Form of state structure: concept and types. Forms of government and government

Society at all times was a complex structure, consisting of completely different types of people. Initially, such a concept, as a society, did not exist at all. Because people were not united in one system. To date, everything has changed dramatically. The society is not only the basis of activity on the planet, but also the main component of any state. The last element deserves special attention. Like society as a whole, countries did not appear immediately. Their creation was preceded by a tribal community. The gradual growth of such a social formation caused the need for its expansion, which, in fact, happened. Modern world states are really interesting structures. After all, they function as a single, multi-faceted and intelligent mechanism of their kind or even an organism. In addition, countries are not homogeneous. There are many varieties. Of great importance in this case is the form of government. This category characterizes several "foci of governance" by each country separately. At the same time there are a lot of forms. This allows us to divide the entire state according to this criterion, which facilitates the process of their direct study.

Concept of the state

Of course, the form of state structure, the concept and types of which will be presented later in the article, largely characterizes the country from different perspectives. However, it is necessary to understand what the last category is. The state, taking into account the modern developments of scientists in this field, is a completely independent entity that is endowed with sovereignty, and also has a coercive mechanism in its structure. In addition, any country has its own territorial frame.

The main features of the state

Considering the concept of a country as a sovereign mechanism, one can single out its main features. On their basis, the state can be distinguished from other socio-political structures. There is a large number of scientific approaches to the consideration of this problem. But we can distinguish a number of classical features that characterize all the states without exception. These include:

1) territory and property;

2) the state apparatus ;

3) the population;

4) sovereignty.

In this case, the question arises: how will the form of state structure, the concept and types of which will be discussed below, correlated with the presented principles? In this case everything is quite simple. The signs are those indicators that indicate the existence of the state. Therefore, before a direct study of the form of a country, it is necessary to understand whether the socio-political structure is such at all.

Forms of government and government

Any country can be characterized from three positions, namely:

- forms of government;

- the ruling regime;

- forms of government.

The first two categories show the political component of state activity, that is, the effectiveness of the apparatus of regulation, the democratism of its activities, etc. In turn, the form of state organization is the territorial organization of the country and the interrelation between the elements of the entire structure. Among the remaining positions of the analysis of the state, the territorial structure is the most stable. This is evidenced by the presence of only two basic elements of this category.

It should be noted that many scholars speak of the existence of a close relationship between the form of government and the state system. In their view, the latter category determines the political structure in a particular country. But, as we understand, the statement about the influence of the territory on any processes inside the state is very controversial.

Types of forms of government

Earlier, we have already pointed out that there are two main forms of territorial organization of a country. The extraction of these species takes place on the basis of the existence or absence of sovereignty among individual subjects of the entire system. Depending on this, the following forms of government are distinguished:

- a simple form, which includes unitary states;

- a complex form, that is, a federal one.

It should be noted that the institution of the state system considers exclusively the presented forms. Interstate associations in this case do not apply to it, although many commonwealths, dominions and other similar structures are in many respects similar to territorial types of organization. In addition, the forms mentioned above are complex independent phenomena. They are characterized by the presence of certain features, species and a number of other features.

Unitary countries - concept

The forms of the national-state structure of a unitary type are simple, unified countries whose territorial elements do not have any independence. To date, there are many such formations in the world. The bottom line is that they are easily controlled and stable. Coordination of the internal activities of unitary states is carried out by a single center. Most countries today have such a territorial form.

The main features of unitary states

There are a large number of signs, with the help of which, it is possible to distinguish the forms of a national-state system of the type mentioned.

1. The power in the country is concentrated in the hands of a single center. That is, territorial units do not have independence in any issues. This sign also clearly shows the hierarchy of all branches of government.

2. The system of legislation also has one level. As a rule, everything comes from the constitution, which is the basis of all legal relations of the society of a unitary state.

3. Unitary countries have a single citizenship.

4. The territorial division has a nominal character. It is made only to facilitate public administration.

5. The monetary system, like citizenship, is also one.

As we see, the unitary form of state structure, the concept and types of which are presented in the article, is a convenient system that can be easily regulated. The principle of unity in this case is the main advantage.

Types of Unified Powers

The unitary form of state structure is not the same in the whole planet. Depending on the severity of the hierarchy of authorities and the existence of autonomies, it is possible to single out different types of countries of a single type. For example, depending on the availability of autonomies, scientists divide all unitary states into complex and simple ones. The latter countries are characterized by the fact that they do not have any autonomous entities. In this case, there are states in which there is no administrative-territorial division. A complex unitary form of state structure implies the existence of autonomies, which in turn are divided into two types.

1. Territorial . Such autonomy, as a rule, develops historically. They are part of the territory of the state, which has a certain freedom of "action". That is, on an equal basis with state authorities, autonomy can issue its own normative acts.

2. Extraterritorial autonomy is "education without land." It, as a rule, consists of the ethnic aggregate of a certain part of the population of the country, which has the right to independently determine its identity by solving important social issues.

There is also a division of unitary states into centralized and decentralized ones. In the first case, there is a strict subordination of all authorities without exception. But decentralized countries are characterized by a significant role of local self-government in matters of population of a certain region or other territorial unit.

Federated form: concept

Earlier we have already pointed out that there are complex types of territorial organization of the country. Such is the Federation today. This form of administrative state structure is a structure consisting of relatively independent parts. That is, individual entities in the country have legal and factual sovereignty. Of course, the independence of such actors does not concern all issues, but they regulate most of their activities on their own. To date, federations are no less than unitary powers. For example, the form of the state system of Russia is purely federal.

Signs of territorial distribution

The form of the state system of Russia is federation. However, not only our country is characterized by such a territorial distribution. Federations to date are India, USA, Canada, etc. This fact makes it possible to identify the main features of this territorial arrangement.

1. The subject of public authority is divided between the whole country and its individual parts.

2. State bodies have a two-level structure. This meets the interests of the whole country and its individual components, subjects.

3. Legislation also exists on two levels. Because territorial units are endowed with political and legislative independence.

4. In some countries, citizenship can be both national and subjective. That is, a legal relationship is established between a person and a certain territorial unit.

5. One of the mandatory attributes of scientists believe the existence of a bicameral parliament. Such a structure allows taking into account the interests of both the whole country and its individual elements.

Classifications of federations

The form of the political state system, based on the independence of its elements, is not a homogeneous structure. In most cases it is impossible to single out completely identical federations, but it is quite realistic to classify them. There are several basic classifications depending on one or another characteristic. To date, the main species division is made on the basis of the constitutional status of the subjects. Depending on it, there are:

- symmetrical federations in which all subjects are equal;

- asymmetric federations, characterized by the inequality of their territorial elements.

Another common classification is the species division based on the fact of the emergence of the state. For example, treaty federations are born by uniting territorial units, while constitutional federations arise on the basis of a unitary country that existed before.

Federation with the right to exit

There are states with a complex territorial structure. But it is characterized by the fact that the subjects of such a country have the opportunity to withdraw from its composition, that is, they are entitled to secession. Such "soft federations" are not something innovative. For example, the Soviet Union was considered legally such a country. As for the present, the "soft federation" is Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, the union of Russia and Belarus prophesy a reincarnation in the described state.

Conclusion

So, in the article we tried to explain what the form of state system is. The concept and types of this institution testify to its development, as well as its exceptional importance. In addition, the formation of new territorial units in the world leads to a gradual evolution of this legal phenomenon. Thus, it remains only to monitor the changes and their influence on all spheres of human activity.