1. How do government systems distribute or divide power?
SYSTEMS of GOVERNMENT
How do government systems
distribute or divide power?
Before we begin let’s understand the following terms:
Central Authority= central or national government
Regional Authority = Any political divisions, such as states, provinces, counties, and cities.

2. Unitary System Federal System Confederate System
SYSTEMS Of GOVERNMENT
There are 3 ways government systems distribute or divide power:
Unitary System
Federal System
Confederate System

3. Unitary System Power is held by one central authority.
Power is not shared between regional authorities such as states, counties, or provinces. Central Authority is more powerful than the Regional Authority.
Example the United Kingdom, France, and Cuba.
Regional
Authority
Central
Authority

4. Ways Government Systems Distributes Power
Unitary
Ways Government Systems Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Key government powers are concentrated in the central authority.

5. Map of Unitary Governments of the World(blue).

6. Federal System
Power is distributed or divided between one central authority and several regional authorities. States or provinces are given considerable self rule, usually through their own legislatures. Overall power is balanced between both authorities.
Examples: Canada, United States and Australia (most large countries tend to be federal).
Central
Authority
Regional
Authority

7. Ways Government Systems Distributes Power
Federal
Ways Government Systems Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Division of powers.

8. Map of Federal Governments of the world (green).

9. Critical Thinking
Only 24 of the world's 196 countries have federal political systems. However, their citizens make up 40 percent of the world's population. Explain.

10. Confederate System
A voluntary association or co- operation of independent regional authorities (states/countries) with a common purpose. The Regional Authority is more powerful than the Central Authority.
Economic and political alliances between countries tend to be confederations.
Can you think of a modern day example of a confederation?
Central
Authority
Regional

11. Can you think of a modern day example of a confederation?
Example: The European Union. The EU does not handle all the government business for the member countries. Each country still makes its own laws, has its own military, and elects its own leaders.

12. Ways Government Systems Distributes Power
Confederation
Ways Government Systems Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
The power flows from
each individual authority and the central authority has little power on its own.

13. Distribution of Power in Government
Strong central government
Weak central government
Unitary
Confederation
Federal
Think of power distribution on a continuum from strong central control to weak central control.