Forms of Power Sharing in Government

Forms of Power Sharing

• Horizontal Power Sharing:
  • Division of power among different branches of government (legislative, executive, and judiciary)
  • Examples: Separation of powers in the US, checks and balances
• Vertical Power Sharing:
  • Division of power between central and regional governments
  • Examples: Federalism in the US, Canada, and India
• Territorial Power Sharing:
  • Division of power among different regions or territories
  • Examples: Autonomy to regions in Spain, devolution in the UK

Principles of Power Sharing

• Self-Rule: Regions or communities have a significant degree of autonomy
• Shared Rule: Power is shared between the central government and regional governments
• Principle of Federalism: Power is divided between the central government and regional governments
• Protection of Minority Rights: Ensuring the rights of minority groups are protected

Union and State Government

• Union Government:
  • Also known as the central government
  • Responsible for matters that affect the entire country (e.g., defense, foreign policy)
  • Has the power to make laws on certain subjects
• State Government:
  • Responsible for matters that affect the state or region (e.g., education, healthcare)
  • Has the power to make laws on certain subjects
• Concurrent List:
  • Subjects on which both the union and state governments have the power to make laws
  • Examples: education, forests, trade unions

Forms of Power Sharing

• Horizontal power sharing involves the division of power among different branches of government, such as legislative, executive, and judiciary, ensuring a system of checks and balances, as seen in the US.
• Vertical power sharing involves the division of power between central and regional governments, as seen in federal systems like the US, Canada, and India.
• Territorial power sharing involves the division of power among different regions or territories, granting autonomy to regions, such as in Spain, or through devolution in the UK.

Principles of Power Sharing

Self-Rule and Shared Rule

• Self-rule enables regions or communities to have a significant degree of autonomy.
• Shared rule involves power sharing between the central government and regional governments, ensuring cooperation and collaboration.

Principles of Federalism

• The principle of federalism involves the division of power between the central government and regional governments, defining their respective roles and responsibilities.

Protection of Minority Rights

• The protection of minority rights ensures that the rights of minority groups are safeguarded and respected.

Union and State Government

Union Government

• The union government, also known as the central government, is responsible for matters that affect the entire country, such as defense and foreign policy.
• It has the power to make laws on certain subjects, shaping the country's overall direction.

State Government

• State governments are responsible for matters that affect the state or region, such as education and healthcare.
• They have the power to make laws on certain subjects, addressing local needs and priorities.

Concurrent List

• The concurrent list outlines subjects on which both the union and state governments have the power to make laws, such as education, forests, and trade unions.
• This shared authority enables cooperation and collaboration between the central and regional governments.

Horizontal Power Sharing

• Separation of powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government to prevent domination
• Each branch has distinct responsibilities and powers to ensure balance and check on each other

Vertical Power Sharing

• Federalism: division of power between central government and smaller units of government (states or provinces)
• Central government handles national issues, while smaller units handle local issues
• Both levels of government have separate powers and responsibilities

Community Power Sharing

• Recognizes diversity of society and gives power to different groups and communities
• Examples of community power sharing include:
  • Linguistic power sharing: giving power to different language groups
  • Religious power sharing: giving power to different religious groups
  • Ethnic power sharing: giving power to different ethnic groups

Constitutional Power Sharing

• Enshrines power sharing in a country's constitution
• Provides a framework for the distribution of power among different branches of government and levels of government
• Ensures power is shared in a fair and representative way, reflecting the population

Coalition Governments

• A form of power sharing where multiple parties come together to form a government
• Each party has a certain number of seats and level of influence in the government
• Decisions are made through negotiation and compromise among parties

Rotational Power Sharing

• System where power is rotated among different groups or individuals at regular intervals
• Examples include:
  • Rotational presidency: rotating presidency among different groups or individuals
  • Rotational leadership: rotating leadership positions among different groups or individuals