Does America have the oldest government on Earth?

[tokie]

I actually think Canada has the oldest continuous government on earth.

The US was disrupted by the Civil War secession, so the clock starts again in 1865.

Canada has been going since 1841 without disruptions due to war or anything.

 

[shiner]

I actually think Canada has the oldest continuous government on earth.

The US was disrupted by the Civil War secession, so the clock starts again in 1865.

Canada has been going since 1841 without disruptions due to war or anything.

I think this thread is about real countries though. Not the Botswanas, Pago Pagos and Canadas of the world.

 

[mugs]

I actually think Canada has the oldest continuous government on earth.

The US was disrupted by the Civil War secession, so the clock starts again in 1865.

Canada has been going since 1841 without disruptions due to war or anything.

We maintained the same government throughout. You could argue that our territory changed, or you could argue that there was a second competing government, but the government that was created by our constitution (which was our second government) persisted and still exists.

 

[tokie]

We maintained the same government throughout. You could argue that our territory changed, or you could argue that there was a second competing government, but the government that was created by our constitution (which was our second government) persisted and still exists.

Well, I would argue that you had a split with two effective governments each governing and exercising power over their respective territory, which was formerly governed by a single government. I'm sure if we were just talking about a single constitution or something, yeah the US would win. But for a single continuous government only growing over time and not "splitting up", Canada looks like it would win.

 

[So]

Well, I would argue that you had a split with two effective governments each governing and exercising power over their respective territory, which was formerly governed by a single government. I'm sure if we were just talking about a single constitution or something, yeah the US would win. But for a single continuous government only growing over time and not "splitting up", Canada looks like it would win.

The federal goverment didn't change substantially. The capital was still in DC, elections were still held and the same constitution was abided by (at least nominally). You're just being silly.

The OP is moot anyway, since the english government has more or less been the same for substantially longer than our own.

 

[zinfamous]

Iceland

yeah but their government just quit last year.

 

[sandorski]

The federal goverment didn't change substantially. The capital was still in DC, elections were still held and the same constitution was abided by (at least nominally). You're just being silly.

The OP is moot anyway, since the english government has more or less been the same for substantially longer than our own.

I would go with this. The Monarchy steadily declined, except for a short time when Cromwell suspended it entirely, but essentially the British Parliament has existed longer than the US.

 

[CottonRabbit]

I actually think Canada has the oldest continuous government on earth.

The US was disrupted by the Civil War secession, so the clock starts again in 1865.

Canada has been going since 1841 without disruptions due to war or anything.

I'm no Canada expert, but isn't Canada's birthday 1 July 1867? Wikipedia appears to confirm this. That would make you guys younger than the US even according to your logic.

 

[Linflas]

Well, I would argue that you had a split with two effective governments each governing and exercising power over their respective territory, which was formerly governed by a single government. I'm sure if we were just talking about a single constitution or something, yeah the US would win. But for a single continuous government only growing over time and not "splitting up", Canada looks like it would win.

Except that no other country recognized the existence of 2 independent governments and United States itself never recognized the CSA. So yes there were 2 functioning governments but the one based in Washington DC is the same government that existed from the moment the Constitution was ratified until today. Even if the CSA had successfully managed to win a truce and exist today as an independent nation this would be the case assuming that the US government did not fall as a result of that split.

 

[sandorski]

I'm no Canada expert, but isn't Canada's birthday 1 July 1867? Wikipedia appears to confirm this. That would make you guys younger than the US even according to your logic.

This is true. IIRC, the Colonial Government was pretty much carried forward though, so other than a change in Status it could be argued as being the same Government. tokie's argument relies on the US Civil War as a start point for the comparison and thus fails there.

 

[StageLeft]

I had heard of Dan Marino, but not San.

 

[tokie]

This is true. IIRC, the Colonial Government was pretty much carried forward though, so other than a change in Status it could be argued as being the same Government. tokie's argument relies on the US Civil War as a start point for the comparison and thus fails there.

