HOW POWER IS DISTRIBUTED

(Unitary, Federal, and Confederation)

A way to classify governments is by determining how the power in the government is distributed.

How Power Is Distributed

• There are essentially three ways a government’s power is distributed: o the federal system, o the unitary system, oand the confederation system.

• Most nations don’t choose to have one or the other.

How Power Is Distributed

• The makeup of the nation, its history, its culture, and its geography tends to determine the system for the distribution of power.

• In reality, nations opt for either a federal or unitary system.

One Way Power Is Distributed• Federal systems work well in large countries

with geographically diverse populations.

• Federal systems allow local governments to act as laboratories to try out policies before they are used at the national level.

• Federal systems fit in well in capitalist countries because both people and businesses have the capacity to move; local governments must compete to keep people and jobs within their areas.

Another Way Power Can Be Distributed

• A unitary system is one where sovereignty rests on the shoulders of the national government; all powers are held by a central agency.

(Example: Great Britain)

Another Way Power Can Be Distributed• Unitary systems have their benefits:

• Every citizen in the country is entitled to the same rights and benefits.

• Unitary systems make it easier to maintain a sense of national identity.

• Unitary systems tend to run more smoothly because policy is easier to implement and less effort is spent sorting out who should do what.

Confederation

• In a confederation system an alliance of independent states have the real power; they have sovereignty. The central agency has very limited power. This is the least used form of the three.

• Remember: In reality, nations opt for either a federal or unitary system.

Countries that have federal systems of government include:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Switzerland, Venezuela and the United States.

Countries that have unitary systems of government include:

Belgium, Bulgaria, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Poland, Romania, the Scandinavian countries, Spain, and many of the Latin-American and African countries.

The United Kingdom has a unitary system of parliamentary government.

Today’s Confederations:

•Iroquois Confederacy (1090–present)•European Union •OPEC –Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries•ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations•United Nations