SS1 Second Term Government Lesson Note – Types and Characteristics of Government: Federal Government

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WEEK:  2                                                     

TOPIC: TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF GOVERNMENT (CONT.) FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:

CONTENT: 

1. Definition of Federalism.
2. Reasons for Federating.
3. Characteristics of federal system.
4. Resource control in a federal system
5. Merit and demerit of federalism.

Sub-Topic 1: DEFINITION OF FEDERALISM AND REASONS FOR FEDERATING.

Definition of Federalism

A federal system of government can be defined as one in which governmental powers that exist in the country are shared between a central government that represent the whole country and government of component regions or states, so that each government is legally and constitutionally independent and autonomous.

It does not mean that powers are shared equally between the central government and government of the component regions or state. Countries that practice federalism adopt federal constitution. Examples of countries that adopt federalism include; U.S.A., Nigeria, Federal Republic of Germany, Brazil, Switzerland, Australia, Yugoslavia, India among others.

The powers of the government are assigned constitutionally among the states and central government. The powers are usually referred to as legislative lists. Under the federal exclusive legislative lists in Nigeria are the federal civil service, mining, defense, foreign policy, currency and banking, aviation, immigration, police, customs, and prisons. Only the central government can legislate on the subjects in the exclusive lists. Concurrent list of power are areas where powers are shared jointly by both the central and state government. In case there is conflict of laws made by both governments, the central government laws will supersede that of the state government. Subject matters on concurrent list include health, education, agriculture, roads, housing etc. Residual powers are powers not included in either the exclusive list or the concurrent lists, and this rest in the states. Matters in the residual lists include chieftaincy matters, local governments, markets, etc.

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