POLI 330N Week 3 Discussion: The Division of
Power
Week 3: The Division of Power
As we have seen through our readings, governments differ on where the power of the
state should be held.
Unitary systems concentrate the power within the central government and little or no
authority is granted to the component areas. In contrast, federal systems allow first-
order civil divisions to have some autonomy, while the central government maintains
authority over some areas.
Take a moment to compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of each system.
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Dear Professor and Classmates,
Unitary system of government is a central government that controls local authorities
and citizens. Taxation is the same nationwide, education standards can be high and
uniform which are advantages (Roskin 2014). The Unitary system has clear lines of
authority which can be advantageous when facing national problems as well as
coordinating resources, planning and development to solve problems.
Disadvantages to the Unitary system are local government is dependent on the
central government to approve even the smallest items which leads to alienation.
Regions may have different culture or distinct language which makes them unique
and not feel adequately governed by distant bureaucrats.
Federal Systems are central governments that run national issues like foreign policy
and local governments control local issues including education, police, and
highways. Advantages include national security, nation-wide free trade, and solving
expensive local problem. Disadvantages of the Federal system is if areas of the
country are too different culturally, economically, or historically the system won’t
work.
, Roskin, M.G., Cord, R.L., Medeiros, J.A., Jones, W.S. (2014). Political Science: An
Introduction, 13th Edition. Pearson
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Collapse SubdiscussionAlexis Walsh
Alexis Walsh
ThursdayMar 15 at 11:15am
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Hi Laura,
Thank you for a great post! Your definition of each system is well written, clear, and
to the point. Although I researched the topics, I felt that your text clarified the
concepts for me. I agree that Unitary systems demonstrate clear lines of authority,
which as you stated, is an advantage when facing national problems. I found that
Unitary systems can set uniform policies that direct the entire nation, making
decisions and law making greatly aligned. This represents a stronger regulation of
large businesses (Roskin et al., 2014).
-Alexis Walsh
Roskin, M.G., Cord, R.L., Medeiros, J.A., Jones, W.S. (2014). Political Science: An
introduction, 13thEdition. Pearson.
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o
Collapse SubdiscussionSharon Bowers
Sharon Bowers
10:19amMar 17 at 10:19am
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, Hello Laura,
I sometimes wonder if the US adopted practices from other systems, such as Japan,
Singapore and South Korea, would our education system be so far behind?
According to the PEW Research Center, the US in 2015 stayed towards the middle
statistically for reading, math and science and is significantly further behind many
other advanced industrial nations. The following is a link to the results of the
Programme for International Student Assessment: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-
tank/2017/02/15/u-s-students-internationally-math-science/ (Links to an external
site.)Links to an external site. which details the scores of other counties and where
the US ranks among them in each category. Since one of the benefits of a unitary
system is a “high and uniform” educational system it may behoove the US to
research what those countries are doing right. Our children are our countries future
and if we don’t properly educate them were are setting them up for failure.
DeSilver, D. (2017). PEW Research Center. Fact Tank News in the Numbers. U.S.
students’ academic achievement still lags that of their peers in many other
countries. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/15/u-s-
students-internationally-math-science
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•
Collapse SubdiscussionDonna Frazier
Donna Frazier
SundayMar 11 at 9:28am
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Professor and Classmates;
The Unitary system of government is an over centralized main authority (usually the
capital city) that controls how the local authorities and citizens live. Education,
taxation, language and culture is the same throughout the nation. Citizens have the
tendency to ignore local affairs, as everything is decided by the main authority. The
local authorities even have to ask permission for something as simple as a traffic
light (Roskin 2014). The citizens are forced to follow the decisions from the main
capital which can lead to resentment. This is what the Iraqi Kurds were feeling
under rule by Baghdad. The capital can use economic resources and coordinate
planning and development. Clear lines of authority helps to decrease the bickering
between the units of government.
Federal systems allow for central government to have control over foreign, defense
and monetary policy. The states have control over local affairs (police, highways,
, education, etc.). The citizens can elect local officials who in turn represent the
citizens at the capital. At the local level, new programs can be experimented with to
see what does or does not work. Disadvantages can be that local government lacks
the money to fund programs. Elected officials can become corrupt or incompetent.
Decisions on property taxes, welfare, and education are made at the state level.
The Federal system is not easy to maintain and cannot easily override a state
decision. The Federal system works best when there is a healthy balance between
the central and state governments.
Roskin, M.G., Cord, R.L., Medeiros, J.A., Jones, W.S. (2014). Political Science: An
Introduction 13th Edition. Pearson, Hoboken, NJ
Reply Reply to Comment
o
Collapse SubdiscussionChristina Hall
Christina Hall
MondayMar 12 at 4:34pm
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Hi Donna,
Good post!
When reading your post you said "Education, taxation, language and culture is the
same throughout the nation", at first I was like oh wow that sounds great, we will all
have the same taxes so you could pick the state you want to live in without regards
to their taxes, all of the children in the country would get the same education, and we
would all speak the same language and have the same culture. Then there would be
less fighting right? I but isn't that why this country formed in the first place? To flee
the rule of the King of England who was doing exactly this. America was one of the
first federal systems (Roskin, 2014). When writing my own post as I went through
each style of government I liked many aspects of each. I wish there was a very
happy medium to allow for both to exist!
I would say that I would chose federal style government to be my favorite, but there
are so many pros to unitary style as well. I do not like the idea of just one person or
group having all of the control, its good to have checks and balances and have
several levels of government. However, it sure would be nice to have the same
taxes from state to state like a unitary system. I just don't know! As we have all
Power
Week 3: The Division of Power
As we have seen through our readings, governments differ on where the power of the
state should be held.
