The 3 Major Systems of Government Start your notes on a new page (updated 8/2016)

3 Major Systems of Government Unitary – all power rests with the central or national government, not with the local governments Confederate – power belongs mostly to the individual states with few powers going to the central government Federal – power is divided between the national government and the state/local governments write everything

Unitary Governments Most of the nearly 200 countries in the world today are unitary, including Britain, Israel, Italy, and Japan.

Would someone please read the definition you wrote for unitary government?

Unitary governments are governments that basically keep all of the power centrally located at the national level. Local governments only have powers the central government gives them. The laws made here in Parliament in London apply to all of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland)

As of 2016, of the 193 United Nations member states, 165 of them are unitary.

Would someone please read the definition you wrote for federal government?

Federal System of Government The United States is an example of a federal government system. While there is the federal government in Washington D.C. that runs the country, each of our 50 states also has its own constitution, powers, and certain protections from the national (or “federal”) government. Write the blue For example, can you think of any laws that are different from state to state that the federal government has little to do with?

How about these for example…? As of 2012, the fastest speed limit in the U.S. is in Texas at 85 miles an hour.

How about these for example…? As of 2016, there are now 19 states that have outlawed the death penalty. Do you know if Maryland has it? Michigan- 1846 North Dakota- 1973 Wisconsin- 1853 Massachusetts- 1984 Maine- 1887 Rhode Island- 1984 Minnesota- 1911 New Jersey- 2007 Alaska- 1957 New York- 2007 Hawaii- 1957 New Mexico- 2009 Vermont- 1964 Illinois- 2011 West Virginia- 1965 Connecticut- 2012 Iowa- 1965 Maryland- 2013 Nebraska- 2015

How about these for example…? There are 4 states where recreational marijuana is legal. Maryland decriminalized small amounts of marijuana in 2015, meaning you will get a ticket, but not go to jail for possessing a small amount.

Map of federal system of governments today

Would someone please read the definition you wrote for confederate government?

Confederation Government There aren’t many confederations in the world today. Switzerland was a good example of a 19th century confederation until 1847. It had been one since the 1200s. Belgium also has some aspects of a confederation as does the European Union which consists of 27 countries, down from 28 since the UK voted to leave it in 2016.

Some American confederations include the U. S Some American confederations include the U.S. under the Articles of Confederation, the Iroquois Confederacy, and the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. (Everything on this page is on a quiz or test soon.) The European Union is similar to a confederation. Romania & Bulgaria joined in 2007 & Croatia is most recent to join in 2013. A confederation is a league of friendship among member states or nations. In a true confederation, the power rests with the states or members, not a central government.

The Iroquois Confederacy before the 6th nation, the Tuscarora, joined in 1722.

Can you think of one disadvantage for states under a confederation system of government? How about an advantage? Do the advantages of confederations outweigh the disadvantages? Explain why or why not. Include details and examples to support your answers.

Level of Centralization Strength Weakness System Level of Centralization Strength Weakness Unitary (e.g., China, France, Japan, United Kingdom) High Sets uniform policies that direct the entire nation Disregards local differences Federal (e.g., United States, Germany, Australia, Canada) Medium Gives local governments more power Sacrifices national uniformity on some issues Confederate (e.g., Confederate States of America, Belgium) Low Gives local/regional governments almost complete control Sets no significant uniform national policies