The definitions of Federalism are often fraught with pitfalls because of their inability to encompass all forms of the particular concept or idea sought to be defined. Generally, the concept of federalism relates to the division of power between national government, and other regional or state governments and sometimes local governments. Such powers may however be shared in various ways, sometimes with a stronger center or with weaker center which is often referred to as co-federalism.
Meaning: Ben Nwabueze defines federalism as an arrangement
whereby powers of government within a country are shared between a national country-wide government and a number of regionalized (i.e. territorially localized) governments in such a way that each exists as a government separately and independently from the others, operating directly on persons and property within its territorial area, with a will of its own and its own apparatus for the conduct of its affairs, and with an authority in some matters exclusive of all others.
Five (5) different principles and issues are involved in this definition.
- Government rather than geographical entities or people as the basis of the federal arrangement.
- Separateness and independence of each government.
- Equality between regional governments.
- Number of regional governments between whom a federal arrangement can meaningfully exist.
- Techniques for the division of powers underlying objective of the federal arrangements
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