Federal System
Classification of System
- Unitary Government
- Most of the powers only with government at the centre
- Single Government
- Maybe written or unwritten
- No division of Power
- Constitution may(Japan) or may not(Britain) be supreme
- Constitution may(France) or may not(Britain) be rigid
- Judiciary may or may not be independent
- Bicameral (Britain) or Unicameral (China) Legislature
- Federal Government
- Distributed powers with centre and state, both operate in their respective jurisdiction
- Dual Government
- Written Constitution
- Division of Power
- Supremacy of Constitution
- Rigid Constitution
- Independent Judiciary
- Bicameral Legislature
Reason for Federal System
- Large size of Country
- Cultural diversity
The word “Federation” is not used rather “Union of States” is used in the Constitution
- India is not a result of agreement amongst states
- States have no right to secede
Features of Federal Government
- Dual Polity
- At Centre
- At State
- Written Constitution
- Division of Powers
- Union List (100)
- State List (61)
- Concurrent List (52)
- Supremacy of Constitution
- Law of Land
- Judicial Review
- Rigid Constitution
- Independent Judiciary
- Disputes between centre and state
- Security of Tenure of Judges
- Bicameralism
- Two houses
Unitary Features adopted by India
- Strong Centre
- States not Indestructible
- Single Constitution
- Flexibility of Constitution
- No equality of State representation
- Emergency Provisions
- Single Citizenship
- Integrated Judiciary
- Supreme Court > High Court > Subordinate Courts
- All India Services
- Integrated Audit Machinery
- Parliament’s Authority over State List
- Appointment of Governor
- Integrated Election Machinery
- Election Commission conducts both Central and State elections
- State EC conducts local elections
- Veto over State Bills