How do the federal and unitary systems of government differ

In a unitary system, the central government has all the power. In a federal system, some powers are given to the central government and other powers are given to the lower levels of government (provinces or states).

The federal system of government and the unitary system of government differ mainly in their way to organize power: a federal system gives power to various levels of government, such as the national, state and local governments, while the unitary system centralizes its power in an ultimately supreme power, such as a national government. In this last system, the central government may create administrative divisions to excercise only those powers the unitary state has chosen to delegate.

An example of a federal system of government is the United States' system, and an example of a unitary system of government is the system of France.