AP® Human Geography review sheet from Aim for Five (aimforfive.com/geo/units/4/4-7)
Unit 4 · Topic 4.7
4.7 Forms of Governance
Countries organize power in two main ways. Unitary states concentrate power in the national government, while federal states share it with regional governments. Each form fits some countries better than others.
Key terms
- unitary state
- federal state
- centralized power
- local autonomy
Unitary states
In a unitary state, the national government holds most power and makes decisions from the top down. Local governments exist, but they mainly carry out national policy and have only the powers the central government gives them. France, Japan and China are unitary states. In France, the national government has traditionally set the school curriculum for the whole country.
Unitary systems tend to suit countries that are smaller or more culturally uniform, where one set of national laws fits most people. They can act quickly and apply rules consistently. The risk is that a distant capital may ignore regional needs, which can fuel resentment in diverse countries.
Federal states
In a federal state, power is divided between the national government and regional governments, like states or provinces, each with powers protected by the constitution. Decision-making is spread among several power centers. Federal states include the United States (50 states), Canada (10 provinces and 3 territories), Germany (16 states), India, Nigeria (36 states), Brazil, Mexico, Australia and Russia.
Federal systems often suit large countries or countries with many ethnic, language or religious groups, because regions can make laws that fit local needs and identities. India's states are largely organized by language, which gives major language groups their own governments. The trade-offs: laws differ from state to state, government is more complex, and regional divisions can harden. In the U.S., for example, rules on things like driving ages, sales taxes and school standards vary from one state to the next.
Comparing the two
| Feature | Unitary state | Federal state |
|---|---|---|
| Where power sits | Mostly in the national government | Shared between national and regional governments |
| Direction of decisions | Top-down, centralized | More local, dispersed |
| Laws across the country | Mostly uniform | Can vary by state or province |
| Often found in | Smaller or more uniform countries | Large or culturally diverse countries |
| Examples | France, Japan, China | United States, Germany, India, Nigeria |
Systems change over time
Many unitary states have handed some power to regions without becoming federal. The United Kingdom created a Scottish Parliament, a Welsh assembly (now the Senedd) and a Northern Ireland Assembly starting in 1999. Spain is formally unitary but gives its 17 autonomous communities wide powers. These shifts are examples of devolution (topics 4.8 and 4.9), and they show the two forms are ends of a spectrum.
Worked examples
Try each one yourself first, then open the solution.
- Example 1
Explaining why a federal system fits
Explain why a federal system of government may be well suited to a large, culturally diverse country such as India.
Show the solutionHide the solution
- Step 1: Describe the country: India is very large and has many major languages and religions.
- Step 2: Explain the federal feature: power is shared with state governments that make many decisions locally.
- Step 3: Link the two: state governments, many organized around a major language, can use that language in schools and government and tailor policies to local needs.
- Step 4: State the outcome: giving groups a say over their own affairs can reduce resentment toward the central government and support national unity.
Answer: In a large, diverse country like India, federalism lets state governments, many organized around a major language, set policies in local languages and for local needs. That gives groups control over their own affairs, which can reduce tension with the national government and hold the country together.
Common mistakes
- Calling a country federal just because it has local governments. The question is whether regional powers are constitutionally protected.
- Thinking a unitary state can't have regional governments. It can; those governments just have powers granted by the center.
- Assuming federalism always prevents conflict. It can also harden regional identities.
On the exam
- Expect multiple-choice questions describing a government's structure and asking you to classify it.
- When asked about advantages or disadvantages, tie them to the country's size or cultural diversity.
Connected topics
Videos
Check yourself
4 questions on 4.7 Forms of Governance. Pick an answer to see if you got it, and why.
In France, the national government in Paris sets the school curriculum for the whole country, and regional governments have limited powers. France is best described as
In the United States, a driver crossing from one state into another may find a different speed limit, a different minimum wage and different rules for getting a driver's license. This variation is best explained by
India is a federal state, and many of its state boundaries were redrawn in the 1950s to follow major language regions. Which of the following best explains this choice?
Which of the following countries is a federal state?
0 of 4 answered