Federated state

A federated state is a constituent political unit within a federation, sharing constitutional powers with the federal government. Its authority and name vary across federations.

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Federalism: A system of government that constitutionally divides authority between a central government and constituent units. It is the governing arrangement that makes federated states constituent rather than merely administrative units.
States of the United States: The 50 constituent political units of the United States, each with its own government and constitution. They are a familiar example of federated states with constitutionally protected powers.
Unitary state: A state in which the central government holds ultimate legal authority over territorial subdivisions. Unlike federated states, its subdivisions generally lack constitutionally guaranteed sovereignty.
Intergovernmental relations: The interactions and agreements among governments operating at different levels within a political system. Federated states negotiate with federal institutions over funding, policy, and shared responsibilities.
Federal constitution: A constitution that establishes a federal government and allocates powers among levels of government. It typically defines the powers and legal standing of federated states.
Länder of Germany: The 16 constituent states of Germany, represented in federal legislation through the Bundesrat. German Länder participate directly in federal lawmaking through a distinctive national institution.
Devolution: The transfer of authority from a central government to territorial bodies that remain legally subordinate to it. Devolved powers can resemble federal autonomy without making regions constituent units of a federation.
Fiscal federalism: The study and design of revenue, spending, and transfers across levels of government. A unit’s practical autonomy often depends on its tax powers and federal transfers.
Enumerated powers: Powers explicitly assigned to a government by a constitution or statute. Constitutions often list federal powers, leaving other responsibilities to constituent units.
Provinces and territories of Canada: Canada’s subnational divisions, with provinces exercising constitutionally assigned powers and territories governed under federal authority. The contrast within Canada shows that not every subnational unit has equal constitutional status.