Federalism Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˌfɛdˈɛrəlɪzəm/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A system of government where power is distributed between a central authority, such as a federal government, and smaller regional or local governments, such as states or provinces.

Examples

• The United States is a federalist system, with both a federal government and state governments.
• In a federal system, the central government handles issues of national importance, while states handle issues specific to their region.

Synonyms

• Federal government
• Decentralization

Antonyms

• Unitary government
• Monarchy

Etymology

The term “federalism” comes from the Latin “foedus,” meaning “covenant” or “treaty,” and “ismus,” a suffix forming names of systems or doctrines.

Additional Information

Federalism is a common system of government used in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and Germany. It is often used to balance the power of a central government with the needs and desires of regional or local communities. Federalism can take many forms, including presidential, parliamentary, and semi-presidential systems.

Usage Notes

Federalism is most commonly used in political or academic contexts to describe a system of government or a political ideology. It can also be used more broadly to describe any system or structure that involves cooperation or compromise between different levels of government or authority.

Cultural References

The concept of federalism has been referenced in several movies and TV shows, including “The Simpsons” and “House of Cards.”

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

There are no commonly used idiomatic expressions or phrases that include the word “federalism.”

Related Words or Phrases

Related words or phrases include federal government, federal system, federalism, and decentralization.

Collocations

Common collocations with the term “federalism” include “system of government,” “central authority,” “regional autonomy,” and “local governance.”

Frequency of Use

Federalism is a relatively common term in political and academic contexts, and it is often used to describe a system of government or a political ideology. However, it is not commonly used in everyday conversation.

Common Misspellings

Common misspellings of “federalism” include “federalist,” “federalistic,” and “federalist system.”