eenheidsstaat

Eenheidsstaat is a Dutch term that translates to "unitary state" in English. It refers to a form of political organization where the central government holds supreme authority and all administrative divisions (such as provinces or regions) exercise only those powers that the central government chooses to delegate. In an eenheidsstaat, there is no constitutional division of powers between the central government and sub-national entities. Laws passed by the central legislature are binding throughout the entire country, and sub-national units do not have independent legislative or judicial powers that cannot be overridden by the central authority.

This contrasts with federal states, where power is constitutionally divided between a central government and constituent political units, and both levels of government have their own spheres of authority. In an eenheidsstaat, the central government can create, abolish, or alter sub-national administrative divisions at its will. While sub-national entities may have significant administrative functions and even some degree of autonomy in practice, their powers are ultimately derived from and subordinate to the central government. Examples of countries often described as eenheidsstaten include France, Japan, and the United Kingdom, although the latter has seen significant devolution of power in recent decades. The degree of decentralization can vary greatly even within unitary systems.