Unitary Government – SS1 Government Lesson Note (Second Term)

A unitary government is a system in which all governmental powers and functions of a country are concentrated in one central government.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define a unitary government.
2. State the features of a unitary government.
3. Give reasons for the adoption of a unitary government.
4. List the advantages and disadvantages of a unitary government.
5. Distinguish a unitary government from a federal government.

What are the key terms?

• Central government: the national government that makes laws and takes decisions for the whole country.
• Homogeneous state: a country whose people share largely the same language, culture and history.
• Heterogeneous state: a country with many different ethnic, language or religious groups, such as Nigeria.
• Flexible constitution: a constitution that can be amended easily, usually by the ordinary law-making process.
• Parliamentary supremacy: the principle that parliament is the highest law-making body and no other organ can overrule it.
• Constitutional division of powers: the sharing of powers between central and regional governments by the constitution. This is absent in a unitary system.

Which countries have a unitary government?

Britain, France and Italy are common textbook examples of countries with a unitary government.

• Britain: parliament at Westminster is the supreme law-making body.
• France: laws and major decisions come from the national government in Paris.
• Italy: the national government holds sovereign authority over the whole country.

How does power work in a unitary government?

In a unitary government, power flows from the central government to the local units.

• Source of power: all authority comes from the central government.
• Local units: provinces, districts or councils may exist, but they are created by the central government.
• Delegated powers: local units carry out duties given to them by the centre.
• Withdrawal of powers: the central government can change or take back these powers at any time.
• No independent status: local units have no powers of their own that the constitution protects.

What are the features of a unitary government?

The main features of a unitary government are one central authority, no division of powers and a flexible constitution.

• No division of powers: the constitution does not share powers between levels of government.
• Concentration of power: all powers and functions rest with the central government.
• Homogeneous states: it suits countries whose people share a common identity.
• Small size: it is best practised in a relatively small country.
• Flexible constitution: the constitution is easy to change.
• Supreme parliament: parliament is the highest law-making body.
• Power to amend: the central government may modify the constitution.
• No conflict of authority: only one government holds all the powers.

Why is a unitary government adopted?

A unitary government is adopted mainly because it is simple, cheap and suits small, united countries.

• Efficient administration: one chain of command makes work easier to organise.
• Small size: a small country is easy to rule from one centre.
• Homogeneous population: people with common interests do not need separate regional governments.
• Control and accountability: one government can be held responsible for what happens.
• Rapid and even development: the centre can spread projects across all areas.
• Management of resources: the central government controls the nation’s resources and uses them adequately.

What are the advantages of a unitary government?

The advantages of a unitary government are low cost, quick decisions and strong national unity.

• Less expensive: there is no need to run many layers of government.
• Quick decisions: one authority decides without waiting for others.
• Strong government: power is not shared, so the government can act firmly.
• Promotes unity: all citizens are under one government and one set of laws.
• No conflict of authority: there are no disputes between levels of government.
• Easy amendment: the constitution can be changed with little difficulty.
• Suitable for emergencies: the government can respond fast in war or disaster.

What are the disadvantages of a unitary government?

The disadvantages of a unitary government are the risk of dictatorship, an overloaded centre and neglect of minorities.

• Dictatorship: too much power in one place can lead to abuse.
• Unsuitable for heterogeneous states: different groups may feel ignored.
• Overloaded centre: the central government has too many functions to handle well.
• Minority interests: small groups may not be protected.
• Unemployment: few duplicated offices means fewer government jobs.
• Weak local initiative: local people wait for the centre instead of acting.
• Distance from the people: government is far from those at the grassroots.
• Unsuitable for large populations: it is hard to serve a very large population from one centre.

How does a unitary government differ from a federal government?

A unitary government keeps all powers in one central government. A federal government shares powers between a central government and state governments by the constitution.

Evaluation

1. Define a unitary government.
2. State five features of a unitary government.
3. Give four reasons for the adoption of a unitary government.
4. Mention three disadvantages of a unitary government.
5. State two differences between a unitary and a federal government.

Assignment

List five advantages of a unitary government and name three countries that adopt the system.