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A '''federation''' (Latin: foedus, foederis, '[[covenant]]'), also known as a federal state,EKAS.gee is a type of [[sovereign]] [[state]] characterized by a [[union]] of partially [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_state self-governing states]  or regions united by a central (federal) [[government]]. In a federation, the self-governing [[status]] of the component [[states]] is typically [[constitutionally]] entrenched and may not be altered by a unilateral [[decision]] of the central government.

A '''federation''' (Latin: foedus, foederis, '[[covenant]]'), also known as a federal state,EKAS.gee is a type of [[sovereign]] [[state]] characterized by a [[union]] of partially [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_state self-governing states]  or regions united by a central (federal) [[government]]. In a federation, the self-governing [[status]] of the component [[states]] is typically [[constitutionally]] entrenched and may not be altered by a unilateral [[decision]] of the central government.

The [[form]] of [[government]] or [[constitutional]] [[structure]] found in a federation is known as federalism (see also federalism as a [[political]] [[philosophy]]). It can be considered the [[opposite]] of another system, the unitary state. The government of Germany with sixteen federated Länder is an example of a federation, whereas neighboring Austria and its Bundesländer was a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state unitary state] with [[administrative]] divisions that became federated, and neighboring France by contrast has always been unitary.

The [[form]] of [[government]] or [[constitutional]] [[structure]] found in a federation is known as federalism (see also federalism as a [[political]] [[philosophy]]). It can be considered the [[opposite]] of another system, the unitary state. The government of Germany with sixteen federated Länder is an example of a federation, whereas neighboring Austria and its Bundesländer was a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state unitary state] with [[administrative]] divisions that became federated, and neighboring France by contrast has always been unitary.

Federations may be multi-[[ethnic]], or cover a large area of territory, although neither is [[necessarily]] the case. Federations are most often founded on an [[original]] [[agreement]] between a number of [[sovereign]] [[states]] based on [[mutual]] concerns or interests. The initial [[agreements]] create a [[stability]] that [[encourages]] other common interests, brings the disparate territories closer, and gives them all even more common ground. At some time this is [[recognized]] and a movement is organized to merge more closely. Other times, especially when common [[cultural]] factors are at play such as ethnicity and [[language]], some of these steps in this [[pattern]] are expedited and compressed.

Federations may be multi-[[ethnic]], or cover a large area of territory, although neither is [[necessarily]] the case. Federations are most often founded on an [[original]] [[agreement]] between a number of [[sovereign]] [[states]] based on [[mutual]] concerns or interests. The initial [[agreements]] create a [[stability]] that [[encourages]] other common interests, brings the disparate territories closer, and gives them all even more common ground. At some time this is [[recognized]] and a movement is organized to merge more closely. Other times, especially when common [[cultural]] factors are at play such as ethnicity and [[language]], some of these steps in this [[pattern]] are expedited and compressed.

The international council for federal countries, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_of_Federations Forum of Federations], is based in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa Ottawa], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario Ontario]. It helps [[share]] best [[practices]] among countries with federal [[systems]] of [[government]], and currently includes nine countries as [[partner]] [[governments]].

The international council for federal countries, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_of_Federations Forum of Federations], is based in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa Ottawa], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario Ontario]. It helps [[share]] best [[practices]] among countries with federal [[systems]] of [[government]], and currently includes nine countries as [[partner]] [[governments]].

==Federations and other forms of state==

==Federations and other forms of state==

In a federation the component states are regarded as in some sense [[sovereign]], insofar as certain [[powers]] are reserved to them that may not be [[exercised]] by the [[central]] [[government]]. However, a federation is more than a mere loose [[alliance]] of [[independent]] [[states]]. The component states of a federation usually [[possess]] no [[powers]] in [[relation]] to foreign [[policy]] and so they enjoy no [[independent]] [[status]] under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_law international law].

In a federation the component states are regarded as in some sense [[sovereign]], insofar as certain [[powers]] are reserved to them that may not be [[exercised]] by the [[central]] [[government]]. However, a federation is more than a mere loose [[alliance]] of [[independent]] [[states]]. The component states of a federation usually [[possess]] no [[powers]] in [[relation]] to foreign [[policy]] and so they enjoy no [[independent]] [[status]] under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_law international law].

Some federations are called [[asymmetric]] because some states have more [[autonomy]] than others. An example of such a federation is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia Malaysia], in which Sarawak and Sabah entered the federation on [[different]] terms and conditions from the states of Peninsular Malaysia.

Some federations are called [[asymmetric]] because some states have more [[autonomy]] than others. An example of such a federation is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia Malaysia], in which Sarawak and Sabah entered the federation on [[different]] terms and conditions from the states of Peninsular Malaysia.

