federationen

Federationen, or federations, are political entities in which a union of multiple subnational units maintains a degree of sovereignty while delegating certain competences to a central authority. In a federation, powers are distributed by a constitution or equivalent fundamental law, with some issues handled at the national level and others within regional or cantonal governments.

Typical features include a division of powers, a central government responsible for matters such as defense, foreign policy, and macroeconomic policy, and regional legislatures or courts that represent subnational interests. Many federations feature a constitutional framework that requires both levels of government to cooperate and a judiciary to settle disputes between them. Representation in the national legislature can combine population-based and region-based elements.

Federationen have arisen in different historical contexts, often to accommodate diverse populations within a single political project. Classic examples include the United States, Germany, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland. India and Russia also operate federal systems with substantial regional autonomy. Some federations developed from unions of previously independent states; others emerged from a unitary state through constitutional reforms.

Variations exist in the degree of centralization, fiscal arrangements, and the level of autonomy granted to subnational units. Asymmetrical federations grant different powers to regions. The term is sometimes contrasted with confederations, where the central authority is weaker, and with unitary states, where central government holds most powers. Federationen reflect ongoing balance between unity and regional self-government in diverse societies.