A federal state is one that brings together a number of different political communities with a common government for common purposes, and separate "state" or "provincial" or "cantonal" governments for the particular purposes of each community. The United States of America, Canada, Australia and Switzerland are all federal states. Federalism combines unity with diversity. It provides, as Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister, said, "A general government and legislature for general purposes with local governments and legislatures for local purposes."
External Link
[on How Canadians Govern Themselves - Federal State (http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/idb/forsey/fed_state_01-e.asp|parl.gc.ca)]
The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, the country's federal constitution, stipulates that the structure of each FederalState's government must "conform to the principles of republican, democratic, and social government, based on the rule of law" (Article 28[1]).
The relationship between the legislative and executive branches mirrors that in the federal system: the legislatures are popularly elected for four or five years (depending on the state), and the Minister-President is then chosen by a majority vote among the Landtag's members.
State elections are viewed as a barometer of support for the policies of the federal government.
The government of the United States, established by the U.S. Constitution, is a federal republic of 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and many insular areas, the largest of which are Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam.
The laws of the United States are contained in federal legislation, collected in the U.S. Code; regulations adopted by administrative agencies empowered to do so by legislation; and judicial and agency decisions interpreting the statutes and regulations.
The United States courts of appeals are "appellate courts" that hear appeals of cases decided by the district courts, and some direct appeals from administrative agencies.
Feeds |
Contact