What is Federation?
Federal government is a kind of national government in which the government has direct powers to assign the power to various other elected members of the states. Moreover, there can be two levels of federal government in a country either it’s carried out through common institutions or through powers as authorized by a constitution of the state. It’s literally the opposite of the unitary government. In federation or federal government, territories or provinces enjoy some rights available to the independent states. Although international diplomacy, foreign affairs, national security and other types of internal dealings are solely crafted by the federal government.
Define Federation
Basically, a federal government is a solid system of splitting powers between a central national government and local state governments that are attached to each other by the national government. Most importantly, some areas of public life are under the control of the national government, and some areas are under the control of the local governments. So now that you know the federation meaning, you must also know how federal government systems work.
Normally, federal government systems have a constitution that states what areas of public life will be controlled by the national government and what areas of public life will be controlled by the state governments.
Some common federation examples are the United States, Malaysia, India, Russia, Canada, Brazil, Switzerland, Belgium, Pakistan, Germany, Australia, Mexico, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Nigeria.
Features of Federation
Now that you’re familiar with the federation definition, it’s to know all it’s distinctive features.
Division of Powers:
Usually, in a federal government, the powers of administration are divided between the centre and the units. The powers may be distributed in two different manners. Either the constitution expresses what powers the federal authority be obliged and leaves the remainder to the federating units, or it asserts what all powers the federating units shall have and leaves the rest to the federal authority. Thus, the remainder is basically called residuary powers.
So, the first way was operated in America and the second in Canada. The federal government in the USA, for instance, is weak in association with the states, whereas the federal government in Canada is more powerful. In federation, both the federal and state governments are independent and autonomous in the domains of their respective powers.
Separate Government:
In a federal type of government, both the units and the centre have their individual sets of government frameworks. In addition, America is a well-known federation of states. Therefore, states have separate legislatures and separate executives.
Rigid Constitution:
The federal constitution should be more or less rigid. It is considered as a sacred agreement, the spirit of which must not be easily breached. Most importantly, a flexible constitution enables a realm to the central government to reduce the autonomy of the federating states.
Written Constitution:
No doubt, a federal government should have a written constitution. Moreover, a federation is a political partnership of multiple states and hence, there should be a written agreement in the form of a written constitution.
Special Judiciary:
There are certain possibilities of constitutional disputes surfacing between the federal centre and the units or between one unit and another in a federal constitution. All such disputes should be settled in the light of the constitution. For this purpose, a special judiciary with extensive powers should be established.
Moreover, it must act as the custodian and guardian of the constitution. Also, it should be entrusted to powers of proclaiming any law, national or local, ultra vires if it’s at variance with the articles of a certain constitution. Hence, the constitution is the supreme law in a federation to which both the centric and the state must comply.
Benefits of a Federal Government
After knowing the federation meaning, it’s features, now it’s time to learn certain benefits of having a federal government.
Reconciliation of Local Autonomy With National Unity
The primary benefit of a federal government is that in a country with several diversities and establishing a unitary government is next to impossible, a political organization can be founded through this type of government. In this kind of government, regional autonomy, local self-government, and national unity are highly possible.
Power Division Between the Centre and States Results in Administrative Competence
With the proper division of powers, the work stress on the centre is reduced, and the centre is no longer bothered by the issues of a purely local nature. Furthermore, it can dedicate its full attention to matters of national interest and significance. Due to provincial or regional autonomy, the administration of such areas becomes systemic.
Citizenship of Federal Government is More Dignified Than That of Its Units
Usually, the citizenship of a federal government is more elevated. If you announce yourself as Bengal, Assam, or Punjab citizens in foreign countries, it won’t be as dignified as it would be in declaring yourself as an Indian citizen. Likewise, the citizenship of Texas or New York is not as dignified as that of the United States of America.
It is a Prototype for the World State
The widely known politicians believe that the world’s government is the only solution to the complications of world peace. Moreover, the framework of the world state can’t be unitary; thus it can only be federal.
Conclusion
This article has successfully covered what is the meaning of federation, its examples, features, and benefits in depth. It is considered as a system where a group of states are there under the central government with a partially self governing system as well as powers. All these powers are given by the constitution of the country. Where one major feature of it is presence of rigid and written constitution, the other features are dual polity as well as dual citizenship etc.
FAQs on Federation
1. What is a federation in the context of a country's government?
A federation is a system of government where power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country, such as states or provinces. Both levels of government enjoy their power and authority independent of the other, as specified by the constitution.
2. What are the key features that define a federal system of government?
A federal system is typically characterised by the following features:
- Two or more levels of government: A central government and state or regional governments.
- Written Constitution: The powers and functions of each level of government are specified in a written constitution.
- Division of Powers: A clear distribution of legislative, executive, and financial powers between the different levels of government.
- Supremacy of the Constitution: The constitution is the highest law of the land, and no level of government can override it.
- Independent Judiciary: A court system with the authority to interpret the constitution and resolve disputes between different levels of government.
3. What are the two primary routes through which federations are formed?
Federations are generally formed through two routes:
- 'Coming Together' Federations: This involves independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security. Examples include the USA, Switzerland, and Australia.
- 'Holding Together' Federations: This is where a large country decides to divide its power between the national government and the constituent states. The central government tends to be more powerful vis-à-vis the states. Examples include India, Spain, and Belgium.
4. How does India's federal system distribute legislative powers between the Centre and States?
As per the Constitution for the year 2025-26, India's federal system divides powers through three lists:
- Union List: Includes subjects of national importance like defence, foreign affairs, and currency. Only the central government can make laws on these subjects.
- State List: Contains subjects of state and local importance such as police, trade, and agriculture. State governments alone can make laws on these subjects.
- Concurrent List: Includes subjects of common interest like education, forests, and marriage. Both the Union and state governments can make laws, but in case of a conflict, the Union law prevails.
5. Why is a federal system of government better suited for a diverse country like India?
A federal system is crucial for a country with immense diversity like India because it helps accommodate regional differences and aspirations. By giving states their own powers, it allows them to address local issues and preserve their unique cultural and linguistic identities. This power-sharing arrangement promotes national unity while respecting regional autonomy, preventing conflicts that could arise in a purely unitary system.
6. What is the fundamental difference between a federal and a unitary system of government?
The fundamental difference lies in the distribution of power. In a federal system, power is divided between the central government and state governments, and both derive their authority from the constitution. In a unitary system, all power is concentrated in the national or central government, which can create or abolish local administrative units and delegate powers to them as it sees fit.
7. What role does the judiciary play in upholding the principles of federalism?
The judiciary acts as the guardian of the constitution and the arbiter of disputes in a federal system. It has the power to interpret the constitution and ensure that both the central and state governments operate within their respective jurisdictions. If there is a dispute over the division of powers, the Supreme Court or high courts step in to provide a final, binding decision, thereby maintaining the federal balance.
8. How is federalism practised through language policy in India?
India's federalism is strengthened by its cautious language policy. The Constitution did not give the status of a national language to any one language. While Hindi is the official language, there are 21 other languages recognised as Scheduled Languages. States have their own official languages, and this flexibility prevents the imposition of one language on diverse linguistic groups, thus promoting unity and respecting regional sentiment.
9. What is 'decentralisation' and why is it considered the third tier of federalism in India?
Decentralisation is the process of taking power away from the central and state governments and giving it to local governments. In India, this was formalised through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which created a third tier of government: Panchayats (in rural areas) and Municipalities (in urban areas). This is crucial for federalism as it allows local problems to be solved at the local level, promoting democratic participation at the grassroots.
