Unitary vs. Composite States: Understanding Political Power Distribution
Unitary State
In a unitary state, political power is concentrated in a single center and is projected throughout the entire territory. This does not preclude delegations for a more efficient distribution of resources and responsibilities between institutions of sub-areas (municipalities, counties, and provinces). Sometimes, the delegated powers can be quite considerable. However, they may be revoked by a unilateral decision from the central power, as it is the sole center of political power.
There is a vertical hierarchy between central and regional institutions. Liberalism was the first to adopt this model to ensure equal treatment for all citizens and to avoid discrimination based on place of residence. In the Jacobin model, there is an extreme centralization of power as a guarantee of the defense of basic equality among citizens.
States have always had unitary local political entities (local administration or local government represented on councils, etc.) that perform the functions delegated by the central political power. According to the tradition of each country, delegation roles vary, but the state always sets, finances, and supervises them.
The central authority may modify or even delete the local authorities, vary the functions and resources assigned, and set controls. As a result of increasingly complex social demands (multiple subjects), the centralist criteria have had to be moderated to find formulas for decentralization to meet these demands. For example, in a decentralized unitary state, core competencies and resources are transferred to municipalities and regions.
However, the ultimate ownership of political power fully corresponds to the central institutions, and the state decides on the scope of action of territorial entities.
Composite State (Federation and Autonomy)
In a composite state, political power is divided between institutions that control different territorial areas. There is an agreed-upon origin to share power between levels of government without a single political center above others. This results in horizontal coordination between institutions.
Federations or federal states fit into this model. States within a federation receive different names: Länder in Germany, cantons in Switzerland, regions in Sweden, communities in Canada, and provinces in Belgium.
Example: The Federal State of the USA
The US has a constitutional distribution of powers that specifies the powers that correspond to the federation (e.g., foreign policy, etc.). All other powers are left to the states. In the division of powers, the distribution of tax capacity has been prominent.
Federal institutions are established, such as a legislative chamber, federal government, Supreme Court, and Federal Reserve Bank, in whose composition and activities the federal states are involved. Each state has its own constitution and institutions of government.
A Federal Court is established with powers to decide on conflicts between the federation and the states or between the states themselves.
Origins of Federations
Federations can have three origins:
- The will to unite into a single political unit from pre-existing entities, pooling resources and skills to achieve common goals.
- The will to unite into a political unit from territories joined by colonial dependency.
- The will to disperse excessively concentrated power.