Federalism

Abstract

Federalism refers to a set of institutional arrangements dividing power between a central government and regional governments. The term also refers to a philosophy of government that advocates federal arrangements as a desirable system of government. The relationship between federalism and related terms such as unitary government, federal system, and intergovernmental relations is clarified. The normative and empirical branches of the study of federalism are distinguished. Major arguments for and against federal systems of government are reviewed. Empirical studies of federalism are divided into those focusing on description and those focusing on causality. Within the descriptive realm, the core features of federal systems are delineated, and major federal systems of government are listed. Scholarly efforts to characterize variation within federal systems are described. The causes of the formation and dissolution of federal systems are discussed, along with efforts to understand the causes and consequences of change within federal systems. Areas likely to be of particular emphasis in future research are indicated.