Unitary systems concentrate the power within the central government and little or no
authority is granted to the component areas. In contrast, federal systems allow first-
order civil divisions to have some autonomy, while the central government maintains
authority over some areas.
Take a moment to compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of each system.
Search entries or author Filter replies by unreadUnread Collapse replies Expand
replies
Reply Reply to Main Discussion
•
Manage Discussion Entry
Dear Professor and Classmates,
Unitary system of government is a central government that controls local authorities
and citizens. Taxation is the same nationwide, education standards can be high and
uniform which are advantages (Roskin 2014). The Unitary system has clear lines of
authority which can be advantageous when facing national problems as well as
coordinating resources, planning and development to solve problems.
Disadvantages to the Unitary system are local government is dependent on the
central government to approve even the smallest items which leads to alienation.
Regions may have different culture or distinct language which makes them unique
and not feel adequately governed by distant bureaucrats.
Federal Systems are central governments that run national issues like foreign policy
and local governments control local issues including education, police, and
highways. Advantages include national security, nation-wide free trade, and solving
expensive local problem. Disadvantages of the Federal system is if areas of the
country are too different culturally, economically, or historically the system won’t
work.
, Roskin, M.G., Cord, R.L., Medeiros, J.A., Jones, W.S. (2014). Political Science: An
Introduction, 13th Edition. Pearson
Reply Reply to Comment
o
Collapse SubdiscussionAlexis Walsh
Alexis Walsh
ThursdayMar 15 at 11:15am
Manage Discussion Entry
Hi Laura,
Thank you for a great post! Your definition of each system is well written, clear, and
to the point. Although I researched the topics, I felt that your text clarified the
concepts for me. I agree that Unitary systems demonstrate clear lines of authority,
which as you stated, is an advantage when facing national problems. I found that
Unitary systems can set uniform policies that direct the entire nation, making
decisions and law making greatly aligned. This represents a stronger regulation of
large businesses (Roskin et al., 2014).
-Alexis Walsh
Roskin, M.G., Cord, R.L., Medeiros, J.A., Jones, W.S. (2014). Political Science: An
introduction, 13thEdition. Pearson.
Reply Reply to Comment
o
Collapse SubdiscussionSharon Bowers
Sharon Bowers
10:19amMar 17 at 10:19am
Manage Discussion Entry
, Hello Laura,
I sometimes wonder if the US adopted practices from other systems, such as Japan,
Singapore and South Korea, would our education system be so far behind?
According to the PEW Research Center, the US in 2015 stayed towards the middle
statistically for reading, math and science and is significantly further behind many
other advanced industrial nations. The following is a link to the results of the
Programme for International Student Assessment: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-
tank/2017/02/15/u-s-students-internationally-math-science/ (Links to an external
site.)Links to an external site. which details the scores of other counties and where
the US ranks among them in each category. Since one of the benefits of a unitary
system is a “high and uniform” educational system it may behoove the US to
research what those countries are doing right. Our children are our countries future
and if we don’t properly educate them were are setting them up for failure.
DeSilver, D. (2017). PEW Research Center. Fact Tank News in the Numbers. U.S.
students’ academic achievement still lags that of their peers in many other
countries. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/15/u-s-
students-internationally-math-science
Reply Reply to Comment
•
Collapse SubdiscussionDonna Frazier
Donna Frazier
SundayMar 11 at 9:28am
Manage Discussion Entry
Professor and Classmates;
The Unitary system of government is an over centralized main authority (usually the
capital city) that controls how the local authorities and citizens live. Education,
taxation, language and culture is the same throughout the nation. Citizens have the
tendency to ignore local affairs, as everything is decided by the main authority. The
local authorities even have to ask permission for something as simple as a traffic
light (Roskin 2014). The citizens are forced to follow the decisions from the main
capital which can lead to resentment. This is what the Iraqi Kurds were feeling
under rule by Baghdad. The capital can use economic resources and coordinate
planning and development. Clear lines of authority helps to decrease the bickering
between the units of government.
Federal systems allow for central government to have control over foreign, defense
and monetary policy. The states have control over local affairs (police, highways,
, education, etc.). The citizens can elect local officials who in turn represent the
citizens at the capital. At the local level, new programs can be experimented with to
see what does or does not work. Disadvantages can be that local government lacks
the money to fund programs. Elected officials can become corrupt or incompetent.
Decisions on property taxes, welfare, and education are made at the state level.
The Federal system is not easy to maintain and cannot easily override a state
decision. The Federal system works best when there is a healthy balance between
the central and state governments.
Roskin, M.G., Cord, R.L., Medeiros, J.A., Jones, W.S. (2014). Political Science: An
Introduction 13th Edition. Pearson, Hoboken, NJ
Reply Reply to Comment
o
Collapse SubdiscussionChristina Hall
Christina Hall
MondayMar 12 at 4:34pm
Manage Discussion Entry
Hi Donna,
Good post!
When reading your post you said "Education, taxation, language and culture is the
same throughout the nation", at first I was like oh wow that sounds great, we will all
have the same taxes so you could pick the state you want to live in without regards
to their taxes, all of the children in the country would get the same education, and we
would all speak the same language and have the same culture. Then there would be
less fighting right? I but isn't that why this country formed in the first place? To flee
the rule of the King of England who was doing exactly this. America was one of the
first federal systems (Roskin, 2014). When writing my own post as I went through
each style of government I liked many aspects of each. I wish there was a very
happy medium to allow for both to exist!
I would say that I would chose federal style government to be my favorite, but there
are so many pros to unitary style as well. I do not like the idea of just one person or
group having all of the control, its good to have checks and balances and have
several levels of government. However, it sure would be nice to have the same
taxes from state to state like a unitary system. I just don't know! As we have all
