noun

der Föderalismus, Föderalismen

federalism

Definition & meaning

Föderalismus refers to a political principle and organizational structure where a state is divided into smaller entities (such as states, provinces, or cantons) that possess a degree of autonomy, while a central government manages national or overarching matters. The power is shared between the central authority and the constituent parts, usually regulated by a constitution.

In practice, this means that individual regions often have their own legislative bodies, education systems, or police forces, while foreign policy, defense, and national currency are handled by the central government.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a masculine noun (der Föderalismus). It is derived from the Latin word foedus, which means "treaty," "pact," or "alliance." The suffix -ismus is used in German to denote a system, ideology, or principle.