That vertical division of power among different levels of government is one of the major forms of power- sharing in modern democracies. In this chapter, we focus on this form of power-sharing. It is most commonly referred to as federalism.

Federalism is a form of power-sharing where power is divided vertically between the national government and the state governments. This means that both levels of government have their own areas of jurisdiction and are independent of each other to some extent.

Horizontal division of power:

Horizontal division of power refers to the sharing of power among different organs or institutions of the government at the same level. For example, the executive, legislature, and judiciary are the three organs of the government at the state and national levels, and each of them has its own powers and functions. However, this form of power-sharing is not referred to as federalism, as it does not involve the division of power between the national and state governments.

Division of power among various communities:

This form of power-sharing refers to the sharing of power among different social groups or communities such as linguistic, religious, or ethnic groups. This type of power-sharing is important in countries with diverse populations to ensure that all communities have a say in the government. However, this form of power-sharing is also not referred to as federalism, as it does not involve the division of power between the national and state governments.

Sharing of power among political parties:

This form of power-sharing refers to the sharing of power between different political parties or groups. This can take the form of coalition governments where multiple parties come together to form a government. However, this form of power-sharing is also not referred to as federalism, as it does not involve the division of power between the national and state governments.

Vertical division of power:

Vertical division of power, as mentioned earlier, is the most commonly referred form of power-sharing as federalism. In federalism, power is divided between the national government and the state governments, with each level having its own areas of jurisdiction. The national government is responsible for matters of national importance such as defense, foreign policy, and communication, while the state governments are responsible for matters of state importance such as law and order, education, and health. Both levels of government have their own powers and functions, and neither can encroach upon the other's powers. This form of power-sharing ensures that power is not concentrated in one central authority and allows for greater participation and representation for the people.

In conclusion, federalism is the most commonly referred form of power-sharing, where power is divided vertically between the national government and the state governments. This allows for greater representation and participation for the people and ensures that power is not concentrated in one central authority.

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