Politika

An australian republic The ule distinguishes federal states from unitary states. It is also the most formal component of the definition, in the sense that it is grounded in constitutional or at least statutory law, while rules two and three may also be the product of norms. The second rule distinguishes between federal states according to the allocation of resources to the federal and state levels of government. Federal institutions differ in their allocation of power between the federal and state levels of government. The power of a level of government is a function of its constitutionally assigned jurisdictions and its ability to discharge these tasks. The centralisation of public finances is an efficient indicator of the allocation of resources, or power. The third rule also distinguishes between federal states, on the basis of whether joint decision making occurs between the federal and state governments, due to a federal institutional design that structures a high degree of state involvement in federal decision making. This definition of federalism purposely avoids stipulating an ideal institutional arrangement for federalism. The most obvious omission here is the requirement for a bicameral legislature. Almost all federations feature bicameralism. Inductively, this may establish bicameralism as a defining feature of federalism. Not all upper houses produce the same effects, however: some have weak powers while others are strong; some structure intergovernmental cooperation while others do not. This general definition identifies the two key dimensions along which federal systems vary – the allocation of power and resources and the requirement for intergovernmental co-operation – and uses these as the common ground for a comparative study of federalism. Examining federations in terms of their institutional effects allows us to predict political behaviour based on the incentives and choices that are structured by the institutional environment. THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES BETWEEN THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS Governments derive power from the competence to legislate in a policy area, and, to a lesser extent, from the responsibility to imple