Legal Definitions - federal state

Definition: A federal state is a type of political system in which the sovereignty of the entire state is divided between a central or federal government and the local governments of the several constituent states. It is a union of states in which the control of the external relations of all the member states has been surrendered to a central government so that the only state that exists for international purposes is the one formed by the union.

Examples: The United States of America, Australia, Brazil, Germany, and India are examples of federal states.

Explanation: In a federal state, the central government has certain powers that are shared with the local governments of the constituent states. For example, in the United States, the federal government has the power to regulate interstate commerce, while the individual states have the power to regulate intrastate commerce. This division of powers helps to ensure that the rights and interests of both the central government and the individual states are protected.