Question

Differentiate between federal and unitary form of government with examples.

Hint:

Federal systems promote regional autonomy, while unitary systems centralize power in the hands of the central government.

Answer 1

The key difference between a federal and unitary government lies in the distribution of power:
- Federal Government: In a federal system, power is shared between a central government and regional governments (states or provinces). Examples include the United States and India, where both the central and state governments have specific powers and responsibilities defined by the Constitution.
- Unitary Government: In a unitary system, all powers are concentrated in a central government. Regional authorities, if they exist, have powers delegated by the central government. An example is France, where the central government has significant control over local administrative divisions.