What are Federal & Unitary States? (College Board AP® Human Geography)
Study Guide
Written by: Kristin Tassin
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Federal States
A federal state is a political system in which power is shared between the central government and various local or regional governments
Federal states tend to be established when a country’s population is heterogeneous or a country is geographically large
Examples include:
The United States
Canada
Russia
Germany
Australia
Image: maps of the United States, Canada, Russia, Germany and Australia showing internal state boundaries
Positive impacts of federal governments include the following:
Laws are created with local needs in mind
Local governments can react faster to immediate needs than the central government can
Minority groups can more easily maintain their individual cultures and identities
Negative impacts of federal states include the following:
Differing laws and policies are in effect in states and cities across the country
There is greater potential for devolutionary pressure
It is more difficult to respond to national issues
Unitary States
A Unitary state is a political system where most power is held by the central government
Little or no power delegated to the local and regional governments
Unitary governments tend to be established when a state’s population is mostly homogenous or the country is geographically small
Examples include:
The United Kingdom
France
China
Positive effects of unitary governments include:
Less potential for devolutionary pressures
Creation of a strong national identity
Laws can be implemented efficiently across the country
Negative effects of unitary governments include:
Minority groups and their concerns are often marginalized
Local needs may not be met because the central government makes all policies
Laws and policies are often influenced by the dominant cultural or ethnic group
Impact of States on Spatial Formation
Federal and unitary states exert influences on the spatial organization of political power
Federal states
Federal states are characterized by decentralized political power
As a result, local or regional governments tend to have authority over areas such as education, healthcare, and the courts
Federal states allow for greater preservation of regional identities and local cultural practices
Canada has a federal system and the province of Quebec has significant autonomy to craft its own language policies, which has resulted in the preservation of a unique cultural landscape in the province
Unitary states
Unitary states are characterized by centralized political power
Local governments exist but do not hold significant independent authority
The structure of decision-making in unitary states results in greater uniformity of law and government policy across the country
Unitary states have strong national identities due to consistent policies enforced across the entire country
Japan has a strong national identity, due in part to its highly centralized government which ensures the same laws and policies are in effect everywhere in the country
Worked Example
Identify and explain one reason why some countries are governed as unitary states.
Answer
One reason that some countries are governed as unitary states is the presence of a homogenous population. Unitary states help maintain national unity by providing one set of laws and regulations that govern the entire country, reducing regional variations and discouraging centrifugal forces. Similar standards are maintained across the country, leading to greater equality and shared experiences, which increases feelings of patriotism. Also, regional or local governments may not be necessary in countries which are small or very homogenous. The concentration of political power in the central government makes the administration of policy more effective and efficient.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Free-response questions use several task verbs, including identify and explain. If a question asks you to “identify” something, you should provide information about the topic. But you are not required to elaborate or provide analysis. In the above Worked Example, the task of identifying is fulfilled by providing information such as “the presence of homogenous populations.” However, the explanation task requires you to use analysis or reasoning to show how or why something occurs. You should think of the explanation task as always requiring a “because” phrase. In the question above, “unitary states help to maintain national unity by providing one set of laws” explains how national unity is maintained.
Last updated:
You've read 0 of your 5 free study guides this week
Sign up now. It’s free!
Did this page help you?
