Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Federal democracies are systems of government where power is divided between central authorities and regional or state governments. Both levels have their own areas of jurisdiction.
Related terms
Unitary system: In contrast to federalism, unitary systems concentrate power at the national level with little or no autonomy for regional governments.
This term refers to transferring some powers from central authorities to regional or local governments within a country.
Confederation: A loose association of states or regions with limited central authority. It grants more autonomy to individual members compared to federalism.