Federalism is a widely accepted form of government in North American cultures, although not preferred by all world governments. Out of approximately 200 nations worldwide, only about 20 are federal nations, while the remaining 180 practice unitary forms of government. Unitary forms consist of only one level of government and are popular due to their cost-effectiveness and ability to meet most countries’ needs. Countries like France, the United Kingdom, and Italy use unitary governments when the country is small and homogeneous. On the other hand, federalism tends to be favored by states with large land masses, diverse populations, and regional governments that were hesitant to join a confederation.
Federalism can be defined as a political organization where the government’s activities are divided between regional governments and a federal government. This division of activities is also known as a division of powers specified in a written constitution that determines which level of government holds which power. In Canada, for example, powers are separated into provincial and federal powers. According to the constitution, provinces have sole responsibility for provincial powers such as health care, welfare, and education.However,federal powers are under Ottawa’s jurisdiction encompassing areas such as foreign affairs,currency,military control,and others.
Federalism has a significant history in North America and other parts of the world. The concept can be traced back to the early 1600s, when the Jewish covenant developed a doctrine of federal theology based on mutual obligation between ruler and ruled. This marked the first division of powers and shared control over an area by two levels of government, though it was crude.
A more widely accepted view is that federalism originated with the Declaration of Independence and the gradual confederation of American states in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The United States, as a Federal state, exemplifies this concept. It was implemented due to its vast and diverse population as it was believed to be the best way to unite such a heterogeneous population while protecting regional interests.
Over time, federalism evolved as an ideology and political practice through constant amendments to the constitution resulting in an ever-evolving division of power. As it gained acceptance, federalism underwent reform in various stages relevant to different time periods. The initial stage known as confederalism occurred during the time of the Declaration of Independence where states maintained sovereign power while national government remained weak subject to states’ authority.
The evolution of the power dynamics between states and national government can be observed through different stages.From 1789 to 1861, there was a gradual shift towards dual federalism, where both levels of government had equal authority in their designated areas. From 1861 to 1960, cooperative federalism emerged with an emphasis on shared functions and providing services for taxpayers. Moving into the period from 1960 to 1980, creative federalism highlighted intergovernmental fiscal transfers like transfer payments for healthcare programs. Presently, cooperative federalism is dominant and marked by devolution and deregulation of government operations. This stage has seen various spending cuts influenced by the deficit.
Federal governments have traditionally been successful and offer numerous advantages. Centralized federal government systems allow for the imposition of common values on diverse populations, while still allowing for regional expression. Economic benefits come with larger states, as they have more power in the global market, leading to increased prosperity. Unification also allows for the creation of a strong armed forces for defense purposes, while preventing the rise of an all-powerful central government like Nazi Germany. Federalism also offers flexibility through asymmetrical federalism, where certain regions can take on more responsibility if desired. This uneven distribution of powers allows for accommodating regions with different needs. There are also symmetrical federal governments, which believe in an equal division of powers, further divided into two categories.There are interstate and intrastate governments. In interstate governments, regional matters are delegated to regional governments, while in the intrastate system, regional concerns are represented by regional representatives at the federal level.
Although federalism is generally beneficial, centralizing the government presents a number of challenges. The allocation of powers between the federal and provincial governments emerges as a significant concern. Given the existence of overlapping jurisdictions, conflicts are bound to occur. This overlap results in concurrent powers that are shared by both levels of government. For instance, taxation and transportation are considered concurrent powers in Canada. To resolve these disputes, a constitutional interpretation forum becomes essential. In Canada, this responsibility is fulfilled by the Supreme Court of Canada which serves as the platform for amending the constitution.
The emergence of two types of federal systems, centralized federalism and decentralized federalism, has raised concerns about the power imbalance between state and federal governments. Centralized federalism, as seen in Canada’s government, involves the supremacy of the federal government over regional governments. In contrast, decentralized federalism, exemplified by the United States’ government, is characterized by the dominance of regional governments over the federal government. Striking a balance of power is crucial for a successful federal system to avoid an inflexible and unresponsive administration that disregards regional interests or risks dividing the nation into numerous independent states. Tailoring a power equilibrium that considers each state’s origins and specific ideologies is essential.
Another issue pertains to residual powers – those powers not explicitly assigned in the constitution. In Canada’s system, all residual powers belong to the federal government while America grants these powers to individual states. This distinction further emphasizes Canada’s adoption of centralized federalism compared to decentralized federalism in America’s approach.
Despite not being the preferred choice for many countries, federalism is widely embraced by industrialized and developed nations. It is surprising to note that half of the world’s population resides in federal states, which encompass 51% of Earth’s landmass (Forbes 227).The statistics demonstrate the notable impact that a few federal states have on a worldwide level. In essence, federalism operates with a two-fold representation system at regional and national levels. This setup enables nations to maintain their national identity by keeping specific powers at the national level, while also assuring representation at regional levels through local governments that tackle regional issues.
Forbes, H.D. Canadian Political Thought, Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1988.
Jackson, Robert J., Doreen Jackson, Political Science: Comparative and World Politics, third ed., Scarborough, Ontario, Prentice Hall, 1997.
In 1975, Patricia M. Marchak wrote a book titled “Ideological Perspectives on Canada” and it was published in Toronto by McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited.
Wijemanne, Adrian, Nationalism, Federalism, and Realism, 1997. http://www.eng.carleton.ca/-/sutha/analysis/fed_nat.html
Winchester, David, Constitutionalism Lecture, November 21, 1999
Diamon and Wright, History of US federalism1996 http://w3.satelin.net/-kala/fed/history/html
Bibliography:federallism
