Question

In ‘holding together federations’, which government tends to be more powerful?
A.Central
B.State
C.Sometimes central sometimes state
D.Both have equal power

Answer 1

Hint: Federalism is a form of territorial organisation in which unity and regional diversity are accommodated with a single political system by distributing power among the central and state governments in a manner constitutionally safeguarding the existence and authority of each. It is done for a dual purpose—that of limiting the possibility of a tyranny of the majority and of generating strength through the union.

Complete answer: Some federations emerge when various politically sovereign entities unite for defined purposes of common interest and create the federal state. This is called coming together federation. Some federations are not a result of an agreement of various states rather a division of a federating unit for convenience of administration. This is called holding together a federation.
Option A: is correct. In a holding together federation, the central government has more power than state governments. One of the most significant aspects of this is in India, which is a holding together federation, there is one Constitution, the final interpreter of which is the Supreme Court at the centre.
Option B: is incorrect. In a coming together federation, state governments sometimes tend to be more powerful than the central government. An aspect of this is how in the USA, which is coming together as a federation, there are separate constitutions for each state which are interpreted by the state courts.
Options C and D: are incorrect because although a federal arrangement has been created to meet the basic requirements of federalism, there are additional unitary features that make the central government more powerful.

Note: In India, which is a holding together federation, there is a clear cut well-defined division of powers between the Union and state-level governments. This division of power is mentioned in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution which contains three lists with legislative subjects: Union List, State List and Concurrent List. The subjects which are not included in either of these three lists are known as residuary powers.