federalismo

Federalismo, or federalismo in Portuguese and similar terms in other languages, is a political system in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central government and constituent political units, such as states or regions. In a federal system, both levels typically have directly applicable powers and institutions, and neither can unilaterally abolish the other's competences. The distribution of powers is usually codified in a written constitution that specifies areas of exclusive, concurrent, and residual authority for central and subnational governments. A key feature is the representation of subnational units in some upper chamber of the national legislature, and there are often independent courts with the power to adjudicate intergovernmental disputes and constitutional questions.

Fiscal arrangements, such as tax assignment and transfers, are a central tool of federalism, enabling subnational governments to raise revenues and share responsibilities for public services. Intergovernmental relations, such as councils and commissions, provide channels for coordination and policy alignment across levels.

There are variants: dual federalism emphasizing strict separation of jurisdiction; cooperative federalism with intergovernmental collaboration; and asymmetric federalism where subnational units hold different competences. Confederal arrangements exist when subnational units retain sovereignty and the central authority is weak.

Historical origins: federalism developed in the late 18th and 19th centuries, notably in the United States; the Swiss Confederation; Germany; Canada; Australia; Brazil.

Today federalismo is adopted in many multilingual and diverse states as a means to accommodate regional identities, distribute power, and foster local experimentation, while posing challenges for policy coordination and fiscal balance. It requires durable constitutional design, strong institutions, and effective dispute resolution to function over time.