Federalism

Document Outline

• Contents
• 1. Introduction
  • Advantages and risks
• 2. What is the issue?
  •  Figure 2.1. Federalism as unity in diversity 
• 3. Advantages and disadvantages of federalism
  •  The rationale for federalism 
    •  Scale
    •  Diversity
  •  Coming together and holding together 
  •  Other potential advantages of federalism 
    •  Federal government is rooted in constitutionalism and pluralism 
    •  The power-sharing base is broadened 
    •  Innovative and pragmatic approaches to policy development are encouraged 
    •  The burden on central authorities is reduced 
    •  Resources are shared across geographical space 
    •  Capacities and democratic responsibilities are developed 
  •  Potential disadvantages of federalism 
    •  Duplication of work and lack of coherence 
    •  Additional operating costs
    •  Increasing regional discrepancies of wealth, resources and outcomes 
    •  Harmful economic competition between subnational units
    •  Judicialization of politics
    •  Potential exclusion of minorities
    •  The strengthening of local elites who misuse power
    •  Ineffective governance because of a lack of capacity 
    •  Instability and threats to democracy
• 4. Distribution of powers
  •  Distribution of legislative powers
    •  Lists of legislative competences 
    •  Supremacy 
    •  Residual powers
    •  Transfer of legislative competences
  •  Distribution of executive powers 
  •  Which powers should be exercised at which level? 
    • Table 4.1. Distribution of powers in selected federal (or quasi-federal) countries
  •  Socio-economic effects of the distribution of powers
  •  Development and availability 
    •  Competitive versus cooperative federalism
• 5. Asymmetrical federalism
  •  Symmetry and asymmetry 
  •  Government of territories and dependencies 
    •  Capital territories
• 6. The boundaries of constituent units
  • How much discretion do constitution-builders have?
    • Table 6.1. Factors to be considered in drawing the boundaries of constituent units
  • Should boundaries reflect cultural communities?
  • Should a constitution specify boundaries?
• 7. Institutions of government within constituent units
  •  Subnational constitutions and institutional structures 
    •  Forms and structures of democracy at the subnational level 
    •  Particular constitutions for each constitutent unit 
    •  National-level regulation of subnational institutions 
    •  Regulation of subnational institutions by special statutes 
• 8. Fiscal federalism
  •  Tax collection and revenue sharing 
    •  Full fiscal autonomy 
    •  Division of revenue-raising powers 
    •  Borrowing powers 
    •  Mandated sharing of revenues 
    •  Federal grants and loans 
  •  Institutionalizing flexibility: finance commissions 
• 9. Federalism and the constitution as a whole
  •  Constitutional supremacy and constitutional amendment rules
  •  Participation of subnational units in national legislation and policymaking 
  •  Executive and judicial institutions
    •  Executive institutions 
    •  Judicial institutions 
  •  Scrutiny, oversight and fourth-branch institutions 
  •  Emergency intervention by the federal government 
• 10. Possible alternatives to federalism
  •  Other forms of macro-decentralization (quasi-federalism) 
    •  Confederation
    •  Devolution 
    •  Regionalism 
    •  Special autonomy (also known as federacy or home rule)
    •  Form and substance 
    •  Table 10.1. Federalism and alternative forms of macro-decentralization 
  •  Stronger micro-decentralization (local government)
  •  Non-territorial (cultural) autonomy, proportional representation and veto powers
    •  Non-territorial autonomy 
    •  Proportional representation 
    •  Minority veto powers 
  •  Secession 
• 11. Decision-making questions
• References
• Annex
  •  About the author
  • About International IDEA
  • About this series