FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Under this heading, Government can broadly be classified under two categories— (i) Unitary Form of Government, (ii) Federal form of Government.

Forms of Government

In a Unitary form of Government, a single government rules the entire country and in a Federal form of Government, there are two types of government — (i) Union or Central government, (ii) State governments.

UNITARY FORM OF GOVERNMENT

A Unitary form of government is suitable where the area of the country is less, the population is less, the ethnic diversity is less, geographical variation is less, the food habits of its citizens are similar and the language, the culture, the dressing habits etc. are similar.

Examples of Unitary form of Government – U.K., Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chile, China, Cuba, France, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Myanmar, Jordan, Cuba, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, etc.

Advantages –

• There is a similarity of laws throughout the country
• It is less expensive
• There is effective control of the central government throughout the country

Disadvantages – It is not suitable for big countries.

FEDERAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT

A Federal form of government is suitable rather essential for states which are larger in area with more population, which have geographical variations, have citizens of different ethnic groups, communities, religion, languages, etc.

Examples of Federal form of Government – U.S.A., India, Canada, erstwhile USSR, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, South Africa, Russia, etc.

Advantages

• A Federal form of government is a must for countries which are large in terms of area and population to fulfill the expectations and the welfare of different communities, groups cultures, etc residing in that country.
• A Federal form of government is more responsive and can better take care of the interests of the local public in different parts of the Country.

Disadvantages

• Multiplicity of laws in different states of one country leads to confusion and resentment among the public
• It is more expensive
• There are chances of friction between different states and also between the Centre and the States, especially with opposition ruled states.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN INDIA

Prof. K.C. Wheare called the Indian Constitution a quasi-federal.

Article 1 of our Constitution States – India, i.e. Bharat shall be a Union of States. We deliberately choose the word Union instead of federation to make it clear that Indian Union is not a result of a contract among States and that is why States have no right to leave the Indian Union.

We have borrowed federal feature in our Constitution from The Constitution of Canada and not from the Constitution of U.S.A.

Note: (a)    Every Country is free to make its own Constitution. These classifications are general in nature. The Constitution of every country cannot be placed under these classifications. Our Constitution too has many Unitary features and cannot be called as true federal Constitution.

         (b)   Although China is three times bigger than India in area and also has more population than India, still China has a Unitary form of Government. Its President Xi Jinping controls the whole of China from its Capital Beijing.