federalandunitary-12745398238698-phpapp02

Federal and Unitary Political Systems

Prof. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, PhDDepartment of Political ScienceAteneo de Manila University

Power Recall definition of power

Hierarchy

LOWER LEVEL Local government

units

HIGHER LEVEL National government

Operationalization of Hierarchy: Local Governments

“political subdivisions of the nation state”

non-sovereign communities with subordinate status

governments which are below the central government;

constituted by law --- actual extent of local self-determination or local autonomy (ability for self-government) depends on delegated authorities and on local capability

Nature of Dispersal of Power Centralized

- power concentrated in the center (national government)

Decentralized

- power from the center

- enables the maximum participation of the people

- lower levels of government are encouraged and trained to be self-reliant

Modes of Decentralization

Deconcentration (administrative decentralization)

- involves the transfer of functions from the national office to the regional and local offices

- delegating functions from the central government to local government units (sectoral approach)

- redistribution of administrative responsibilities

Modes of Decentralization

Devolution (political decentralization)

- transfer of power for the performance of certain functions for the national authorities to the lower levels of government (area approach)

- local governments are “perceived to be separate levels over which central authorities exercise less or no direct control” (i.e. autonomy)

Unitarism Unitas

sovereignty is vested in central (national) government

(may have) decentralization through local government units

Functions of central authority

- Controls local governments and determines how much power they will have

- Imposes its decisions on all local governments

- Emergency: greater concentration of power

Federalism Foederis or covenant

Normative principle: ‘unity in diversity’

‘self and shared rule’: ‘divided sovereignty

Components (Riker 1964)

- 2 levels of government rule the same land and people

- each level has at least one area of action in which it is autonomous

Federalism Functions of central authority

- Permits a central government to represent the various entities w/in the State where they have common interests --- defense, foreign affairs, communication

- yet allows these various entities to retain their own identities and to have their own laws, policies and customs in certain fields

Example 1: Canada provinceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Political_map_of_Canada.png

Example 2: USA stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_USA_with_state_names.svg

Example 3: Germany federal, city, area stateshttp://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/countries_germany.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Karte_Bundesrepublik_Deutschland.svg

Example 3: Germany http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Karte_Bundesrepublik_Deutschland.svg

Arguments for Federalism 56 % of world’s population live in federal systems

Most democracies transition from unitary to federal systems

good for economic development: lower inflation (Lijphart, Lancaster & Hicks), lower unemployment (Crepaz)

decrease incidence of political violence

Increase efficiency in administration and delivery of services

Proposed Shift from Unitary to Federal System: Philippine Case

Based on Proposed Revision of 1987 Constitution by Consultative Committee on Charter Change (2005) -geographic contiguity, culture & language & economic viability

“Within one year and after at least sixty percent of the provinces, highly urbanized cities and component cities of

the country shall have joined in the creation of different autonomous territories, upon petition of majority of such autonomous territories through their respective regional assemblies, the Parliament shall enact a basic law for the establishment of the Federal Republic of the Philippines,

whereby autonomous territories shall become federal states” (Art. XX, Sec. 15)

Proposed Shift from Unitary to Federal System: Philippine Case

Based on Proposal of Citizen’s Movement for Federated Philippines (CMFP)

Regions Composite Units

3 Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao

5 Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Bangsa Moro, Cordilleras

7 North Luzon, Central Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, North Mindanao, South Mindanao

12 Existing administrative regions

Proposed Shift from Unitary to Federal System: Philippine Case

Based on PGMA’s 2005 proposal - super regions for fast track economic development

North Luzon (agribusiness), Metro Luzon (urban, industries & services), Central Philippines (tourism) & North Mindanao (agribusiness center in Mindanao region).

So, what about the Philippines? Impact on economic development?

Solution for political violence?

Effect on governance?