Power Sharing Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, concepts, and features of power sharing and federal systems.

Horizontal Sharing of Power

A division of power among the legislature, executive, and judiciary, which function independently and maintain checks and balances on one another to prevent misuse of power.

Federal Division of Power

The division of powers between the centre, responsible for common national interests, and states, responsible for day-to-day administration.

Holding-together Federation

A federation with strong centralising tendencies where a large country divides power between the central government and constituent states; examples include India, Spain, and Belgium.

Coming-together Federation

A federation where independent states voluntarily come together to form a larger unit while retaining their identity and sharing equal powers; examples include the USA, Australia, and Switzerland.

Hung Parliament

A parliament in which no single political party has a clear majority to form the government.

Coalition Government

A government formed when two or more political parties form an alliance to jointly form the government, usually when no single party has a clear majority.

UPA

United Progressive Alliance, a coalition government in power from 2004 to 2014.

NDA

National Democratic Alliance, a coalition government formed in 1998.

Constitutional Amendment of 1993 (73rd Amendment)

An amendment that strengthened democracy by establishing elections every five years, seat reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs, supervision by the State Election Commission, transfer of powers and revenue to local bodies, and the creation of about 36 lakh elected representatives.

State Election Commission

The body responsible for supervising local-body elections.

Three Organs of Government

Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.

Basic Principles of Power-Sharing

Equality, liberty, fraternity, and justice.

Role of the Constitution in a Federal System

Acts as the supreme guiding authority, defines the dual system of government, determines the powers of central and state governments, and defines the responsibilities of federating units.

Shortcomings of Local Bodies

Rare Gram Sabha meetings, lack of resources, and insufficient powers.

Merits of Local Bodies

Decentralisation of power, involvement of people, opportunity to elect representatives, and raising concerns affecting daily life.

Forms of Power-Sharing in Modern Democracies

Power-sharing among different organs of government, at different levels of government, among different social groups, and among various political parties.