distinguish between Federal and unitary form of government (3marks )
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Put simply, the difference between a unitary and a federal government is that a unitary government puts its power in one central government while in a federal system the governing power is divided into federal and local governing bodies that connect to the national government.
The Unitary governing system:
• Places its power in one central governing system
• Very little political power exists outside the central government
• The powers of this governing system are uniformly applied throughout
• All major government decisions are made by the central government
• If smaller government units are established they are controlled by the central government and can be abolished by such without their consent
• Many unitary governments are either dictatorships or totalitarian
• France, although Democratic, is governed by a Unitarian body
• Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Barbados, Morocco, and Spain are examples of unitary monarchy government
• China, Afghanistan, Italy, Zambia, and the Ukraine are examples of unitary republic government
The Federal Governing System:
• Distributes power from the national government to local/state governments to adopt laws that are reasonable to the country as a whole and the localities
• Power may be diffused in the federal system
• Multi-national states often have a federal system
• Larger countries often adopt the federal system since constituents may live in areas remote to the location of the central government
• Ethnicities with in a country may lead to a federal system as their rules and laws may vary. An example of this is the small country of Belgium which balances the needs two distinct ethnic groups
• The United States has a federal governing system with a national government and Constitution, in conjunction with states governments and constitutions
Difference between Federal and Unitary form of government
Federal Unitary
1.
Powers are distributed betweenthe central and stategovernment.
1.
All powers are concentrated inone central authority.
2.
There is an independent judiciaryto resolve conflicts between thecenter and the state.
2.
There is no such mechanism inunitary government.
3.
In this government citizens haveto obey two sets of laws.
3.
In this government unitarysystem of law prevails.
4.
In a federal government theconstitution is the outcome of anagreement and it can only beamended by a special procedure.
4.
In a unitary form of governmentthe constitution is not theoutcome of an agreement andcan be changed by its ownsupreme authority.
5.
In a federal form of governmentthere are separate legislatures atthe central and state levels.
5.
A unitary government has asupreme central legislature.
6.
There is a fear of separation infederal government.
6.
There is a promotion of nationalintegration.
7.
There is no stability in this type of government.
7.
Government is stable.
8.
There constitution is rigidbecause there is no room foramendment.
8.
There constitution is flexible.
9.
Their territory is united indiversity.
9.
Their territory is not diverse.
10.
This government is democratic.
10.
This government is non-democratic in nature.
11.
There is political awareness inthis government.
11.
There is no political awareness.
12.
A federal government must havea written constitution.
12.
A unitary government may ormay not have a writtenconstitution.
13.
A special judiciary with widepowers must be needed.
13.
There is no need of having a special judiciary with wide powers of judicialveto in a unitary government.