Unitary System

Definition

A unitary system is a form of government where power is centralized and held by a single central authority, such as the national government. This means that subnational units, like states or provinces, have only limited powers delegated to them.

Related terms

Decentralization: The process of transferring some powers from a central authority to lower-level units within a political system.

Centralization: The concentration of power in a central authority, limiting the autonomy of subnational units.

Autonomy: The ability of subnational units to exercise self-government and make decisions independently.