einingaríki

Einingaríki translates from Icelandic to English as "unitary state." A unitary state is a sovereign state that is governed as a single entity. The central government holds all or most of the governmental power. Sub-national administrative divisions, such as regions or municipalities, exist but only exercise powers that the central government chooses to delegate. The central government may also abolish or alter these sub-national divisions at its discretion. This is in contrast to a federal state, where power is divided between the central government and constituent political units.

In a unitary system, laws and policies enacted by the central government are applied uniformly across the entire country. Local governments, if they exist, act as administrative arms of the central government, carrying out its directives. While they may have some autonomy in specific areas, this authority is not constitutionally guaranteed and can be withdrawn by the central authority. Examples of countries with unitary systems include France, Japan, and the United Kingdom, although the UK has devolved certain powers to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, creating a unique quasi-federal structure within its unitary framework. The concept of einingaríki is fundamental to understanding the distribution of power within a nation-state.