Federal System
A system where power is constitutionally divided between a central government and regional governments (states, provinces, Länder).
Explanation
In a federal system, the constitution divides governing authority between a national government and subnational units (states, provinces, cantons, or Länder). Each level of government has its own elected officials, courts, and areas of jurisdiction that cannot be overridden by the other level. This contrasts with unitary states, where all power ultimately belongs to the central government and local authorities exist at its discretion. Federal systems include the United States, Germany, Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, and Switzerland. Federalism is typically adopted by large or diverse countries to accommodate regional differences.
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