Definition and features of Unitary Government.
What is a unitary government? Discuss the different features of a unitary government.
Definition and features of Unitary Government.
The government can be divided into two parts on the basis of distribution of power; Namely, the unitary government and the federal government. A unitary system of government is a system of government in which all the powers of the government or the state are vested in a central government. Decentralization of power is not recognized here. In such a system of governance the state governments exist but they operate under the central government and their existence depends entirely on the will and reluctance of the central government. Basically the source of their power is the central government. All their functions are carried out under the direction of the Central Government. That is, in a centralized system of government, there is no constitutional distribution of power between the central and state governments, where all power is vested in the central government alone.
According to Professor Garner, the system of centralized governance does not provide for the distribution of constitutional powers between the central government and the regional governments. A unitary government has no dominance or independence other than the central government alone. The regional governments are formed and regulated by the central government in the states only for the convenience of conducting administrative functions.
The countries in which the system of centralized governance is present are: Great Britain, France, New Zealand, Italy, Republic of China, Japan, Bangladesh, Spain, Portugal - etc.
1. Dominance of the Central Government: - In a system of centralized governance, all the powers of the Central Government are vested in the hands of the Central Government alone or in the hands of a single Government. There is no regional government in the states. Although the central government forms its own regional governments to facilitate administrative management, these regional governments have nothing to say about their own independence. They only have to perform their duties as loyal to the central government. In other words, they work under the central government in all aspects. Thus in centralized governments all the responsibilities, powers, policies and the highest power to run the government are vested in the central government only.
2. Dominance of the Central Legislative Assembly: - A special feature of the legislature in the system of centralized governance is that only the central legislature has dominance here. State legislatures do not have the power to make laws, amend laws, etc. In a unitary state, the central legislature prevails instead of the constitution. Professor Daisy cites the dominance of the central legislature as one of the hallmarks of a centralized system of government.
3. Constitutional Features: - In monolithic states the constitution can be both written and unwritten. No specific features or rules are observed in this regard. The existence of written constitutions can be seen in the monolithic states like People's Republic of China, Italy, New Zealand etc. But on the other hand the constitution of England is unwritten. So in monolithic states the constitution will be written or unwritten - there are no hard and fast rules in this regard.
4. Constitution is easily changeable: - The constitution of the states where unitary system of governance is prevalent is usually easily changeable. Because in such a state all the powers of the government are vested in a single government or in the hands of the central government, the law is enacted or amended only on the basis of majority predominance in the legislature. In unitary states, no special or complex procedure is adopted for enacting or amending the law. Therefore, the method of amending the constitution of the unitary state is easily changeable.
5. Lack of supremacy of the constitution: - In a system of centralized governance, the constitution does not have supremacy. Since there is only one government or central government in a centralized system of governance, there is no possibility of conflict between the central and the states. Because here the state governments are completely under the control of the central government. The existence of state governments depends entirely on the will of the central government. Therefore, in a unitary state, there is no possibility of conflict between the central and state governments. The supremacy of the constitution is established only when the constitutional powers are divided between the central and state governments. But since in a system of unitary governance, power is not divided between the central and state governments, all power is vested in the central government only - so the constitution is considered unimportant here.
6. Method of amending the constitution: - In the system of unitary governance, no special or complex method is followed in amending the constitution. Here the constitution is amended or legislated through a simple method. In most states, such amendments to the constitution or legislation require the support of two-thirds of the total members of the legislature, while in unitary legislatures only a simple majority is required to amend the constitution and enact laws.
7. Lack of supremacy of the judiciary: - The judiciary has no role as the interpreter and protector of the constitution in unitary states. This is because the power and importance of the judiciary is comparatively less than that of the federal government courts in unitary states. The judiciary of all these states is governed by the subordination of the governing system.
8. Sovereign Governance and Department of Law: - In a unitary state, since all the powers of government are vested in the central government only, the unitary governments are completely sovereign in the question of sovereignty. He has no rivals. No regional body, regional government or institution has sovereign power in unitary governments. In this case, the constitutional system of England can be mentioned. The Parliament of England is legally completely sovereign.
9. Nature of Government: - Unilateral governments can be both President-ruled and Parliamentary or Cabinet-led. There are no fixed rules in this regard. The government of France, for example, is governed by a president, but the government of England is governed by a cabinet.
10. Recognition of single citizenship: - Recognition of single citizenship is usually given in unified states. There is no separate citizenship recognition system for the states. In countries like Great Britain, France, New Zealand, etc., there is no separate citizenship system for residents under the regional government. But it is necessary to mention the system of governance in India. Although the federal system is prevalent in India, single citizenship is recognized in India. But usually in unitary states single citizenship is recognized.
11. Absence of decentralization policy: - Absence of decentralization policy can be observed in unitary states. In a unitary system of governance, all power is concentrated in the hands of the central government only. Therefore, in such a system of governance, there is no possibility of decentralization of power. Although provincial governments are established in the states; But those provincial governments are established according to the will of the central government and with the objective of fulfilling their assigned responsibilities. Therefore, in this case, the central government gives the provincial governments as much power as is applicable to them in discharging their responsibilities. Here the states do not claim sovereign power in any way.
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