On the basis of division of powers between the central government and regional or state governments, the governments are classified as unitary and federal. A federal government is one where the powers are divided between the union government and states by the constitution itself. According to Garner, “Federal government can be defined as a system of central and local governments combined under a common sovereignty, both the central and local governments being supreme within definite spheres, marked out for them by the general constitution or by the act of parliament which creates them.”
The federal form of government has been adopted in most of the big countries like the USA, Australia, Canada, India etc. The problems faced by federal governments today are examined under the following points.
A federation is a complex system of government which involves a detailed division of powers and dual administration and justice. All federations face a major problem to ensure a clear cut and settled division of power between the union and the federating units.
Due to division of powers and dual administration, the disputes between the centre and states and between the states are common. There is always a problem of satisfactory settlement of these disputes.
The federation involves dual system of administration and justice for a single political system. This creates problem of co-ordination among states as well as central and state governments. India always faces a problem of co-ordination between the central agencies and state machinery in the field of law and order
A federal government faces the problem of correcting regional imbalances.
In federal government, the problems of national unity and integrity, delay in decision making and weak central government are common due to the very nature of federal governmen
The problem arising from the need to make quick decisions and to secure a full mobilization of resources particularly during times of an emergency.
