In a federation, the self-governing status of the component states, as well as the division of power between them and the central government, is typically constitutionally entrenched and may not be altered by a unilateral decision of either party, the states or the federal political body.

Of the 193 UN member states, 165 are governed as unitary states.Ī federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions under a central (federal) government. The majority of states in the world have a unitary system of government. 1300–1798)Ī unitary state is a state governed as a single power in which the central government is ultimately supreme and any administrative divisions (sub-national units) exercise only the powers that the central government chooses to delegate. Confederation represents a main form of inter-governmental-ism, this being defined as 'any form of interaction between states which takes place on the basis of sovereign independence or government.' Confederation is almost as a federation with the federal government being as a combination or alliance of all the states. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issues, such as defense, foreign relations, internal trade or currency, with the general government being required to provide support for all its members. Forms of government by regional control TermĪ confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a union of sovereign states, united for purposes of common action often in relation to other states.

Another word for running the goverment