DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT
Democracy may be described as a system of government under which the people exercise the governing power either directly or through representatives periodically elected by them. This means that the state may, in a political sense, be termed a democracy if it provides institutions for the expression and, in the last analysis, the supremacy of the popular will on basic questions of social directions and policy.
IMPLICATIONS OF DEMOCRACY AS A FORM OF GOVERNMENT
The following are the implications of democracy as a form of government:
→ The people are sovereign. It is the vesting of the sovereignty in the people that entities umake decisions.
→ In most states the participation of the people in making or executing laws is through elected representatives. The representatives should be responsible to the people and be responsive to the hopes and aspirations of the people. This responsibility is ensured and enforced through a number ofdevices.
→ As a form of government democracy offers an opportunity to a minority to turn itself into a majority with the help of public support.
UNITARY AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS
Political scientists classified governments into Unitary and Federal on the basis of the distribution of powers between the Centre and the provinces.
UNITARY GOVERNMENTS
Unitary government is one in which one central authority habitually exercises the supreme legislative authority. It is prevalent in several states like England, France, Belgium, Italy, Sri Lanka, Iran, Denmark etc.
ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A UNITARY FORM OF GOVERNMENT
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1. Single Government: There exists one powerful government in this system. That government possesses and exercises all powers.
2. Provincial Governments: Provincial governments may or may not exist. If they exist, they depend on the Union government for their continuation and survival.
3. Lack of autonomy: Provincial governments do not enjoy political and administrative autonomy, They are formed and contained by the Union government for administrative convenience. They enjoy such powers delegated by the union. They have to adopt the policies of the Union.
4. Constitution: A Unitary government may or may not possess a written constitution. As the scope for conflicts between the Union and Provinces does not arise, Unitary government functions well even without a constitution.
5. Single Legislature: In a Unitary government we observe only one legislature, That legislature exists in the Union government. It enjoys supreme legislative powers in making, amending and repealing the laws. Its laws are applicable to all the individuals and institutions in the state.
6. Single citizenship: Citizens in Unitary government enjoy only one citizenship irrespective of their religion, region, language and economic considerations.
7. No division of powers: In a Unitary government powers are not divided between Union and Provinces. The Unitary State thus stresses national unity as against diversity, and uniformity against variety.
In any conflict between the local interest and the national will, the latter is supreme and brooks little divergence.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS
Federal government is prevalent in several states like U.S.A., Canada, Switzerland, Australia etc. The term ‘Federation’ is derived from a Latin word ‘Foedus’ which means ‘treaty or agreement. Normally a federal government comes into existence in two ways namely integration and disintegration. According to the first method, some independent states form as a new state by losing their sovereign identity. E.g. U.S.A. and Switzerland. Some federal states like Canada, Brazil, Yugoslavia etc, come under the second category. These states came into existence due to the devolution of powers by the unitary states for satisfying the local needs.
The first federal form of government, established in modern times, was in the USA. The thirteen colonies, which became free from British colonial control in the War of American Independence first, established a confederation. However, when the confederation proved inadequate to meet the needs of the situation, their representatives met together in a convention (1787) and drafted the federal constitution.
Federal Form in Other Countries:
The first to follow the U.S. example was its neighbour, Canada. It assumed a federal form in 1867. The British colonies in Australia too adopted a. federal form when it attained dominion status in 1901. In Europe, the Swiss cantons had already organized themselves as a federation. The German federation was an empire as a result of the Prussian domination. After the german federation in the 19th century turned into an established in West Germany. Following World War-l, the Asian domination. After the Second World War, the federation was re. federal constitution. However, they differ in nature from other countries. Following World War I, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia adopted nature from others. In the Third World, federalism is seen as a mechanism for the accommodation of ethnic diversity Cameroon became a federation for this purpose. In Latin America, an accommodation of ethnic diversities. India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Nigeria, aerations for this purpose. In Latin America, the three largest States, namely Argentina, Brazil and Mexico have a federal form of governed Mexico have a federal form of government. Thus, though the number of federal states may be small, they govern a large section of the world’s population.
ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A FEDERAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT
Political scientists have mentioned the following essential features of federal government.
1. Written, Rigid and Supreme Constitution: A federal government possess a written constitution. That constitution contains detailed provisions relating to the governmental powers, rights of people and the relations between the two. Such a constitution is a rigid one. It is considered as the supreme law of the state. It creates the Centre and federating units and allocates powers between the two.
2. Two Governments: Normally a federation consists of two governments – Central and State governments. The Central government supervises national affairs. The state governments look after the subjects of provincial importance.
3. Division of Powers: In a federation, powers are divided between the Centre and States.’ Matters of national importance like defence, foreign affairs, railways, currency etc. are given to the Centre. The states are entrusted with the maintenance of provincial subjects like .agriculture, irrigation, health etc.
4. Independent Judiciary: In a federation judiciary enjoys independent powers. It hears the disputes arising between Centre and States or between people and various governments It acts as the final interpreter of the constitution.
5. Constitutional Amendment: The Centre and the States play an important role in amending the constitution of the federal state. While the Central legislature can introduce minor changes in the constitution, most of the provisions can be changed by the joint efforts of the two governments. However, the Central legislature takes initiative in proposing constitutional amendments
6. Bicameral Legislature: We find bicameral legislature in federal states, Generally the Lower House consists of members directly elected by the people. The upper house represents the intersects of federating units.
7. Special Representation of states: The states enjoy special representation in the upper chamber of the union legislature. The upper chamber reflects the intersects the interests of states.
Know about the parliamentary form of government and presidential form of government.