federal government or federation, government of a union of states inwhich sovereignty is divided between a central authority and componentstate authorities. A federation differs from a confederation in that thecentral power acts directly upon individuals as well as upon states, thuscreating the problem of dual allegiance. Substantial power over mattersaffecting the people as a whole, such as external affairs, commerce,coinage, and the maintenance of military forces, are usually granted to thecentral government. Nevertheless, retention of jurisdiction over local affairsby states is compatible with the federal system and makes allowance forlocal feelings. The chief political problem of a federal system ofgovernment is likely to be the allocation of sovereignty, because the needfor unity among the federating states may conflict with their desire forautonomy. The Greek city-states failed to solve this problem, althoughreligious and political federations were often attempted and the Aetolianand Achaean leagues had many of the institutions of federal government.The primacy of the central over the state governments was not resolved inthe United States until after the Civil War. The distribution of powersbetween the federal and state governments is usually accomplished bymeans of a written constitution, for a federation does not exist if authoritycan be allocated by ordinary legislation. A fairly uniform legal system, aswell as cultural and geographic affinities, is usually necessary for thesuccess of a federation. Varieties of federation include the Swiss, where thefederative principle is carried into the executive branch of government; theAustralian, which closely reflects American states rights and judicialdoctrines; and the Canadian, which reverses common federative practiceand allots residuary rights to the dominion government. Other examples offederal governments are the German Empire of 1871 and the present stateof Germany, modern Russia, Mexico, South Africa, and India.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 11:06:46 +0000
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