ADDIS COLLEGE

Department of Construction and Technology Management

Civic and Ethical Education

Group assignment
 January, 2019

1. Federalism and its types

Federalism is the mixed or compound mode of government, combining a general government

(the central or 'federal' government) with regional governments (provincial, state, cantonal, territorial or other
sub-unit governments) in a single political system.

Leading examples of the federation or federal state include India, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Russia,
Germany, Canada, Switzerland, Argentina, and Australia. Some also today characterize the European Union
as the pioneering example of federalism in a multi-state setting, in a concept termed the federal union of
states.

Based on their formation federal states are divided in to two.

A. Holding Together Federation: is one where a large country decides to divide its power between the
constituent states and the national government like India, Belgium and Spain.
B.  Coming Together Federation: involves independent states coming together to form a bigger unit all
constituent units have equal power like in USA.

Other forms of federalism include:

 Dual Federalism is the idea that the union and the state share power but the Federal Government holds
more than the individual states. This is currently how the U.S. system works.
 Fiscal Federalism is the type of Federalism in which the money bag controls everything. This gives
Congress massive amounts of power as it is responsible for the American treasury.
 Creative Federalism is common in the United States even now, while New Federalism was dominant
type of governmental federalism from 1960 to 1980, and particularly during the Johnson administration
in the 1960's. 
 Ethnic federalism is a federal system of national government in which the federated units are defined
according to ethnicity. Related terms are multi-ethnic federalism and ethnofederalism. This type of
federation is identified above all with the regime of Meles Zenawi from the 1990s in Ethiopia, where it
has sometimes been known as Zenawism.

2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism

A. Advantages
 In Federalism there is a Natural Checks and Balances System in Place: When focused on
federalism, no individual group or person will have too much power because power is divided between
entities, which forces cooperation in order for things to get done.
 More People Can Be Involved in the Governing Process: It allows people to get more involved in local
and state governments. This includes membership on school boards, county seats, and many others.
 Diffusing Power: Serves as a means to make sure that all power is not centralized into a single person or
group of people, since excessive power among a single group tends to be corrupting.
 Other Advantages of Federalism includes: Prevents secession, Flexibility increases, Innovation grows,
Recognizes local differences and interests, Local autonomy, A vital Congress, Promotes a certain amount
of competition among different jurisdiction.

B. Disadvantages
 There is Less Focus on Large Issues: Because federalism can create population centers that are focused
on meeting their own needs, no emphasis is often placed on the bigger issues that can occur at either state
or national levels.
 Devising National Policies Can Be More Difficult: National policy is usually developed from local
policies, and there are always dozens of different perspectives.
 Jurisdiction Questions Can Arise: These jurisdictional questions can be confusing and complex, and
there are not always clear answers to which jurisdiction should be allowed to settle the matter.
 Other Disadvantages of Federalism includes: The possibility of an inefficient government, Lack of
accountability, Obstructiveness, Policies that are not uniform in nature, It protects local groups that are
very powerful, It can cause some harmful spillover effects, Nationalism can be weakened, It can make
the political parties weak, It can lead to a parochial Congress
3. Differences between Unitary, Federal and Con- federal State
structures

The difference between the three main types of systems, unitary, federal, and a confederation, is the amount
of power each system gives to the central government.

In a unitary system, the central government is all-powerful, and has the last say in matters. A unitary system
can still have regional and local governments, like Great Britain and France, but the central government
oversees these regional and local governments, and their powers are given to them by the central
government.

A federal system is a system in which the central government and regional and local governments share
power. In a federal system the states have a lot of power to govern themselves, particularly when it comes to
laws regarding individual citizens

A confederation is a government where the states or regional governments have more power than the central
government. Each state/regional government has all the powers of an individual country--they can raise a
military force, print their own money, handle diplomatic relationships with other countries, tax their citizens,
etc.

4. The differences Between Diversity and Pluralism

Diversity is the existence of different cultures in a country. Diversity refers to all the differences that exist
between people.

Pluralism is a social system based on mutual respect for each other's cultures among various groups that
make up a society. Pluralism is the engagement that creates a common society from all.

5. Unity in diversity or Diversity in unity

Unity in diversity is a concept of unity without uniformity and diversity without fragmentation. Diversity is
something natural that cannot be avoided. Therefore, if we cannot avoid it, we must learn to live with it in
tolerance and respect for our differences.

Diversity in unity however explains that no matter how unified we seem in culture, there are always some
differences to give emphasis.

The importance of unity in diversity is creating harmony and peace which is the basis for development.