A federal government is a system of governance in which power is divided between a central national government and multiple regional or state governments. These regional governments have some degree of autonomy but are connected to and subordinate to the central government within a constitutional framework
. In the United States, the federal government is the national government established by the U.S. Constitution. It is composed of three distinct branches:
- Legislative branch (Congress) – responsible for making laws
- Executive branch (President and administration) – responsible for enforcing laws
- Judicial branch (federal courts, including the Supreme Court) – responsible for interpreting laws
The U.S. Constitution defines the powers of the federal government and reserves all other powers to the states and the people under the Tenth Amendment. The federal government handles national matters such as defense, foreign policy, currency, and interstate commerce, while states govern local issues
. Federalism, the principle underlying a federal government, allows for democratic representation at both the national and regional levels, with each level having defined powers and responsibilities. This system is used in large, diverse countries to balance unity with regional autonomy
. Other countries, like Germany, also have federal governments where a central government coexists with state governments. In Germany, the Federal Chancellor and federal ministers form the cabinet, and the federal government is distinct from the governments of the 16 federal states
. In summary, a federal government is a political system that divides sovereignty between a central authority and constituent political units, allowing for shared governance and autonomy within a unified nation.
