	Catholicism