FEDERAL GOVERNMENTFEDERAL GOVERNMENT

CharacteristicsCharacteristics• A federal state is a union (gabungan) A federal state is a union (gabungan) of several states or provinces. of several states or provinces. (Example: Malaysia, USA, India, (Example: Malaysia, USA, India, Australia, Canada)Australia, Canada)• There are two levels or sets of There are two levels or sets of government : a central and several government : a central and several state governments.state governments.•Powers of the government are shared Powers of the government are shared between the two sets of government.between the two sets of government.•The central government has more The central government has more powers than the state governments.powers than the state governments.•The powers of the two sets of The powers of the two sets of government are clearly spelt out in the government are clearly spelt out in the constitution to avoid disputes.constitution to avoid disputes.•There is an apex (superior) court to There is an apex (superior) court to settle disputes (pertikaian) that may settle disputes (pertikaian) that may arise (timbul) between the States and arise (timbul) between the States and the central government.the central government.

UNITARY GOVERNMENT UNITARY GOVERNMENT

CharacteristicsCharacteristics A unitary government is one in which A unitary government is one in which

there is only one set (level) of there is only one set (level) of government. It is called the national government. It is called the national government. (Singapore, United government. (Singapore, United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand are Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand are examples of a unitary government)examples of a unitary government)

All political power is in the hands of the All political power is in the hands of the national government.national government.

The policies and laws of the government The policies and laws of the government are uniform and apply to the whole are uniform and apply to the whole country. country.

PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENTPARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT

Characteristics• The political party that obtains most

seats in parliament during a general election forms the government.

• The members of the Executive (Cabinet members) are also members of the Legislature. There is no separation of powers between the Legislature and the Executive.

Parliamentary Parliamentary Government -2Government -2

There is always a dual (two) Executive- There is always a dual (two) Executive- one is the head of state and the other is one is the head of state and the other is the head of government.the head of government.

The head of state is a The head of state is a nominalnominal executive executive – he does not exercise any real powers; he – he does not exercise any real powers; he acts on the advice of the head of acts on the advice of the head of government.government.

The head of government is the The head of government is the realreal Executive. He exercises all powers of the Executive. He exercises all powers of the government.government.

PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENTPRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT

CharacteristicsCharacteristics• The head of state, known as the The head of state, known as the

President, is elected by the people in President, is elected by the people in a separate election.a separate election.

• The Executive and the Legislature are The Executive and the Legislature are separate. There is separation of separate. There is separation of powers between the two. This means powers between the two. This means that the Executive is not part of the that the Executive is not part of the legislature and therefore is not legislature and therefore is not responsible to it.responsible to it.

Presidential Government -2Presidential Government -2

There is a single Executive- the President is both There is a single Executive- the President is both the head of state and the head of government.the head of state and the head of government.

The President serves for a fixed period. For The President serves for a fixed period. For example, the US president is elected for a period example, the US president is elected for a period of four (4) years (one term). He cannot serve for of four (4) years (one term). He cannot serve for more than two terms (i.e. 8 years).more than two terms (i.e. 8 years).

The President cannot be removed by the The President cannot be removed by the legislature (unless he commits a serious crime)legislature (unless he commits a serious crime)

The President cannot dissolve (membubarkan) The President cannot dissolve (membubarkan) the legislature.the legislature.

Examples of Presidential government: USA; Examples of Presidential government: USA; Argentina; Nigeria; the Philippines; Mexico.Argentina; Nigeria; the Philippines; Mexico.

Differences between Federal & Unitary Differences between Federal & Unitary Government- 1Government- 1

In a federal system of government, there are In a federal system of government, there are two sets of government (central or national two sets of government (central or national and several state governments) whereas and several state governments) whereas (sedangkan; manakala) in a unitary (sedangkan; manakala) in a unitary government there is only one set of government there is only one set of government ( central or national government).government ( central or national government).

In a federal government, political power is In a federal government, political power is shared between the central and state shared between the central and state governments, but in a unitary form of governments, but in a unitary form of government all political power is held government all political power is held (dipegang) by the central or national (dipegang) by the central or national government. government.

Differences between Federal and Differences between Federal and Unitary Government - 2Unitary Government - 2

In a federal government, the constitution is In a federal government, the constitution is codified (written) whereas in a unitary codified (written) whereas in a unitary government the constitution is uncodified government the constitution is uncodified (unwritten).(unwritten).

A federal government has a rigid A federal government has a rigid constitution, but a unitary government has a constitution, but a unitary government has a flexible constitution.flexible constitution.

In a federal form of government, there are In a federal form of government, there are two different types of laws- central two different types of laws- central government and state government laws, government and state government laws, whereas in a unitray government there is whereas in a unitray government there is only one set of laws (uniform laws) only one set of laws (uniform laws) (seragam) applicable to the whole country. (seragam) applicable to the whole country.

Differences between Parliamentary Differences between Parliamentary & Presidential Government-1 & Presidential Government-1

In parliamentary government, there are dual (two) In parliamentary government, there are dual (two) Executives – head of state and head of government Executives – head of state and head of government whereas in a presidential government there is only whereas in a presidential government there is only a single Executive-the President is both the head a single Executive-the President is both the head of state and head of government.of state and head of government.

The Executive is separate from the legislature in a The Executive is separate from the legislature in a presidential government, but in a parliamentary presidential government, but in a parliamentary government the Executive is part of the government the Executive is part of the legislature.legislature.

Differences between Differences between Parliamentary & Parliamentary &

Presidential Government-2Presidential Government-2 In a parliamentary government the head of In a parliamentary government the head of

government (Prime Minister) is appointed government (Prime Minister) is appointed by the head of state whereas in a by the head of state whereas in a presidential government the head of state presidential government the head of state (President) is elected by the people.(President) is elected by the people.

The Prime Minister and his cabinet can be The Prime Minister and his cabinet can be dismissed by the legislature if he loses its dismissed by the legislature if he loses its confidence, but the President cannot be confidence, but the President cannot be removed by the legislature unless he removed by the legislature unless he commits a serious crime (by a process called commits a serious crime (by a process called ‘Impeachment.’)‘Impeachment.’)

The Prime minister in a parliamentary The Prime minister in a parliamentary government can advise the head of state to government can advise the head of state to dissolve (membubarkan) parliament, but the dissolve (membubarkan) parliament, but the President cannot do so.President cannot do so.