Unitary System (G4T5)

Introduction: Definition A unitary government or unitary state is a sovereign state under the jurisdiction of a single entity. The central government is supreme, and administrative divisions only exercise the powers delegated to them by the central government. There are smaller units of government such as states or provinces but they do not have the authority to make independent decisions. Subdivision units are created and abolished, and their powers can be expanded and reduced by the central government. For example, the United Kingdom is unitary because its constituent nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) have no right to challenge the constitutionality of parliamentary actions. A unitary state contrasts with a federal state, such as the United States, which shares power between the federal government and the states. Contents: Characteristics/Features of the Unitary System and Examples of countries that applies this system. Features/Characteristic: Centralization of Powers All powers are centralized in the hands of the central government and that centre is the reservoir of all state powers. There are no provincial governments and the constitution empowers the central government to legislate, execute and adjudicate with full might. There is no other institution to share governmental powers with the central government. The central government has full powers to rule without any external pressure。 The central government runs the state administration with confidence without any fear and terror. The rulers exercise their powers in an absolute way without any check. Although in many unitary states, there is a local government system arrangement, but powers are delegated to these units with strict central control or supervision. Single and Simple Government It is a simple system. there are neither provincial assemblies and executives nor the upper chambers at the center. single central government at the center a unicameral legislature is popularly elected. central legislature is there to legislate, executive to execute and the judiciary to adjudicate without any share. expenses are less and the state is run with a unified command. ordinary citizens easily understand its structure and powers. Flexible Constitutions  The constitutions of the unitary states are ever flexible in nature.  A rigid constitution is required only in federation in order to establish firm and safe relations between the centre and federating units.  Constitution of unitary system has an advantage that it may be changed according to the needs of time and changing circumstances.  A constitution is a document necessary to run a state according to the changing orientations.  People’s desires change with the passage of time and constitutions are amended accordingly.  Its flexibility paves way for its progressiveness.  Constitutions of the unitary systems are evolutionary and may face any immediate situation.  The central government alone has the power to amend the constitution and in this sense the constitution of a unitary state is always flexible. Uniformity of laws - - - - The law used by countries which applies unitary system is made only by a single government. Uniform laws by the system are to be applied to the whole country, there is no any state laws or other laws can be made by the state level. Unlike the countries which applies federal system, the law was made by both federal and state by considering the circumstances that the law follows the nature which varies from province to province. For the unitary system, the law is made to apply to the whole country, that there will be no consideration of any territorial distinctions or other circumstances which matches with the law. The uniformity of laws is the unitary set-up according to the principle of justice and nature of the human beings. For example, one of the countries which applies unitary system, the United Kingdom. The UK uses a uniform law which is the common law, declared by the judges and derived from custom and precedent. Another example, in New Zealand, the country also practices the uniformity of law as the Constitutional Act 1986 plays the central role. - New Zealand also introduced the unicameral system which they have only a single legislative. Examples of countries that applies this system: France In France, the central government makes virtually all of the decisions. The central government exercises total control over the country’s nearly 1,000 local political subdivisions, which are called “departments.” Each department is headed by an administrative prefect appointed by the French central government. While they are technically governments, France’s regional departments exist only to implement the directives issued by the central government. United Kingdom functions as a unitary state, with total political power held by Parliament (the national legislature located in London, England) other countries within the UK each have their own governments, they cannot enact laws that affect any other part of the UK, nor can they refuse to enforce a law enacted by Parliament. New Zealand  New Zealand is one of the countries with uncodified constitution.  "uncodified constitution" is a constitution made up of rules that are found from various documents in the absence of a single document or written constitution. Under the uncodified constitution, new conditions and situations of government are resolved by precedent or passing legislation.  The constitution of New Zealand is a set of laws and principles that define the country and its citizens. The constitution is concerned with the relationship between the individual and the state, and how the government should function.  has no single constitutional document and instead relies on several documents.  Constitution Act of 1986  Acts of Parliament.  court decisions  establishes a country as Monarchy with the Treaty of Waitangi is considered as the founding document for the government.  three branches of the government of New Zealand and their functions are founded on the Constitution Act of 1986. Conclusion: The unitary state is the most common form of government in the world. This system of government has its advantages, but like all schemes for decentralizing power between the government and the people, it has its drawbacks. Advantages: Can act quickly. o Because decisions are made by individual governing bodies, a unified government can respond more quickly to emergencies, whether domestic or foreign lower Cost. o Without the federal bureaucracy at all levels of government, unitary states can operate more efficiently, potentially reducing their tax burden on the population. It can be smaller. o A unitary state can rule an entire country from a single position with a minimum number of elected officials. o The small structure of a unitary state allows it to meet the needs of its people without tying up large numbers of workers. Disadvantage: may lacks infrastructure. While a single government may be able to make decisions quickly, it sometimes lacks the physical infrastructure needed to implement its decisions. o In national emergencies such as natural disasters, the lack of infrastructure can endanger people. local needs can be ignored. o because they are likely to be slow to develop the resources needed to respond to emergencies, single governments tend to focus on foreign affairs while putting domestic needs first. abuse of power can be encouraged. o In unitary states, a single person or legislature has most, if not all, of the power of government. o History shows that power is held too little and is easily abused.