Unitary and federal government

Explains about the merits and demerits of the unitary and federal government

1. UNITARY AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Dr.M.Sugirtha Associate Professor Department of Political Science Government Arts College, Trichy - 22

2. UNITARY GOVERNMENT Dicey says, “ Unitary government is the habitual exercise of supreme legislative authority by one central power” According to Garner, “where the whole power of government is conferred by the constitution upon a single central organ or organs; from which the local governments derive whatever authority or autonomy they possess and indeed their very existence, we have a system of unitary government” England, japan, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, France, Italy

3. MERITS OF UNITARY GOVERNMENT Strong government Less expensive Efficient administration Single citizenship Administrative uniformity Prompt Decisions Most suited to the small countries More Flexible

4. DEMERITS OF UNITARY GOVERNMENT Apprehension of the Central Government becoming despotic Central Govt. becomes overburdened with work Lack of Local autonomy More influence of government officials Not suitable for the big states

5. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Federal government is one in which there is a division of powers between the centre and the states. USA, Switzerland, Australia

6. Defintions Dicey – “A federal state is nothing but a political contrivance intended to reconcile national unity with the maintenance of state rights” Finer – “A Federal state is one in which part of authority and power is vested in the local areas while another part is vested in a central institution”

7. Essential features of the federal government Distribution of powers between the centre and the states Residuary powers in the hands of States Supremacy of the constitution Independent Judiciary and Judicial review Double citizenship Separate constitution for the states

8. MERITS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Reconciliation of local autonomy with national unity Division of powers between the centre and states leads to administrative efficiency People take more interest in local and regional affairs Distribution of powers checks the despotism of the central government

9. DEMERITS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Federal government is weaker i n comparison with the unitary govt More expensive Lack of uniformity in administration Threat to National unity