Which government system concentrates almost all control in a central authority?

The unitary system is characterized by a strong central authority that holds most, if not all, governmental power. In this type of government, local or regional governments might exist, but their powers and responsibilities are granted and regulated by the central government. This means that any authority or autonomy that local units possess is derived from the central authority, making the central government the primary decision-maker.

In contrast, a federation involves the division of powers between a central government and various states or regions, allowing for significant autonomy at both levels. A democracy, on the other hand, is a broader term that can apply to various types of governance where the populace has a say, but it does not specify the concentration of power. Lastly, a confederation is a union of independent states that delegate certain powers to a central authority while maintaining their sovereignty, which means that the central authority has limited control relative to the constituent states. Therefore, the unitary system stands out as concentrating almost all control in a central authority.