Caption: War Publications - WWI Compilation 1923 - Article 48
This is a reduced-resolution page image for fast online browsing.
EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:
of local government for the ml ministration of local concerns, it allows uniform regulation where uniformity is essential and at the same time permits diversity where'local conditions make it desirable. lb) It is well adapted to large states composed of diverse nationalities or of populations with widely varying interests and standards of right and wrong. Queries: Would any other form of government be so well suited to the conditions prevailing in the United States? Would it not he well adapted to the British Empire? Instead of dividing Austria into a number of petty states would the interests of the various nationalities in that county be better subserved by federation, leaving to each a wide degree of local autonomy or by making them independent? C. Weaknesses of Federal Government (a) (b) (c) (d) In respect to national defense and the performance of international obligations. Danger from diversity of law where there should be uniformity (law of insurance, bills and notes, marriage and divorce, etc.) Danger of conflicts between the central and local governments. Complexity, delay and expense resulting from a dual system of legislation and administration. 4. Unitary or Centralized government. A system in which the powers of government are not distributed between a central government and a number of local governments but are concentrated in a single central government. The government of France is a good example. The local governments are under the control of the central government. What are the merits and demerits of such a system? 5. Parliamentary Government A. Definition: A system in which the executive and legislative functions are not separated. The titular executive is an irresponsible hereditary monarch or a president, the real executive being a ministry or cabinet which is usually a committee of the legislature. The ministry formulates all important legislation, steers it through the legislature and then carries it into execution. It is immediately responsible to the legislature and mediately to the people for its political policies and must resign when it ceases to have the confidence of either. (England, France and moat of the countries of Europe). B. Working In England and Franc*. The parliamentary system has not worked as smoothly in France as in England because: (a) It is not indigenous. (b) The ministers are subjected to excessive control by the legislature. 8
| 
