TYPES AND

CHARACTERISTICS OF
GOVERNMENT
UNITARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
OBJECTIVES

• By the end of the lesson, learners should be able to;

1. define unitary system of government
2. identify the features of unitary system of government
3. discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the system
MEANING OF UNITARY SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT

• This is a system of government in which all power of the state are

concentrated in one level of government called central government.
• It is a system with only one source of authority.
• Britain, France, Togo, Italy, Ghana and Togo
FEATURES OF UNITARY SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT

• Small geographical size and population

• The legislature is supreme
• There is similarity in language, religion, culture and history of the people
• All governmental power are vested in the central government
• There is one tier of government
• The constitution is usually unwritten and flexible.
ADVANTAGES OF UNITARY SYSTEM

• Promotes unity
• Strong government
• Less expensive
• Uniform civil service
• Quick decision
• Even development
 DISADVANTAGES OF UNITARY SYSTEM
• Dictatorship
• Overburden of the central government
• Ethnic domination
• Small areas
• Low participation
• Unemployment
• Government is far from the people.
• 1. discuss five main features of a unitary state
• What are the criticism leveled against unitary system of government?