FORMS OF

GOVERNMENT
BASED ON POWER & AUTHORITY DISTRIBUTION
Muhammad Mustafa Raza
 UNITARY FORM OF GOVERNMENT
• The government will have a strong central government but weak or non existent regional
governments.
• UK,
• Cuba,
• Belgium,
• France
• Japan
• Sri Lanka
 A.V.DICEY: “Habitual exercise of supreme legislative authority is by one central power”

GARNER: “Where the whole power of government is conferred by the constitution upon a

single central organ”

• Leaders can be a King, Prime Minister,or President

• It really doesn't matter who the leader of the country is; what matters, is
that the national level of the government has power and runs the country.
A unitary system can be autocratic, oligarchic or democratic. so, depending
on the type of government that is in place, citizen may play a larger role in
the country's politics.
 E.g., UNITED KINGDOM.
• the UK is a unitary parliamentary democracy, citizens vote for members of
parliament.
• Parliament members then select from themselves who the prime minister
will be.
• The national parliament runs the country, and the local governments have
little power.
 E.g., CUBA.
• It is a unitary communist government a communist government the citizens
don't have a say in how the country is run.
• But again, the national governments runs the country and local
governments do not have much power.
Unitary Govermnet
UNITARY SYSTEM
 MERITS
• strong, stable, all powerful government.
• single uniform administration for whole of the state.
• simple and less expensive system.
• flexible to changing social needs and environment.
• strong, stable, all powerful government.
• single uniform administration for whole of the state.
• simple and less expensive system.
• flexible to changing social needs and environment.
 DEMERITS
• Fear of central dictatorship and despotism.
• behaves inefficiently when overburdened with all work.
• ignores the local needs when fully involved in central issues.
• unsuitable for big states.
• more dependent on Bureaucracy.
• less chances for popular participation in the working of government.
 FEDERAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT

• divide power between the central / national government and the local / regional government of smaller areas.
• a lot of power is given to local governments to handle local affairs.
• central government handles issues that concern the entire country such as military affairs.
• the U.S (50),Pakistan (5),Canada (10) , India( 28) etc.
 FEDERALISM
• it can be seen as compromise between the extreme concentration of power and a loose
confederation of independent states for governing a variety of people usually in a large expanse of
territory.
• it has the virtue of retaining local pride, traditions and power.
• the basic principle of American federalism is fixed in the tenth amendment to the constitution
3 BRANCHES OF US GOVERNMNET
Governmental Structure of Paksitan
INDIAN SYSTEM
 MERITS
• Reconciliation of local autonomy with national unity.
• Division of powers between the centre and states leads to administrative
efficiency.
• Gives rise to big states.
• Distribution of powers checks the despotism of the central government.
• Advantageous to the smaller states.
• Good for economic and cultural progress.
 DEMERITS
• Lack of uniformity in administration.
• Distribution of powers leads to many conflicts.
• Double citizenship.
• Sometimes state governments place hindrance to foreign policy of the centre.
• Constitution, being rigid, cannot be adjusted to the fast changing conditions.
• Provincial tendencies are very acute.
 UNITARY VERSUS
1. Distribution of Powers
No constitutional division of powers between
the centre and the states.
2. Constitutional Status
The provinces act as agents of the centre.
3. Position of Judiciary
The position of the Supreme Court is not so
important
4. Citizenship
Single citizenship.
5.Law
Citizens have to follows laws of only one
authority.
6. Dual and Single Polity
Single set of authority
FEDERAL
Division of powers is specified in the
constitution.
2. The centre and states/provinces have equal
status
3. The Supreme Court decides the disputes
between the centre and the states.
4.Generally there is dual citizenship..
5. Citizens have to follow double laws.
6. Separate cabinets and legislatures in the centre
and in the provinces.