1. FEDERALISM

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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.

11. 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.