Chapter Two: Some Common Features among federations

Chapter Two Some Common Features Among Federations

Federalism and Federations?

- Federation and federalism are two separate concepts, each describing different aspects of federal theory

Federalism:- an ideology or Value concept

• It Includes philosophical perspectives
• Organized principles which advocates ‘a multi- tiered’ government
• joining together some autonomous units

Cont’d

• Combines – element of shared rule for some purposes and regional self-rule for some other purposes
• Federations – an empirical reality

- descriptive system referring the actual system of governance

• Refers to tangible institutional and structural facts and techniques for achieving the goals of federalism

- Federalism as an ideology, federations as a political institutions, should employ that the two are related.

Cont’d

• Common Features

1. At least two orders of Government

- one for the whole country

- the other for the regions

- Each government has direct electorate relationships with its citizens

Cont’d

• Sub national units have many names

States- Australia

- Brazil

- Ethiopia

- India

- Malaysia

- Mexico

- Nigeria

- USA

Cont’d

• Provinces – Argentina

- Canada

- Pakistan

- South Africa

Lander – Germany

- Austria

Cantons – Switzerland

Regional Communities- Belgium

Cont’d

2. Written and Supreme constitution

• Federal systems presupposes a compact between and among the constituent units
• desires both unity and diversity
• such type of compact is a result of a long process of bargaining as concluded by mutual consent of all those involved