Federalism: 1947-2017 Journey

Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and individual states or regions. This distribution of authority allows for a dual government structure, where both levels have distinct powers and responsibilities. Federalism aims to balance national unity with regional autonomy, promoting a more flexible and adaptable governance model.

From 1947 to 2017, not only did the boundaries of states change, but in some instances, even their names were altered according to the wishes of the people residing in those states. 

Maps narrating the story of the functioning of Federalism in India:

Federalism: Understanding Meaning, Power Division

• Meaning: It’s a vertical division of power among different levels of government most commonly known as a system of governance.
• Division of Power: It is a System of Government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country. 
• Flexible Principles: It does not consist of a set of fixed principles which are applied to different historical situations.
• Manage Situation: Rather, the system of government has evolved differently in different situations. 
• Example: American federalism, one of the first major attempts to build a federal polity, is different from German or Indian federalism.

Nature of Federalism: Understanding the Dynamics of National and State Governments

• Usually, a federation has two levels of government:
  • National Government: One is the government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few subjects of common national interest. 
  • State Government: The others are governments at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day-to-day administering of their state. 
• Both these levels of government enjoy their power independent of the other.

Formation of Federalism: ‘Coming Together’ and ‘Holding Together’ Models Explained

• Federations can be formed in the following two ways:
• ‘Coming together’ federations (e.g., USA, Switzerland): Independent States come together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling sovereignty and retaining identity, they can increase their security.
• ‘Holding together’ federations (e.g., India, Spain): In this, a large country decides to divide its power between the constituent states and the national government. 
  • Here the Central Government tends to be more powerful than the States.  

Features of Federalism: Understanding Citizenship and Power Division in Dual-Government Systems

• Set-up: Institutional mechanism characterized by two sets of polities—one at the Regional level and the other at the National level. 
  • Each government is autonomous in its own sphere.
• Citizenship: System of dual citizenship in a few federal countries (for example, USA). 
  • India has only a single citizenship.
• Identities: Two sets of identities and loyalties for people—they belong to the region as well as the nation.
• Separate Government: Each level of the polity has distinct powers and responsibilities and has a separate system of government.
• Written Constitution: The details of this dual system of government are generally spelt out in a written constitution, which is considered to be supreme, and which is also the source of the power of both sets of government. 
• Power Division: Division of subjects between union and regional governments. 
• Example: Defence or currency, are the responsibility of the union or central government. 
  • Regional or local matters are the responsibility of the regional or State government.
• Independent Judiciary:  To settle disputes between center & state regarding legal matters about the division of power.

Working of Federalism: Comparing Governance Models, Dispute Resolution, and Power Sharing for Unity and Diversity

• Government Models: Federalism and Unitary Governments present distinct governance models.
• Unitary Model: In a Unitary system, the central government holds authority over sub-units, issuing directives. 
• Federal Model: Conversely, the federal system entails multiple government tiers, each with defined jurisdiction outlined in the constitution, ensuring mutual recognition and legal guarantee. 
  • Notably, essential constitutional alterations necessitate consent from both tiers. 
• Dispute Resolution: Further in the system, Courts mediate disputes between government levels, upholding constitutionally assigned powers. 
• Financial Autonomy: Revenue sources are allocated to ensure financial autonomy.
• Power Sharing: The system strives for unity while acknowledging regional diversity, requiring power-sharing rules and mutual trust.