Federación

A federation is a political system in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central government and constituent political units, such as states, provinces, or cantons. In a federation, both levels of government derive authority from the same constitution and share power in a way that neither is wholly sovereign.

Key features include a written constitution, a formal division of powers (federal powers, concurrent powers, and residual powers), and mechanisms for resolving intergovernmental disputes. The central government typically handles national defense, foreign policy, monetary policy, and regulation of interstate or interregional matters, while subnational units manage areas like education, health, and local governance. Fiscal federalism, which involves revenue sharing and transfers, aims to balance resources and responsibilities across levels of government. Intergovernmental councils or courts often arbitrate conflicts over jurisdiction.

Federations vary in practice. Notable examples include the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, India, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Switzerland and Belgium are frequently cited for strong regional autonomy within a federal framework. Spain is often described as a quasi-federal or devolved unitary state, with autonomous communities that hold substantial powers but operate within a centralized constitutional structure.

A key distinction is between federations and confederations. In a confederation, member states retain primary sovereignty and delegate limited powers to a central authority. By contrast, in a federation sovereignty is divided at the constitutional level, and both central and regional governments have direct authority from the constitution. Federal systems can adapt through constitutional amendments or judicial decisions, though such changes often require broad consensus.

Federation aims to accommodate regional diversity while maintaining national unity, but it can face challenges such as intergovernmental deadlock, fiscal imbalances, and tensions between central authority and regional autonomy.