AP Comparative Government and Politics Flashcards: Federal and Unitary Systems
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
In a federal country like Mexico or Nigeria, what types of services are often managed with local autonomy?
Federal systems often grant local autonomy for supplying social and educational services to better address regional needs and differences.
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In a federal country like Mexico or Nigeria, what types of services are often managed with local autonomy?
Federal systems often grant local autonomy for supplying social and educational services to better address regional needs and differences.
What is a primary purpose for adopting a federal system?
A primary purpose is to confer a degree of local autonomy, which can be particularly useful for managing diverse populations and supplying regional social and educational services.
What are two potential advantages of a unitary system?
Unitary systems can create more uniform policies across the entire state and may allow for more efficient policy making due to the concentration of power.
Can the distribution of power within a state change over time?
Yes, the degree to which power is centralized or decentralized can change in both federal and unitary states in response to internal and external pressures.
What is an example of an internal factor that can cause a state to decentralize power?
Ethnic cleavages are an internal factor that can pressure a state to decentralize power to accommodate the demands of different ethnic groups.
What is a unitary system?
A system that concentrates power at the national level, which can lead to more uniform policies and potentially more efficient policy making.
Which course countries are examples of federal states?
Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia are course countries with federal systems.
What is a federal system?
A system that divides power among different levels of government to provide a degree of local autonomy while reserving certain powers for the national government.
Which course countries are examples of unitary states?
China, Iran, and the United Kingdom are course countries with unitary systems.
How might a supranational organization, an external actor, affect power distribution in a member state like the United Kingdom?
Supranational organizations can influence a member state to change its power distribution, often requiring it to align with the organization's policies or cede some national authority.