Unitary and Federal States

By Zohaib burki
Pakistan institute of competitive studies
Unitary state
“A unitary state is one in which the supreme governmental authority is

vested by the constitution in a single central government which rule

the whole country”.

All powers of the state are concentrated in the central government.

For administrative purpose, the country is divided into various

provinces, departments, with their own local administrative bodies.

The central government determines when and how much of the

authority shall be delegated to the local bodies.

Example of unitary states: England, France, Italy, Iran, Cuba, Belgium.

Merits
The central government, with its vast powers and control over local
administrations, can deal effectively and vigorously with all question
internal and foreign.

There is uniformity of laws, policies and administration throughout

the country.
Demerits
It is not effective in states with great diversity of culture, language
and tradition.

Unitary government is inclined to disregard local needs and interest.

Concentration of power tends to make the central government

despotic.
Federal State
“ A federal state is one in which the supreme powers in the state are
distributed by the constitution between a central government and the
government of the federating units, making each government supreme
within its own sphere of power”.
Federation is a dual government, with two sets of governments, with
each exercises supreme and original authority within its sphere of
powers as defined by constitution.

The power of federating units are not granted by central government,

but it is gift of constitution.

The government of the federating unit is not subordinate to the

central government.
Features
Federation comprises of two sets of governments federal and
federating government.

The supreme powers are divided on the principle that matters of

common interest or of national importance are entrusted to the
central government, while local matters and interest, are entrusted
to the unit governments.

The states which federate into a union lose their former sovereignty
because their union creates a new state which now becomes sovereign.
Essential Condition of Federation
1) Geographical Contiguity

2) Desire for Union

3) Desire for local Independence

4) Common economic interests

5) Equality among the component units

6) Public ability and Legalism

Salient Features of Federation
1) Supremacy of the constitution.

i. Written constitution

ii. Rigid constitution

iii. Sovereignty of the amending authority

2) Distribution of Powers

a. Basic principles of distribution

b. Principle of concurrent powers

c. Three methods of distributing the residual powers.

3) Supremacy of the Judiciary

4) Bicameral Legislature
Difference between Federal and Unitary
Federal
1) Powers are distributed between the 1)
central and state government.
2) There is an independent judiciary to 2)
resolve conflicts between the centre
and the state.
3) In this government citizen have to 3)
obey two sets of laws.
4) In a federal government the 4)
constitution is the outcome of an
agreement and it can only be
amended by a special procedure.
Unitary
All powers are concentrated in one
central authority.
There is no such mechanism in
unitary government.
In this government unitary system
of law prevails.
In a unitary form of government
the constitution is not the outcome
of an agreement and can be
changed by its supreme authority.
5) In a federal form of government 5) A unitary government has a
there are separate legislatures at supreme central government
the central and state levels
6) There is a promotion of
6) There is a fear of separation in national integration
federal government
7)Government is stable
7)There is no stability in this type
of government
8) There constitution is rigid 8) There constitution is flexible.
because there is no room for
amendment.
9)Their territory is not diverse.
9) Their territory is united in
diversity.