1.

Explain the difference between the following forms of government:

1.1.

Unitary vs. Federal-

Unitary system - The central government has all the power. It gets to decide
what powers, if any, to give to the lower levels of government. Even if it
gives them some power, it can always take it back. The lower levels of the
government have no right to their power.
Federal system- In a Federal government, some powers are given to the
central government and other powers are given to the lower levels of the
government (provinces or states). With the federal system, they have right
to their powers. The central government cannot just take those powers away.
Typically, as with the US, there is a written constitution that tells what
powers go to the national government and what powers go to the lower
level.
1.2.

President vs. Parliamentary-

The major difference between these two systems is that in a Presidential

system, the executive leader, the President, is directly voted upon by the
people (Or via a body elected specifically for the purpose of electing the
president, and no other purpose), and the executive leader of the
Parliamentary system, the Prime Minister, is elected from the legislative
branch directly.
In the Presidential System, it is more difficult to enact legislation, especially
in the event that the President has different views than the legislative body.
The President only responds to the people, the legislative branch cant really
do anything to threaten the President.
The Parliamentary System can cast a vote of no confidence and replace a
Prime Minister. This makes the executive leader subservient to the
parliament.