Federal vs. Unitary

[Babbler]

What is preferred from of government - a federal government or an unitary government? A federal government has a central government and regional governments that share power with each other. An unitary state has regional government with its powers granted from the central government.

IMHO, a federation is better. Federal systems allow for regional governments to control matters of regional importance, while the central government controls matters of the common interest of all. It also allows for some devision of power.

 

[Xanikk999]

I dont know really. But i would say for the U.S, federal is much better.

A unitary government would probably be much more expensive and have unnessary burdens for a country of our size.

For example, national laws would not be effective for laws that need to be different for a state by state basis.

 

[bhsup]

Federal, though sadly the US has long been sliding down the slope towards Unitary.

 

[Winner]

What is preferred from of government - a federal government or an unitary government? A federal government has a central government and regional governments that share power with each other. An unitary state has regional government with its powers granted from the central government.

IMHO, a federation is better. Federal systems allow for regional governments to control matters of regional importance, while the central government controls matters of the common interest of all. It also allows for some devision of power.

For what country? Czech Rep. has a population of 10 million. I can't imagine having a true federal government here. I agree it is probably better for bigger countries, but it is not necessary or useful in smaller countries.

 

[scipian]

It really depends on the situation. In America, I'd say federation. In Nigeria, I'd say Unitary. In Russia, I'd say unitary. Each country is different.

 

[downtown]

Certainly population size and political culture must be taken into account.

Whats worrisome is that many developing countries, or nations making the transition to Democracy look at the French Unitary System (which political scientists tend to think is one of the best-working ones), and try to throw it into their countries...which often leads to disaster.

As for me...a guy who works for a regional government, (and one who is skeptical of lots of power ammassed in one body, like most Americans), I'm rather fond of the Federal system. I know its not best for everybody though...but there are serious risks that run with Unitary systems.

 

[JohnRM]

Federal, otherwise known as the Republic.

 

[Babbler]

For what country?

Just in general. I was imagining somethink like "at things being equal, would you prefer a federal or unitary state?

Czech Rep. has a population of 10 million. I can't imagine having a true federal government here. I agree it is probably better for bigger countries, but it is not necessary or useful in smaller countries.

Alright; what do think is the threshold for having federal government?

 

[GenMarshall]

Federalism has more stability.

 

[ParkCungHee]

Federalism is one of the stupidest relics of the revolutionary era. The boundaries represent no particular people, no particular interests, and no particular groups. I have more shared concerns with Newark than upstate, and upstate has more in common with rural pensylvania than it does with me.

 

[Ball Lightning]

Go the Federal's!!

 

[downtown]

Federalism has more stability.

Only sort of. You have a LOT more competing interests in governing, and the public plays a much larger role...which can complicate matters. I wouldn't necisarrily say that Federalism's great virtue is its stablity...with all those competing interests and layers of government, you're actually more likely to have insititutional conflict.

 

[Fugitive Sisyphus]

It seems like a federal system is one where local governments give up some of their autonomy to higher governments and in a unitary system the highest government is the absolute government and gives whatever autonomy local governments have to them.

I like the federal system better in theory but in practice I don't think that there is that important a difference.



Hmmm, this reminds me of the presidential vs. parliamentary system thread.

 

[Goonie]

It truly depends on the individual state.

i.e. is that state ethnically divided? how large is the geographic expanse of the state, etc...

 

[Zarn]

I prefer federalism, but I live in a country of 300 million people with many different ethnicities, religions, etc...

Federal, otherwise known as the Republic.

You can have unitary and confederate Republics.