Which system of government has ultimate authority resting in a single national government?

The unitary system of government is characterized by the ultimate authority residing in a single, central national government. In this structure, the central government retains most of the power, delegating authority to lower levels of government, such as regional or local governments, as it sees fit. These local authorities primarily serve to implement national policies and may have limited autonomy.

This system contrasts with federalism, where power is divided between a central government and various subnational entities; and confederal systems, where local governments hold more authority and the central government’s powers are limited. In a unitary government, the central authority can create or abolish local governments and adjust their powers as needed, reflecting a clear hierarchical structure in governance.

Thus, a unitary system is efficient in decision-making and can provide uniformity in policy implementation across the entire nation.