Anthing Under the Sun
Unitary versus Federal (2)
Last time, we discussed the unitary system and its principal features. This time we'll go to the federal system.
Under this system (US model), the powers of the President are diffused among the different States which are zealous of their "State's rights". This means that the State have their own rights which the Federal government cannot interfere with.
This is manifested in the States having their own State Congress which may be unicameral or bicameral. That is why in the United States senators are distinguished as Senator of California or of Texas and the Senator of the United States; why there different educational structures -- some states have up to grade 8 and others to Grade 12; why each states has its own state bar or professional state board; why police jurisdiction is limited only to their state.
With this diffusion of the powers of the President, what are left to him are those pertaining to foreign affairs, national defense, national taxation, and currencies.
The Constitutional Commission recommended that the Regions should be created in lieu of the State. Each region shall have a unicameral regional assembly elected by the people and headed by the Regional Speaker. These regional assemblies must have more independent powers.
This character of a federal government is not quite new to us. We have already the Local Autonomy Law long time ago giving more powers to the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panglungsod and Sangguninag Panlalawigan. We have already three regional governments -- ARMM, Cordillera and Compostela Valley. All these have already diluted the powers of the President to some extent.
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - The first set of five booklets (Books 1 to 5) of West Visayas Beautiful and Wonderful authored by this writer is now available at P500 at his office address at No. 4, Santa Ana St., Molo, Iloilo City 5000 (Tel No. 337-3045). We are starting the second set (Books 6-10) this January.