How is federalism different from unitary governments and confederations?

Question

i know unitary is in one spot but, where? how does that make it different?

why is federalism important to understanding american government?

Answer 1

A unitary government is when the power rest in the hands of the central government...like an old monarchy...today France, Great Britain and Japan have unitary governments....the localized gov'ts have little or no input

A confederation is basically the opposite...the power or sovereignty is in the control of the localized governments

A federal system is a compromise...their are some powers and responsibilities that are dealt with by the central gov't and their are some powers and responsibilities that are handled by the states, or local gov'ts

Answer 2

Federalism is important to understanding our system of government b/c we live in a federal republic.  

In a unitary government, there is only one sovereign power.  Individual states are examples of unitary governments.  Any subdivisions of the states (counties, cities, school districts, etc.) derive their powers from the state government.  The state government can create and destroy them, it controls their boundaries, it limits their authority, and it sets up the rules withing which they operate.  Citizens of a given state are citizens only of the State, not of their respective units of local government.  

In a federal system, there are two sovereign powers.  The US is an example of a federal system.  We are citizens of both the nation and of our respective states.  Congress can allow new states to form, but once a state is formed, the central government has no power to control the boundaries of a state or to merge it into another state.  Except to guarantee due process, equal protection, and a republican form of government, the central government has no power to decide the structure of a state's government.  States are not limited in their powers except to the extent that they have ceded certain sovereign powers to the central government in the Constitution.  In this way, federal and state governments share power.  Both derive their powers from the people as a whole.

In a confederation, only individual states/countries are sovereign.  The European Union is an example.  Countries that join the EU existed prior to their admission.  The EU cannot encroach on the sovereignty of its members w/o their consent.  Countries remain free to leave the union at any time.  EU countries retain the power to confer citizenship on their people, and the citizens of those countries are citizens only of their respective nations.  There is no EU nationality.  All power derives from the member states themselves, not directly from the people.  While this is a sharing of power between the member states and the European government, most power is retained by the member states.