Federalism PDF - Features, Types, and Examples

In this sense, federations are 7 The federal system thus has dual contrasted with unitary governments. objectives: to safeguard and promote Under the unitary system, either unity of the country, while at the there is only...

In this sense, federations are 7 The federal system thus has dual contrasted with unitary governments. objectives: to safeguard and promote Under the unitary system, either unity of the country, while at the there is only one level of government same time accommodate regional or the sub-units are subordinate to diversity. Therefore, two aspects the central government. The central are crucial for the institutions and government can pass on orders to the practice of federalism. Governments provincial or the local government. at different levels should agree to If federalism But in a federal system, the central some rules of power-sharing. They works only in government cannot order the state should also trust that each would big countries, government to do something. State abide by its part of the agreement. why did Belgium government has powers of its own An ideal federal system has both adopt it? for which it is not answerable aspects : mutual trust and agreement to the central government. Both to live together. these governments are separately answerable to the people. The exact balance of power between the central and the state Let us look at some of the key government varies from one features of federalism : federation to another. This balance 1 There are two or more levels (or depends mainly on the historical tiers) of government. context in which the federation was 2 Different tiers of government formed. There are two kinds of routes govern the same citizens, but through which federations have been each tier has its own jurisdiction formed. The first route involves in specific matters of legislation, independent States coming together taxation and administration. on their own to form a bigger unit, 3 The jurisdictions of the respective so that by pooling sovereignty and levels or tiers of government are specified in the constitution. So the retaining identity, they can increase existence and authority of each tier their security. This type of ‘coming of government is constitutionally together’ federations include the guaranteed. USA, Switzerland and Australia. In 4 The fundamental provisions this first category of federations, all of the constitution cannot be the constituent States usually have unilaterally changed by one level of equal power and are strong vis-à-vis government. Such changes require the federal government. the consent of both the levels of The second route is where a government. large country decides to divide its 5 Courts have the power to power between the constituent interpret the constitution and States and the national government. the powers of different levels of India, Spain and Belgium are government. The highest court examples of this kind of ‘holding Jurisdiction: The acts as an umpire if disputes arise together’ federations. In this second area over which between different levels of category, the Central Government Federalism someone has legal government in the exercise of their tends to be more powerful vis-à- authority. The area respective powers. vis the States. Very often different may be defined in terms of geographical 6 Sources of revenue for each level constituent units of the federation boundaries or in terms of government are clearly specified have unequal powers. Some units of certain kinds of to ensure its financial autonomy. are granted special powers. subjects. 2024-25 15 Chapter 2.indd 15 08-04-2022 12:30:50