A federation often [[emerges]] from an initial [[agreement]] between a number of separate states. The [[purpose]] can be the will to solve [[mutual]] [[problems]] or to provide for [[mutual]] [[defense]], or to create a nation state for an [[ethnicity]] spread over several states. The former was the case with the United States and Switzerland, the latter with Germany. However, as the [[history]] of countries and nations varies, the federalist [[system]] of a state can be quite [[different]] from these [[models]]. Australia, for instance, is [[unique]] in that it came into [[existence]] as a [[nation]] by the [[democratic]] [[vote]] of the [[citizens]] of each State who voted "yes" in referendums to adopt the Australian Constitution. Brazil on the other hand, has [[experienced]] both the federal and the unitary state through its [[history]]; some present day States of the Federation retain the borders set during Portuguese colonization (i.e. previous to the very [[existence]] of Brazilian state), whereas the latest State ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocantins_(state) Tocantins]) was [[created]] by the 1988 Constitution, chiefly for [[administrative]] reasons.

A federation often [[emerges]] from an initial [[agreement]] between a number of separate states. The [[purpose]] can be the will to solve [[mutual]] [[problems]] or to provide for [[mutual]] [[defense]], or to create a nation state for an [[ethnicity]] spread over several states. The former was the case with the United States and Switzerland, the latter with Germany. However, as the [[history]] of countries and nations varies, the federalist [[system]] of a state can be quite [[different]] from these [[models]]. Australia, for instance, is [[unique]] in that it came into [[existence]] as a [[nation]] by the [[democratic]] [[vote]] of the [[citizens]] of each State who voted "yes" in referendums to adopt the Australian Constitution. Brazil on the other hand, has [[experienced]] both the federal and the unitary state through its [[history]]; some present day States of the Federation retain the borders set during Portuguese colonization (i.e. previous to the very [[existence]] of Brazilian state), whereas the latest State ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocantins_(state) Tocantins]) was [[created]] by the 1988 Constitution, chiefly for [[administrative]] reasons.

Eight of ten of the world's largest countries by area are governed as federations.

Eight of ten of the world's largest countries by area are governed as federations.

==Unitary states==

==Unitary states==

A [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state unitary state] is sometimes one with only a single, centralised, national tier of [[government]]. However, unitary states often also include one or more self-governing regions. The [[difference]] between a federation and this kind of unitary state is that in a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state unitary state] the [[autonomous]] [[status]] of self-governing regions exists by the sufferance of the central government, and may be unilaterally revoked. While it is common for a federation to be brought into being by [[agreement]] between a number of [[formally]] [[independent]] [[states]], in a unitary state self-governing regions are often created through a [[process]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devolution devolution], where a formerly centralised state agrees to grant [[autonomy]] to a region that was previously entirely subordinate. Thus federations are often [[established]] [[voluntarily]] from 'below' whereas [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devolution devolution] grants self-government from 'above'.

A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state unitary state] is sometimes one with only a single, centralised, national tier of [[government]]. However, unitary states often also include one or more self-governing regions. The [[difference]] between a federation and this kind of unitary state is that in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state unitary state] the [[autonomous]] [[status]] of self-governing regions exists by the sufferance of the central government, and may be unilaterally revoked. While it is common for a federation to be brought into being by [[agreement]] between a number of [[formally]] [[independent]] [[states]], in a unitary state self-governing regions are often created through a [[process]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devolution devolution], where a formerly centralised state agrees to grant [[autonomy]] to a region that was previously entirely subordinate. Thus federations are often [[established]] [[voluntarily]] from 'below' whereas [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devolution devolution] grants self-government from 'above'.

It is often part of the [[philosophy]] of a unitary state that, regardless of the [[actual]] [[status]] of any of its parts, its entire territory [[constitutes]] a single [[sovereign]] [[entity]] or nation-state, and that by [[virtue]] of this the central [[government]] [[exercises]] [[sovereignty]] over the whole territory as of [[right]]. In a federation, on the other hand, [[sovereignty]] is often regarded as residing notionally in the [[component]] states, or as being [[shared]] between these states and the central government.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation]

It is often part of the [[philosophy]] of a unitary state that, regardless of the [[actual]] [[status]] of any of its parts, its entire territory [[constitutes]] a single [[sovereign]] [[entity]] or nation-state, and that by [[virtue]] of this the central [[government]] [[exercises]] [[sovereignty]] over the whole territory as of [[right]]. In a federation, on the other hand, [[sovereignty]] is often regarded as residing notionally in the [[component]] states, or as being [[shared]] between these states and the central government.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation]

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Confederation]]'''''

*'''''[[Confederation]]'''''

[[Category: Political Science]]

[[Category: Political Science]]