political systems and

distribution of power
Presented by Penados, C.
 Systems of Government

1 2 3 4
Federal Quasi-
Unitary Federal Confideration
Government Government Government
 Unitary Government
A unitary system of government is one in which there is a
single central government that does not share power with
any other body but may delegate power to other
subordinate bodies.
 Characteristics of a Unitary
Government
•Power emanates only from the central government.

•There is no constitutional division of powers between

the central government and lower units.

•The constitution may not be supreme, for the central

government may modify it with its powers. As a result,
the constitution need not be rigid.

• A unitary government adopts a unitary constitution.

 Merits of a Unitary Government
•There is only one source of authority, thereby making it easy
for the citizens to identify with the supreme power in a state.

•A unitary system of government is usually strong and stable.

•The loyalty of the citizens in a unitary system of government is

shown only to the central authority.

•The multiplicity of offices and services in a unitary system is

reduced. This also reduces administrative costs.
 Demerits of a Unitary Government
• A unitary system of government may promote dictatorship
because of the concentration of powers in a single central
authority.
•In a unitary system of government, the power of the local
authorities is drastically reduced.
•The central authority in a unitary system is overburdened with
power and responsibility.
•Minorities are often dominated by the majority group in a
unitary system of government.
•It lowers local initiative as a result of a relative lack of
autonomy.
 federal system of
government
Powers are constitutionally shared between the central (that
represents the whole country) and the component units of
government variously called regions, local authorities,
states, provinces and cantons-which are constitutionally
recognised and largely autonomous
 Characteristics of a Federal
Government
•Two other levels of government, each in direct contact with its
citizens.

•An official, constitutional sharing of legislative and executive

powers and a sharing of revenue sources between the two other
levels of government, to ensure that each has certain sectors of
true autonomy.

• A supreme written constitution that is not unilaterally

modifiable but requires the consent of a large proportion of
federation members.
 Merits of a Federal Government
•The division of power among the component units fosters
rapid
development in a federal system of government.

•Federalism brings together people of different political,

religious, historical, geographical and social backgrounds,
thereby promoting unity among them.

•Smaller units enjoy their autonomy in a federal system.

•Federalism discourages concentration of power in a single

authority, thereby preventing the emergence of a dictator.
 Demerits of a Federal Government
•Federalism results in a considerable waste of time, as a result of
the consultations among the various levels of government
before important decisions could be taken.

•Federalism makes the coordination of state activities difficult,

because of the many component units of government.

•Even though powers in a federal system are divided between

the central and component units, the fear of some groups
dominating the others still exists in many federal states. This
fear sometimes results in threats of secession.
.
 Unitary Federal
• Single government •Written Constitution

•Written or unwritten •Dual government

•Flexible constitution •Rigid constitution

•No division of powers, rather •Separation of powers

there is delegation of powers
•Supremacy of constitution
•Constitution may not be supreme
•Bicameral legislature
•Unicameral legislature
 Quasi-federal system
The term quasi-federal is used to describe the system of
government that is somewhat between the federal and unitary
systems. It is an incomplete federal system of government. a
federal system can be described as ‘quasi’ when power is not well
defined, nor fully shared between the various levels of
government, and when the federal or central government can
override regional powers.
 Confederation system
Confederation is the type of government in which sovereign
states come together as autonomous bodies to form a loose
political union, in which the central government is subordinate to
the component governments. Each autonomous state is sovereign
and has the constitutional right to secede from the confederation.
 Confederation system
What may be considered as a modern-day illustration of
confederation is Switzerland, European Union, Great Britain
under the Common Crown, etc.
 Characteristics of a Confederation
System
•The component sovereign states are more powerful than the
central government.

•Actual powers of government lie with the component units

making it difficult for the central authority to enforce its
decisions on the autonomous states.

•Since the union is a loose one, the component states have

constitutional powers to secede.

•The component states have the constitutional right to have

their own army and police.
 Merits of a Confederation System
•It brings weak component states together to form a strong
nation able to defend themselves as one against any external
aggression.

•A confederation is economically beneficial to the autonomous

states that have come together, as a result of possible economic
projects jointly implemented for the benefit of members of the
union.

•It enables many otherwise sovereign states to speak with one

voice on issues relating to foreign policy
 Demerits of a Confederation System
•The citizens of a confederal state pay more allegiance to their
governments than to the central government. This further
reduces the power and authority which the state ought to
command over its citizens.

•It does not encourage political unity, which is vital to the

security and development of the nation.

•The power of regional governments to retain their police and

armed forces fosters the potential of an outbreak of civil
hostilities.
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