Comparing Federal Systems in the 1990s Ronald L. Watts Institute of Queen’s University Intergovernmental Kingston, Ontario Relations Canada K7L 3N6Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Watts, Ronald L. Comparing federal systems in the 1990s Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-88911-589-3 1. Federal government, 2. Comparative government. I. Queen’s University (Kingston, Ont.). Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, U. Title. 3C355.W28 1996 321.02 C96-932464-2 © Copyright 1996Contents List of Tables ..... Vii Foreword... Preface and Summary Acknowledgements 1. INTRODUCTION... 1.1 The Relevance of Comparisons 1.2 A Brief History of Federalism 1.3. The Relevance of Federalism in the 1990s 1.4 Definition of Terms and Principles of Federalism .. 1.5 _ Issues in the Design and Operation of Federations 1.6 Criteria for the Selection of Federations Considered in this Study 2. OVERVIEW OF THE FEDERATIONS COMPARED. IN THIS STUDY... 2.1 Established Federations in Developed Countries United States of America (1789) Switzerland (1848) Canada (1867)... Australia (1901. Austria (1920). Germany (1949)...