Federal

Federal refers to a system of government where power and responsibilities are divided between a central government and individual states, provinces, or territories. The term is often used in the context of federal governments, such as the United States, Australia, and Germany, where the national government shares sovereignty with the subnational governments.

Overview

A federal system of government is one in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units. This system is often contrasted with a unitary system, where the central government holds the majority of political power. In a federal system, the central government and the subnational governments both have the ability to make laws and both have a certain level of autonomy from each other.

Federal Systems Around the World

Several countries around the world operate under a federal system of government. These include:

• The United States, where power is divided between the federal government and the 50 states.
• Australia, where the Commonwealth of Australia shares power with six states and two territories.
• Germany, where the Federal Republic of Germany is made up of 16 states, known as "Bundesländer".
• India, where power is shared between the Union government and 28 states and 8 Union territories.
• Brazil, where the Federal Republic of Brazil is composed of the Union, the states, the Federal District, and the municipalities.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Federal System

There are several advantages and disadvantages associated with a federal system of government.

Advantages include:

• Greater local autonomy: In a federal system, local governments have the power to handle local issues, which can lead to more effective and tailored solutions.
• Checks and balances: The division of power in a federal system can prevent any one entity from gaining too much power.

Disadvantages include:

• Potential for conflict: The division of power in a federal system can lead to conflicts between different levels of government.
• Inefficiency: Having multiple levels of government can lead to duplication of efforts and inefficiency.

See Also

• Unitary state
• Confederation
• Federation
• Federalism

Federal Resources
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