federalism
federalism Lexical Profile
federalism Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A system of government in which sovereignty and political power are constitutionally divided between a central national authority and constituent regional units, such as states or provinces.
"The country's constitution establishes a system of federalism that grants individual provinces significant control over education and healthcare."
Advocacy of or adherence to the principles of a federal system of government.
"Alexander Hamilton and James Madison wrote a series of essays defending federalism to persuade citizens to ratify the new constitution."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American political history, 'Federalism' (often capitalized) originally referred to advocacy for a strong central government during the ratification of the Constitution, whereas in modern comparative politics, 'federalism' emphasizes the constitutional division of sovereignty between central and regional authorities.
• Rhymes for federalism
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 18th century from 'federal' plus the suffix '-ism', ultimately deriving from the Latin 'foedus' ('league, treaty, or covenant').