FEDERALISM

INTRODUCTION Federal government is the one where there is pure division of powers between the centre and the state A federal state is nothing but a political contrivance intended to reconcile national unity with maintenance of state rights. (Dicey)

INTRODUCTION Federation derived from the Latin word-Foedus meaning treaty or agreement States in U.S.A., India, Australia. Provinces in Canada, Pakistan, Cantons in Switzerland Lands in Germany

Necessary conditions for the formation of the federal state Geographical contiguity Desire for the formation of the union for certain other purposes Absence of marked inequality among the federating units Similarity in social and political institutions Adequate economic resources Political knowledge National feeling

Essential features of federal government Distribution of powers between centre and states Supremacy of constitution Judicial supremacy and independence

Distinction between unitary and federal form of governments Distribution of powers Status of the constitution Judicial position Citizenship Law Dual and single polity Constitutional amendments Process of changing the boundaries of the state

Merits of Federation Reconciliation of the national autonomy with national unity Administrative efficiency Local interest of the people is secured Leads to big states More advantageous to smaller states/cantons Checks despotism Suitable for bigger countries Model for the world state Good for cultural progress

Demerits of federalism Federalism is Weaker government It is more expensive than unitary government In federal government, provincial tendencies are more acute Lack of consensus Threat to national unity Distribution of powers between the centre and the state leads to many conflicts Double citizenship The constitution being rigid finds it difficult to adjust in the fast changing circumstances State government sometimes give hindrance in foreign policy of the centre Responsibility for bad administration cannot be located Fear of group formation of big states to influence small states

Confederation The concept of confederation means the organization of sovereign states which join together for common defense and also for serving common purposes.

Difference between federation and confederation Federation gives rise to a new sovereign state, confederation means where the sovereignty of the member-state remain intact. Confederation happen at international level whereas federation is at the national level. Federation is binding whereas the confederation is not. Confederation has no separate laws whereas the federation has separate laws. Federation is more stable than confederation. The purpose of confederation is limited.

Conclusion Thus the concept of federalism basically means the division of powers between the centre and the state, where there is no concentration of powers and the local and regional interest are served by granting certain autonomy to the states.