federalism

noun

fed·​er·​al·​ism ˈfe-d(ə-)rə-ˌli-zəm 

1

a

often capitalized : the distribution of power in an organization (such as a government) between a central authority and the constituent (see constituent entry 2 sense 1) units

under our system of federalism, states bear the primary responsibility for defining and controlling criminal behavior

—W. R. LaFave & J. R. Israel

compare centralism

b

: support or advocacy of this principle

2

capitalized : Federalist principles

Examples of federalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That implies that just as federalism guards against the tyranny made possible through overt centralization, federalism also has counterweights to prevent individual state governments from wrecking the whole. —Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024

Germany’s state leaders are quite powerful in their own right and have considerable autonomy, in a similar system to US federalism. —Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Like it or not, the federal government does not have all that much influence over housing policy in the United States thanks to the Tenth Amendment and federalism in general. —Roger Valdez, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Many in the resistance have committed to the idea of a federal state—though agreement on the specifics of that vision of federalism remains wanting. —Koh Ewe, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing federalism

• world federalism

Legal Definition

federalism

noun

fed·​er·​al·​ism ˈfe-drə-ˌli-zəm, ˈfe-də-rə- 

often capitalized

: distribution of power in a federation between the central authority and the constituent units (as states) involving especially the allocation of significant lawmaking powers to those constituent units compare comity, full faith and credit, states' rights