[Avodah] Halakhos of a US Governor

[Marty Bluke]

R' Simon Mantagu asked:
<Are there shu"tim that address the specific case of the sovereign of the UK?

R' Shternbuch discusses the issue in Teshuvos V'Hanhagos. He also
discusses democratically elected leaders. I believe that he says (it
has been a while since I saw this inside) that you don't make a
Beracha on a democratically elected leader because the fact that he
can thrown out of office by the people shows a lack of malchus.
Another reason he gives is that people like the President of the US,
etc. don't dress or act differently then the common man again
betraying a lack of malchus. R' Ovadya Yosef also discusses the issue.

The Poskim quote from the early acharonim that you make the beracha
for a ruler who has the power "l'hamis o l'hachayos", they are not
sure whether it is either or or he needs the power to do both.