Government Systems

There are three different systems of government, which differ in how power is distributed between national/central government and governments of subnational/constituent units:

  • FEDERATION — significant government powers are divided between the central government and smaller governmental units
  • CONFEDERATION — constituent units or states retain ultimate authority and can veto major actions of the central government
  • UNITARY SYSTEM — the central government exercises all governmental powers and can change its constituent units

Systems of Government. From American Government 3e

Systems of Government Around the World

Unitary systems (countries shaded blue on the map below) are the most common way of organizing governments abroad.  Most federal systems (countries shaded in green on the map below) are found in countries that are large and diverse.

Systems of Government Around the World. From Wikipedia

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