December 13 – Republic Day in Malta

nPostednon December 13, 2015

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nOnnthis date in 1974, the Maltese amended (changed) their Constitutionnto make their nation a republic.

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nIngot to wondering what sort of government Malta had before 1974. Thentruth is, with its amazing location perched between North Africa, thenMiddle East, and Europe, and its amazingly good Mediterraneannweather, Malta probably experienced almost every sort of government.nAt least part of this nation’s archipelago of islands has been rulednby the Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish,nKnights of St. John, French, and British powers.

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nHerenare a few sorts of governments that exist (or have existed) in thenworld:

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n(1)n Democracy – the people vote on laws for themselves

nNOTE:n This is not practical for large groups, let alone really largen groups. A club of 15 members or even a school of 50 students mightn be able to have a true democracy, but a city of tens of thousands orn even millions, let alone a country of tens or hundreds of millionsn of people, cannot possibly meet in a room and hash out the laws, alln together.

n(2)n Republic – the people elect lawmakers who vote on laws

nNOTE:n All modern “democracies” are really democratic republics. n

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n(3)nMonarchy – when a king, queen, emperor, raja rules a nation ornempire n

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NOTE: These days,nmost all kings and queens are, figureheads who wield no politicalnpower. According to my sources, there are no large monarchies today.

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n(4)nAristocracy – when a group of wealthy, generally educated peoplenrule

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nNOTE: Many monarchiesnhave really been aristocracies.

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n(5)nDictatorship – when one person or a group of people rule by force

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NOTE: Many dictatorsnclaim to be “presidents” or some other democratic-sounding titlenand run so-called elections that have only one name on the ballot ornare in some other way unfair. In other words, dictators don’tngenerally admit that they are dictators!
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nTonanswer my question, from its independence in 1964 untilnit became a republic in 1974, Malta was ruled by a Governor-General who did sonon behalf of the Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.nBut there was also a parliament made up of elected lawmakers. I guessnMalta was a parliamentary monarchy.

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nSomenof my favorite facts about Malta:

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nScientistsn think that the seven small islands that make up Malta used to ben connected to modern-day Sicily by a land bridge. That land bridge isn now 330 feet below sea level!

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nOnen of the islands of Malta has just one resort on it. And four of then islets are totally uninhabited!

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nTheren are, among the seven islands, zero mountains, rivers, or forests!

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nEnglishn and Maltese are the two official languages. I love a gorgeous andn ancient land where the people speak English!

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nThen Ta’Qali Crafts Village includes all sorts artisans who sell theirn varied crafts straight from their workshops – which were builtn from no-longer-used World War II airplane hangars!

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nTheren are plenty of cool and amazing buildings from many different eras. In tend to love ancient stuff, and there is plenty of that on Malta.n This is called Mnajdra and is a temple complex.

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