Judge/King

• Elected (Joshua, Num. 28:19, 22; Jephthah, Jud. 11:4-11; Samuel, 1 Sam. 7:5-8; 2 Sam. 2:1-4, 2:8, 11, 5:1-3, 1 Chron. 29:20-24)
• Must be a “brother” i.e., a native-born Israelite (Deut. 17:15)
• Right of pardon (2 Sam. 21:14: -31)
• Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces (1 Samuel 8:20)
• “…he may not multiply horses to himself…” (Deut. 14:16)
• “…neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.” (Deut. 17:17)
• “…that…he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or from the left…” (Deut. 17:20)

President

• “The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America…he…shall be elected…” (US Constitution, Article II. Section 1)
• “No person except a natural born citizen…shall be eligible to the Office of President.” (US Constitution, Article II. Section 1)
• “…he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States…” (US Constitution, Article II. Section 1)
• “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States and of the Militia of the Several States, when called into the actual service of the United States…” (US Constitution, Article II. Section 2.)
• “To raise and support armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer term than two Years.” (US Constitution, Article I, Section 8 (This is a Congressional prohibition, but it nevertheless shows the Scriptural principle being applied to the American government, and in any case, binds the President as well, as the President may not raise and support armies at all.
• “The President shall…receive for his services, a compensation, which shall neither be increased or decreased…and he shall not receive…any other emolument from the United States, or any of them.” (US Constitution, Article II, Section 1)
• “Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation: — ‘I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully…to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” (US Constitution, Article II, Section 1.)

Bicameral Legislature

• Select Assembly or Hebrew Senate
• Popular or General Assembly
• “At times we see where the Senate proposed an issue, the congregation decided it and the king executed it (1 Chronicles 13:1-3) The general assembly (Dt. 1-22-23) and chief executive (Dt. 1:13) took the initiative also. All three branches worked together, with checks and balances, to accomplish God’s purposes for civil order and justice.”
• “1) Choosing rulers. The assembly affirmed God and His Law (Exodus 19); they affirmed Joshua to succeed Moses as chief executive (Num. 27); they affirmed Saul as king (1 Sam. 10:17-27), Solomon as king (1 Chron. 29:22-23), and Jeroboam as king (1 Ki. 12:20). There are many examples of the people choosing or affirming their leaders via the assembly that represented them. 2) Foreign affairs. The case of the Gibeonites is one example of the assembly being involved in foreign affairs (Joshua 9). 3) Civil authority. The assembly was involved in enacting a new law in response to the petition of the daughters of Zelophehad regarding inheritance rights for women (Num. 27:1-9) The assembly had authority in criminal matters (see Num. 35:24-25; 1 Sam. 14:42 ff). They had some voice in ecclesiastical affairs as well (see 1 Chron. 13:2-4; 24:20-22)”

Bicameral Legislature

• Senate
• House of Representatives
• “Every bill which have passed the house of representatives and the Senate, shall, before it, becomes a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve, he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to that House in which it shall have originated…” (US Constitution Article I, Section 7.). “He [The President] shall from time to time…recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient…” (US Constitution Article II, Section 3.)
• “…if there be more than one have such majority, and have an equal number of votes, than the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by ballot one of them for President…” (US Constitution, Article II, Section 1.) “…the Congress may be Law provide for the case of removal, death resignation, or inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what officer what officer shall act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly…” (US Constitution, Article II, Section 1.) “He, [the President] shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senate, concur; and she shall nominate, and by, and with the consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls…” (US Constitution, Article II, Section 2.) “…The Congress shall have the power…to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department of Officer thereof.” (US Constitution, Article I, Section 8) “The Senate shall have the sole power to try impeachments.” (US Constitution, Article I, Section 3.)

Central Tribunal or Supreme Court (Deuteronomy 17:8-13)

Supreme Court

“…The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme court…” (US Constitution, Article III, Section 1.)

Inferior Courts

State and Local Courts

12 Tribal Governments

13 State Governments

Prophets and Levites

Pastors and Churches

Elders of the City Judges Officers of “in thy gates.”

Local Government: City Councils, Sheriffs, County Commissioners

Written Constitution

Written Constitution