Concept
Federalism
Overview
Federalism is a mode of government that combines a general level of government (a central or federal government) with a regional level of sub-unit governments (e.g., counties, provinces, states, cantons, territories, etc.), while dividing the powers of governing between the two levels of governments.
Johannes Althusius (1563–1638) is considered the father of modern federalism, along with Montesquieu. By 1748, in his treatise The Spirit of Law, Montesquieu (1689–1755) observed various examples of federalist governments: in corporate societies, in the polis bringing villages together, and in cities themselves forming confederations. In the modern era, federalism was first adopted by a union of the states of the Old Swiss Confederacy as of the mid-14th century.
Federalism differs from confederalism, where the central government is created subordinate to the regional states—and is notable for its regional separation of governing powers (e.g., in the United States, the Articles of Confederation as the general level of government of the original Thirteen Colonies). Federalism also differs from the unitary state, where the regional level is subordinate to the central government, even after a devolution of powers (e.g., the United Kingdom).
Examples of federalism today include: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Iraq, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. At a multi-state level, the European Union has been characterized by some as a federation.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
The minority, having no other means of ruling the majority, will give a price for auxiliaries, and that price must be principle. It is true that the federalists, needing their numbers also, must also give a price, and principle is the coin they must pay in. Thus a bastard system of federo-republicanism will rise on the ruins of the true principles of our revolution. And when this party is formed, who will constitute…
Thomas Jefferson, Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 4
Names Federalism several times; opens on Federalism.
Morality consists then in the reference of all action to the legislation which alone can render a kingdom of ends possible. This legislation must be capable of existing in every rational being and of emanating from his will, so that the principle of this will is never to act on any maxim which could not without contradiction be also a universal law and, accordingly, always so to act that the will could at the same…
Immanuel Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals
States what Federalism is; the author is tied to Federalism in the knowledge graph.
When the citizens at large govern for the public good, it is called a state; which is also a common name for all other governments, and these distinctions are consonant to reason; for it will not be difficult to find one person, or a very few, of very distinguished abilities, but almost impossible to meet with the majority [1279b] of a people eminent for every virtue; but if there is one common to a whole nation it…
Aristotle, Politics
States what Federalism is.
Philosophers who discussed Federalism
Related ideas
- Yale University Press
- Distribution of wealth
- Germany
- Classical Greece
- Anarchism
- Government
- Princeton University Press
- German Empire
- Galicia (Spain)
- German Confederation
- India
- Immanuel Kant
- Statism
- James Madison
- Constitutional Convention (United States)
- Latin
- Ethiopia
- Argentina
- Autonomy
- United States House of Representatives
- Delian League
- Unitary state
- Nationalism
- Oligarchy
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Anarchism.