Well, the United Province of Canada was founded in 1841 and was essentially the meat of Canada with Quebec and Ontario. It had its own Parliament which met, with representatives from Ontario and Quebec. The capital moved around and was then decided to stay in Ottawa at around the same time as the British North America act (1867).

That legislative body just really grew into the modern Parliament with the addition of the Maritimes. I wouldn't say there was a distinct break in 1867.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Oldest unchanged government.

Thoughts?

All the governments of all the counties on earth have been changed in the last 200 years. Before you go and try to argue this point lets go over a few examples.

The entire continent of Africa, All countries in Africa today sprung up from the remains of colonial governments from the 19th century. (One down)
Australia (former British colony) 19th century (two down)

Almost all countries in eastern Asia (the Arab states) British colonial governments (mid 20th century)

Europe:
Germany new government 1947
Italy new government 1943 (and about 50 more times between then and now)
Spain 1980's (Monarchy was replaced)
England (Parliamentary government in 19th century) no longer a real monarchy
France (are they a country?) Just kidding French revolution 18th century (after the American Revolution)
China 1949 when the communist took over
All of Eastern Europe 1980's after communism collapsed

It changed with every amandment to the Constitution and every set of laws passed by Congress.

 

[ichy]

Technically the Swiss Confederation goes back to 1291, although the modern Swiss federal state only came about in 1848.

 

[nageov3t]

our days are numbered

and the sun will eventually expand and swallow all of us, but I don't see our government fundamentally going anywhere anytime soon.

the primary difference between most stable modern states and the failed governments of before is that the military is loyal to the state, not any one leader.

 

[ichy]

the primary difference between most stable modern states and the failed governments of before is that the military is loyal to the state, not any one leader.

I'm pretty sure that the soldiers in the UK still swear their oath to the Queen.

 

[nageov3t]

I'm pretty sure that the soldiers in the UK still swear their oath to the Queen.

well sure, but they're not going to rebel against England if the queen offers them some plots of land and an extra share of plunder.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Technically it would be Antarctica which has had the same government of none. For a really long time >200 years in fact.

technically there are idiots and then there are idiots..lolol

 

[Moonbeam]

The governments of bees and ants are millions of years old.

 

[Steeplerot]

UK are the same pretty much since their last revolution. 1688
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Revolution


English Revolution of 1688 was the final act in the long process of reform and consolidation by Parliament to achieve a balanced constitutional monarchy in Britain.

 

[Chaotic42]

Actually, I think the op is talking about the longest of our type.
I forget the term for it, but the system where you have a government with a popularly elected President and a Legislature.

In fact, our type of government has proven to be a failure in every other place it has been tried, long term.

Many people, like myself, are very worried the new monolithic parties in American, added to the change in the spirit of compromise, is exactly the reason other governments like ours have failed, and we are nearing a precipice.

With what would you replace it?

 

[TheSlamma]

I think this thread is about real countries though. Not the Botswanas, Pago Pagos and Canadas of the world.

Hmm what happened with Canada in the war of 1812?

 

[mugs]

With what would you replace it?

What do you call it when you don't let the stupid people vote?

 

[IronWing]

UK are the same pretty much since their last revolution. 1688
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Revolution


English Revolution of 1688 was the final act in the long process of reform and consolidation by Parliament to achieve a balanced constitutional monarchy in Britain.

I think the diminishment of the House of Lords in the early twentieth century (Parliament Act, 1911) fundamentally changed the system of governance in the UK. It wasn't a violent revolution but it did, for the first time, place government under the will of the people (at least the male people) and stripped the aristocracy of almost all of its power in government.

 

[BladeVenom]

UK are the same pretty much since their last revolution. 1688
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Revolution


English Revolution of 1688 was the final act in the long process of reform and consolidation by Parliament to achieve a balanced constitutional monarchy in Britain.

That may have been the last change by violence, but it's not the same government that it use to be. The Monarch was still a major power. Today it's just a symbolic figurehead.

The House of Lords has also been effectively overthrown from what it use to be, although peacefully, it's not the same government and doesn't have the same power.