Question

What is the main difference between a federal form of government and a unitary one? Explain with an example.

Answer 1

• The main difference between federal and unitary Governments is: power sharing.
• In Federal forms of Government, power is shared between central and state governments.
• In Unitary form of Government, there is only one level of Government or if the subunits exists, it will be subordinate to the Central Government.
• In the Federal System of Government, State Governments are answerable to the people and not answerable to the Central Government. Central Government cannot order State Governments to do something,
• Local Governments or Provincial Governments have to follow the order given by the Central Government.

Example: India is a Federal Government. There are two categories of Federal Government

1. Holding Together Federations – Examples are Spain, India, Belgium.
2. Coming Together Federations – Examples are Australia, Switzerland, United States of America (USA).

Example of a Unitary Government is Sri Lanka.