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{{Forms of government}} | {{Forms of government}} | ||
A '''central government''' is the [[government]] of a [[nation-state]] and is a characteristic of a [[unitary state]]. This is the same thing as a [[federation|federal government]] which may have distinct powers at various levels authorized or delegated to it by its member states, though the adjective 'central' is sometimes used to describe it.<ref name=USWH | A '''central government''' is the [[government]] of a [[nation-state]] and is a characteristic of a [[unitary state]]. This is the same thing as a [[federation|federal government]] which may have distinct powers at various levels authorized or delegated to it by its member states, though the adjective 'central' is sometimes used to describe it.<ref name=USWH>{{cite web |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/our-government/the-constitution |title=The Constitution |publisher=US federal government |accessdate=17 Jul 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717011932/http://www.whitehouse.gov/our-government/the-constitution/ |archivedate=2010-07-17 |df= }}</ref> The structure of central governments varies. Many countries have created autonomous regions by delegating powers from the central government to governments at a subnational level, such as a regional, state or local level. Based on a broad definition of a basic political system, there are two or more levels of government that exist within an established territory and govern through common institutions with overlapping or shared powers as prescribed by a [[constitution]] or other law. | ||
Usual responsibilities of this level of government which are not granted to lower levels are maintaining [[national security]] and exercising international [[diplomacy]], including the right to sign binding [[treaties]]. Basically, the central government has the power to make laws for the whole country, in contrast with [[local government]]s. For definition of levels of government see also [[general government (in economics)]]. | Usual responsibilities of this level of government which are not granted to lower levels are maintaining [[national security]] and exercising international [[diplomacy]], including the right to sign binding [[treaties]]. Basically, the central government has the power to make laws for the whole country, in contrast with [[local government]]s. For definition of levels of government see also [[general government (in economics)]]. | ||
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A central government is the government of a nation-state and is a characteristic of a unitary state. This is the same thing as a federal government which may have distinct powers at various levels authorized or delegated to it by its member states, though the adjective 'central' is sometimes used to describe it.[1] The structure of central governments varies. Many countries have created autonomous regions by delegating powers from the central government to governments at a subnational level, such as a regional, state or local level. Based on a broad definition of a basic political system, there are two or more levels of government that exist within an established territory and govern through common institutions with overlapping or shared powers as prescribed by a constitution or other law.
Usual responsibilities of this level of government which are not granted to lower levels are maintaining national security and exercising international diplomacy, including the right to sign binding treaties. Basically, the central government has the power to make laws for the whole country, in contrast with local governments. For definition of levels of government see also general government (in economics).
Generally, the difference between a central government and a federal government is that the autonomous status of self-governing regions exists by the sufferance of the central government and are often created through a process of devolution. As such they may be unilaterally revoked with a simple change in the law. An example of this was done in 1973 when the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 abolished the government of Northern Ireland which had been created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It is common for a federal government to be brought into being by agreement between a number of formally independent states and therefore its powers to affect the status of the balance of powers is significantly smaller (i.e. the United States). Thus federal governments are often established voluntarily from 'below' whereas devolution grants self-government from above.
There are many countries which have delegated powers, some include:
People's Republic of China government – see autonomous areas of the People's Republic of China
Denmark government – see the autonomous regions of Faroe Islands and Greenland
France government
Republic of China government
Georgia government – see autonomous republics
Indonesia government
Spain government – see autonomous communities
Portugal government – see autonomous regions of Portugal
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics government – see republics of the Soviet Union
Ukraine government
United Kingdom government – devolved powers to governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Vietnam governmentA federal government is the common or national government of a federation. The United States is considered the first modern federation. After declaring independence from Britain, the U.S. adopted its first constitution, the Articles of Confederation in 1781. This was the first step towards federalism by establishing the confederal Congress. However, Congress was limited as to its ability to pursue economic, military, and judiciary reform. In 1787, a Constitutional Convention drafted the United States Constitution during the Philadelphia Convention. After the ratification of the Constitution by nine states in 1788, the U.S. was officially a federation, putting the U.S. in a unique position where the central government exists by the sufferance of the individual states rather than the reverse.
Other states followed suit in establishing federal governments: Switzerland (1848); Canada (1867); Germany (1871 and again 1949); Brazil (1891); Australia (1901); Austria (1920 and again 1945) and India (1947 and again 1950).[2] Examples include:
Austria government
Argentina government
Australia government
Belgium government
Brazil government
India government
Canada government
Germany government
Malaysia government
Mexico government
Nigeria government
Nepal government
Pakistan government
Russia government
Sudan government – see South Sudan, which is now independent
Switzerland government
United States government
Venezuela government