Unitary State
A state where the central government holds supreme authority and any local governments exist at its discretion.
Explanation
In a unitary state, all governing power ultimately belongs to the central government. Local or regional authorities may exist and exercise significant autonomy, but they do so because the central government allows it — not because the constitution guarantees it. The central government can in principle modify or abolish local government structures. Most countries in the world are unitary states, including France, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and most of Africa and Asia. Some unitary states (like the UK with devolution to Scotland and Wales) grant substantial regional autonomy while remaining formally unitary.
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