Comparing Political Systems Centralization and Decentralization in Governance

The video discusses political systems, focusing on how sovereignty is managed in unitary, federal, and confederal systems. It explains centralization and decentralization, with unitary systems being the most centralized and confederal systems the least. Examples of unitary systems include France and the UK, while federal systems include the US and Canada. Confederal systems, like the EU, have limited central authority. The video also highlights the challenges and critiques of each system.

What is the primary focus of the video on political systems?

• The economic impact of political systems

• The role of political parties

• How different systems manage sovereignty

• The history of political systems

Which of the following countries is an example of a unitary system?

• France

• United States

• Switzerland

• Canada

What is the term for when a national government gives regional governments powers to act within certain policy fields?

• Federalism

• Devolution

• Delegated authority

• Confederalism

In a federal system, how is sovereignty typically divided?

• Between the national and international governments

• Only at the regional level

• Only at the national level

• Between the central and regional governments

Which country is an example of a federal system due to its regional diversity?

• Switzerland

• Norway

• France

• United Kingdom

What is a common critique of federal systems?

• They lack regional representation

• They are inefficient in responding to local needs

• They are too centralized

• They make it difficult to get things done

Which of the following is an example of a confederal system?

• European Union

• Canada

• United States

• United Kingdom

How does a confederal system differ from a unitary system?

• It has no central government

• It is more common than unitary systems

• It gives more power to non-central governments

• It centralizes power at the national level

What is a challenge in defining when a country transitions from one system to another?

• Overlapping characteristics

• Political instability

• Lack of historical data

• Economic factors

Which system started as a confederation but became more centralized over time?

• European Union

• United States

• United Kingdom

• Canada