In this article you will learn about the Unitary State in Political Science.
Unitary State
Unitary State is that state in which all the powers are vested with one central government and the other local governments exist and operate only in a way as is deemed fit by the central government. It includes the creation of a single integrated system of government vested with all the powers which it can exercise by itself or through the delegation of some of these powers to the local governments. There is a single legislature, a single executive and a single judiciary for the whole country.
The local governments task as administrative units of the central government. Their powers, functions and roles depend upon the wishes of the central government. The latter has the competence to affect at will territorial or other changes in the system of local government. Britain, Japan, France, Italy, China, Albania, Afghanistan, Algeria, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Congo, Cubec, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iran, and in fact almost all small states of the world are unitary states.
Since a Unitary State is characterised by a single central government which uses all power and authority in the whole state, it is popularly identified as a Unitary government.
Some Popular Definitions of Unitary State :
1. According to Dicey a Unitary State involves, “the habitual exercise of supreme legislature authority by one central power.”
2. In the words of Herman Finer, “Unitary Government (State) is one in which all the authority and powers are lodged in a single centre whose will and authority are largely omnipotent over the whole area.”
3. Garner offers a comprehensive and clear definitions of Unitary State, when he observes : “Where the whole power of government is conferred by the constitution upon a single central organ or organs, from which the local governments derive whatever authority or autonomy they possess and indeed their very existence, we have a system of Unitary Government.”
4. C.F. Strong writes, “A Unitary State is one organised under a single central government, that is to say, whatever powers are possessed by the various districts within the area administered as a whole by the central government are held at the discretion of that government and the central power is supreme over the whole without any restriction imposed by any law granting special power to its parts.”
On the basis of these definitions, we can define a Unitary State as one which has a Unitary Government, in which all powers are in the hands of a single centralised government which at the will creates and delegates some of its powers to the local governments. While defining a unitary state in such a way, we must clarify that it does not mean that a unitary state is a centralised undemocratic state/government. The UK, Japan, France and many other states are unitary states with fully liberal democratic political systems.
Salient Features of a Unitary State
1. A Single Central all-powerful Government : In a Unitary State, all powers are conferred with one single central government whose authority is superior or supreme over all parts and people of the state. It alone has the power to legislate for the entire state. Law-making authority is not available to any other organ or institution, except that local governments can make rules under powers specifically delegated to them by the central government.
2. Local Governments exist at all will of the Central Government : In a Unitary State, the local governments are created and given powers by the central government. These work as administrative departments and units of the Central Government. These work and derive their powers from the Central Government and operate as the central government directs. Their powers and boundaries can be changed at the will by the central government. For the exercise of their powers, they are responsible to their parent (central) government.
3. Constitution can be Written or Unwritten : Since there is no division of powers in a unitary state and all the powers are in the hands of the central government, there is no need for a written constitution. The constitution can be written or unwritten in accordance with the will and wishes of the people.
4. Flexibility of the Constitution and Administration : The Central government alone has the power to amend the constitution of the state and in this sense the constitution of a unitary state is always flexible. The central government can amend the constitution as and when required. The constitution of the state is flexible as it can be changed at any time by the central government to help it to keep pace with the fast changing environment.
5. Single Uniform Administration : The existence of an all-powerful central government exercising powers over all the people and places leads to a single, strong and stable administration for the whole state. The administration is simple in organisation and direct in its approach towards all local and national issues. It has neither the complexities arising out of double citizenship and dual administration as characterise a federation, nor is it an expensive system. In every Unitary State the government is run by a single legislature, single executive and single judicial system.
In the words of C.F. Strong, “The two essential qualities of a unitary state may be said to be : (1) the supremacy of the central parliament, and (2) the absence of subsidiary sovereign bodies.” The Laws/Acts of the central parliament govern all people, all places and their local governments. The local governments do not usually derive their powers from the constitution. These are created and maintained by the statutes of the central government/parliament. These are often not considered but subsidiary legal bodies created by the central government.
This article on Unitary State in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.