Federalism
Features of Federalism:
- There are two or more levels of Govt.
- Different tiers of Govt. govern the same citizens, but each
tier has its own jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation,
taxation and administration.
- The jurisdictions of the respective levels or tiers of Govt are
specified in the constitution.
- Require the consent of both the levels of Govt.
- Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the
powers of different levels of Govt.
- An ideal federal system has both aspects: mutual trust and
agreement to live together.
- The first route involves independent states coming together
on their own to form a bigger unit.
- The second route is where a large country decides to divide
its power between the constituent states and the national
Govt.
Federalism in India:
- The constitution originally provided for a two tier system of
Govt the union Govt. or what we call the Central Govt,
representing the union of India and the state Govt. later, a
third tier of federalism was added in the form of Panchayats
and Municipalities.
- Constitution clearly provided a three fold distribution of
legislative powers between the union Govt and the state Govt :
1. Union list: Defence, Finance, External Affairs,
Banking etc.
2. State List: Police, Trade, Commerce, Agriculture etc.
3. Concurrent List: Education, Forest, Trade Union, Marriage,
Divorce etc.
Features of Federalism:
- There are two or more levels of Govt.
- Different tiers of Govt. govern the same citizens, but each
tier has its own jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation,
taxation and administration.
- The jurisdictions of the respective levels or tiers of Govt are
specified in the constitution.
- Require the consent of both the levels of Govt.
- Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the
powers of different levels of Govt.
- An ideal federal system has both aspects: mutual trust and
agreement to live together.
- The first route involves independent states coming together
on their own to form a bigger unit.
- The second route is where a large country decides to divide
its power between the constituent states and the national
Govt.
Federalism in India:
- The constitution originally provided for a two tier system of
Govt the union Govt. or what we call the Central Govt,
representing the union of India and the state Govt. later, a
third tier of federalism was added in the form of Panchayats
and Municipalities.
- Constitution clearly provided a three fold distribution of
legislative powers between the union Govt and the state Govt :
1. Union list: Defence, Finance, External Affairs,
Banking etc.
2. State List: Police, Trade, Commerce, Agriculture etc.
3. Concurrent List: Education, Forest, Trade Union, Marriage,
Divorce etc.
