The State Merit Award System is an important part in a country’s state administration. In the process of transforming government functions，many developed countries have established a scientific，institutionalized and legal system of merit award system to commend the excellence who make a significant contribution in the economic，military，science and technology，culture，education，sports，arts and other fields. This article examines the model of the merit award system and the development processes in the United States，Japan，Germany，France，Australia and South Korean，and summarizes the experience of these countries with the hope of providing the theoretical support and reference for China’s state award system.