Practice modes
Languages & Literature
Pakistan
World & History
Federal participation, the principle of subsidiarity, and Kerala's decentralization model.
5 of 5 ix. federalism, devolution & decentralization
How the federating units take part in the federal structure
Federalism is a system in which power is constitutionally divided between a central government and regional governments. In Pakistan, the provinces participate in the federal structure through the Senate, the Council of Common Interests, the National Economic Council, the National Finance Commission and constitutional safeguards over resources.
The largest transfer of power to the provinces
The Eighteenth Amendment (April 2010) restored parliamentary democracy, abolished the Concurrent Legislative List, devolved 17 federal ministries to the provinces, strengthened the Council of Common Interests, and added new fundamental rights, including the right to education and information.
Meaning and forms
Decentralization is the transfer of authority, responsibility and resources from the central government to lower levels of government or other organizations. Devolution is its strongest form, transferring power to autonomous, elected subnational governments.
Deciding at the lowest effective level
The principle of subsidiarity holds that decisions and public services should be handled at the lowest, most local level that can do so effectively, with higher levels intervening only when lower levels cannot.
The People's Plan Campaign
The Indian state of Kerala is known for one of the world's most ambitious experiments in democratic decentralization. Through the People's Plan Campaign launched in 1996, it devolved about 35–40% of its development plan budget to local governments and involved citizens directly in planning.