Federated state
A territorial community forming part of a federation.
A federated state is a territorial and constitutional community forming part of a federation. It does not have international sovereignty, as powers are divided between the other federated states and the federal government. Federated states operate under domestic or federal law with relation to the rest of the world and do not have automatic standing as entities of international law.
- Also known as
- state, province, region, canton, land, governorate, oblast, emirate, or country
- Sovereignty
- none (powers divided with federal government)
- Legal standing
- not automatic entities of international law
- Forms of government
- republican or monarchical
- Examples
- states of the US, republics in the former USSR
Lore & Background
A federated state is a territorial and constitutional community forming part of a federation. It does not have international sovereignty since powers are divided between the other federated states and the federal government. Unlike international sovereign states, which have Westphalian sovereignty, federated states operate under their domestic or federal law with relation to the rest of the world. Federated states do not have automatic standing as entities of international law; instead, the federal union as a single entity is the sovereign state for purposes of international law.
Reader's Guide
Federated states are significant as the component units of federal systems, providing a degree of constitutionally guaranteed autonomy that varies substantially from one federation to another. They can hold various degrees of legislative, judicial, and administrative jurisdiction over a defined geographic territory and are a form of regional government. Federated states may establish offices internationally to promote trade or tourism, while operating only within the trade policy or other applicable law of their federation and host country. They also may enter into international regional agreements under the laws of their federation and state, such as to protect a cross-border resource. In some cases, a federation is created from the union of political entities that were independent or dependent territories; in other cases, federated states have been created out of the administrative divisions of previously unitary states. The rules governing the relationship between federal and regional powers become part of the country's constitutional law, not international law.
Did You Know?
- A federated state does not have international sovereignty.
- Federated states can have republican or monarchical forms of government.
- Federated states are also known as state, province, region, canton, land, governorate, oblast, emirate, or country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a federated state?
A federated state is a territorial and constitutional community that exists as one component part of a larger federation. It functions under domestic or federal law in its dealings with the outside world rather than as an independent sovereign actor.
Does a federated state have international sovereignty?
No. Its powers are divided among the other member states and the central federal government, so it holds no independent international sovereignty. It also lacks automatic standing as a recognized entity under international law.
What are other names for a federated state?
Depending on the country, the same type of sub-national unit may be called a state, province, region, canton, land, governorate, oblast, emirate, or even simply "country." The label varies widely from one federation to another.
What forms of government can a federated state operate under?
A federated state may be organized as either a republican or a monarchical system. The specific internal structure is shaped by the federation's constitution and the particular state's own governing charter.
Can you give real-world examples of federated states?
The fifty states of the United States are the most commonly cited example. The republics that constituted the former Soviet Union also fit this category as constituent units within a federal framework.
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