Explain how a unitary system of government differs from a federal system.

A unitary system of government has one central government that holds all the power, while a federal system of government distributes power between different forms of government (central and local).

Explanation:

A unitary state government has the entire power focused on the central state bodies, exercised directly or through their regional bodies, which are appointed by state and which are directly responsible to the state. Legally and politically, it has power over all state competencies, which are exercised by one ruler, while the citizens are subordinated to the rule of one legislative and constitutional authority. The main characteristic of the unitary governing is the homogeneity.

The example of the unitary governing system is China, which has one ruling body with all the powers uniformly applied.

On the other hand, the federal governing system is determined by the constitution and it is out of reach of the central government. In a federal state, there can be only legal control over the acts of federal units, that is, control of constitutionality and legality. The federal system divides power between national and local governments, and it is composed of legislative, executive, and judicial branches, whose powers are vested by the Constitution, the President, and the Courts.

The example of the federal governing system can be the United States, as it has the National government, Constitution and states governments and constitutions.