THE
FORMATION OF
GOVERNMENTS
SECTION 1.2
GOVERNMENT
SYSTEMS
UNITARY SYSTEM
A unitary system gives all key powers to a central or national
government. The central government has the power to create
state, provincial, or other local governments and may give them
limited sovereignty. Countries with a unitary system of
government are Great Britain, France, and Italy.
FEDERAL SYSTEM
A federal system divides the powers of government between the
national government and state or provincial governments.
Countries with a federal system are Canada, Switzerland, Mexico,
Australia, India, and the United States.
CONFEDERACY
To begin with, the United States formed a confederacy—a loose
union of independent states. But when the confederacy failed,
American leaders wrote a Constitution that made the national
government supreme while preserving some powers for state
governments.
CONSTITUTIONS
AND GOVERNMENT
CONSTITUTIONS AND
GOVERNMENT
A constitutional government is a government in which a
constitution places limits on the powers of those who govern. A
constitution is a plan that provides guidelines for government.
Constitutions are incomplete guides because no written
constitution can spell out all the laws, customs, and ideas of a
government. However, a constitution does serve the following
purposes:
GOALS AND IDEALS
OF A CONSTITUTION
A.
It sets forth goals and ideals that the people of a nation
believe in and share. These are usually stated in the
preamble.
B.
It establishes the basic structure of government and defines
the government’s powers and duties. For example, in a
federal state, a constitution describes the relationship
between the national and state governments.
C.
It provides the supreme law for the country. Constitutional
law involves the interpretation and application of the
constitution. It defines the extent and limits of government
power and the rights of citizens.
POLITICS AND
GOVERNMENT
People take part in politics when they try to control the actions
and decisions of government. In the United States, for example,
Americans continually struggle over what services the
government should provide, how much it should spend, and who
should pay the cost.
Politics provides peaceful ways for citizens to settle these
conflicts. The outcomes of political struggles affect the quality of
air and water, jobs and prices, peace and war, rights and
freedoms, and other important matters.
Some people fear that politics often sacrifices the good of all for
the benefit of a few. However, the misuse of politics should not
prevent citizens from appreciating the accomplishments of the
political system.
GOVERNING IN A
COMPLEX WORLD
GOVERNING IN A
COMPLEX WORLD
The United States and about 20 other countries, including Japan,
Canada, Australia, and France, are industrialized nations. These
countries have large industries and advanced technology that
provide a more comfortable way of life than many developing
nations do. Developing nations are only beginning to grow
industrially. In the poorest of these countries, widespread hunger,
disease, and political unrest are a way of life.
GOVERNING IN A
COMPLEX WORLD
(CONT.)
Nations are becoming more and more interdependent. This
means that they interact with or depend on one another
economically and politically. Thus, what happens in one nation or
area of the world affects what happens in other places. Global
interdependence is increasing due to growing industrialization and
rapid technological advances, such as the Internet. Many
developing states are very dependent on industrialized ones for
economic aid, medical supplies and services, financial
investment, help in handling national disasters, and military aid.
NON-STATE GROUPS
Non-state groups also play a role in international politics. These
non-state groups fall into four categories:
A.
Terrorist groups and quasi-military organizations, such as alQaeda.
B.
Political movements such as the Palestine Liberation
Organization(PLO)and the Irish Republican Army (IRA)
NON-STATE GROUPS
C. Multinational corporations such as General Motors, Nabisco,
Mitsubishi, and Sony.
D. International organizations such as the World Trade
Organization (WTO), which is composed of many nations working
together for common goals.