federalisms
Power-sharing governmental structures
Federalisms refers to multiple varieties, instances, or theories of federal government—systems where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units like states or provinces.
Political scientists might compare different federalisms across nations or analyze competing federalisms within constitutional law.
The plural highlights that federalism takes many forms: American federalism differs from German or Swiss federalism in how it balances national and regional power.
Distributing power from center
- power-sharingJointly held governmental authority
- subsidiarityLocal authority when able
- devolutionTransferring power locally
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
sovereignty · intergovernmental · bicameralism · separation · constitutional · jurisdictions · multilevel · self-rule
Not identical on both sides
- symmetricEqual on both sides
- centripetalMoving toward center
- centrifugalDirected away from axis
- competitiveDriven by rivalry
Stacked frosted dessert
- permissiveTolerant, lacking strictness
- coerciveUsing pressure to compel
- polycentricHaving several centers
- pluralistBeliever in diverse coexistence
dual · integrated · Riker · normative · descriptive
decentralization
Distributing power from center
- power-sharingJointly held governmental authority
- subsidiarityLocal authority when able
- devolutionTransferring power locally
autonomy · sovereignty · intergovernmental · bicameralism · separation · constitutional · jurisdictions · multilevel · self-rule · competences
asymmetric
Not identical on both sides
- symmetricEqual on both sides
- centripetalMoving toward center
- centrifugalDirected away from axis
layer-cake
Stacked frosted dessert
- permissiveTolerant, lacking strictness
- coerciveUsing pressure to compel
- polycentricHaving several centers
pluralist · dual · integrated · Riker · normative · descriptive
federalismscentralism
Central authority doctrine
centralization · centralized government · central control · central authority · centralized authority
federalismsseparatism
Advocacy for political breakaway
secession · balkanization · disunion · devolution · localism
- The Federalist PapersEssays urging ratification, 1787-1788
- Federalist PapersFounding-era persuasive essays
- The FederalistEssays advocating constitutional ratification
- Federalist PartyEarly American political organization
federalism, federalist, federalists, federalise, federalised, antifederalist