What was the nature of governance in Calvin's Geneva?

In Calvin's Geneva, the governance was characterized by a close relationship between the city government and the church, which significantly influenced how both entities operated. The answer regarding the city government retaining judicial power over ecclesiastical matters is accurate because, in Geneva, the Consistory—a body made up of church leaders—exercised significant authority over moral and religious conduct, effectively intertwining church governance with civil authority.

This meant that not only did the Consistory oversee spiritual affairs, but it also had a mandate to impose discipline on members of the church and the broader community. The city's political system allowed for this integration, whereby the civil magistrate was largely supportive of the church's aims, creating a governance structure that enforced strict moral standards as dictated by Calvinist theology. This synergy characterized Geneva as a unique model of a theocratic society, where the lines between spiritual authority and civil governance were intentionally blurred, leading to a system where church discipline could have immediate legal repercussions.

In contrast, a complete separation of church and state would denote a governance system where religious institutions operate independently of governmental authority, which was not the case in Calvin's Geneva. Additionally, while the church did hold significant influence and power in civic matters, it was more about the governance being