State government
Governments of federal subdivisions sharing power with national authorities.
A state government is the governing body for a subdivision within a federal system, where power is divided between these regional units and a central national government. Depending on the country, a state government might enjoy a degree of self-rule or be more tightly controlled by the federal authority, with the precise relationship often laid out in a constitution. The term "state" here refers to these internal divisions, not to an independent sovereign nation. While most federations call their units "states" (or the local equivalent), some use other names like Oblast or Republic. In certain federations, the arrangement is asymmetric, meaning some units are granted more powers than others.
Provinces, by contrast, are typically divisions of unitary states, though exceptions exist—such as the provinces of Argentina or Canada, which are actually federal units. Provincial governments are a separate topic. People often mix up state and city governments; while both might handle minor offenses or small-scale issues that the federal government ignores, they are distinct entities.
**Australia**
Australia is a federal nation made up of six states and three mainland territories. The division of legislative power between the states and the Commonwealth (federal) government is outlined in Section 51 of the Australian Constitution. The Commonwealth holds powers over foreign policy, taxation (which must not discriminate between states), and the regulation of interstate commerce and corporations. Since the constitution was ratified, the High Court of Australia has settled many disputes over the extent of federal powers, some controversial—like a 1982 case about whether the Commonwealth could designate land for national heritage under UN agreements, and numerous conflicts over federal authority regarding trade unions and industrial relations. A key difference from the U.S. model is that Australia’s federal parliament has explicit constitutional power over marriage legislation, which has been central to recent debates on same-sex marriage.
Each Australian state has a governor who represents the King of Australia (currently Charles III) and performs ceremonial head-of-state duties. Unlike Canadian lieutenant-governors, state governors are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the state government, not the federal one.
- Field
- Government and Politics
- Known for
- Governing federal subdivisions with shared power between state and national levels
- Examples
- Australia, Austria, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, United States
Lore & Background
State governments exist in federations such as Australia, where the Commonwealth of Australia has six states. Section 51 of the Australian Constitution sets out the division of legislative power between the states and the Commonwealth government. Each state has a governor representing the King of Australia, appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the state government, and a parliament; most states have a bicameral parliament except Queensland, where the upper chamber was abolished in 1922. The head of government in each state is a Premier drawn from the state parliament.
In the United States, the 50 states comprise the federated polities, and unlike many other federal systems, the states created the federal government. Under the 10th Amendment, all governmental powers not granted to the Federal go to the states or the people.
In India, the federal system consists of 28 states and 8 union territories. Among these, three union territories—Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir—have their own state governments with elected legislatures and councils of ministers, while the remaining five are administered directly by the central government.
In Nigeria, the Constitution of 1999 divides powers between the federal and state governments into exclusive and concurrent lists. Under Section 4(7a), residual powers—those not mentioned in either list—fall to the state governments, not the federal government, making the constitutional arrangement the opposite of a simple residual clause favoring the center.
Reader's Guide
State governments are significant as they form the intermediate level of governance in federal systems, balancing local autonomy with national unity. Their importance lies in the division of powers between state and federal authorities, which is often defined by a constitution. In Australia, the High Court has settled disputes over the extent of Commonwealth legislative powers, including controversies over national heritage and industrial relations. In the United States, states maintain control over internal affairs such as public transport and law enforcement, and administer large portions of the welfare state, leading to variations in social services like Medicaid expansion. The relationship between state and federal governments can be asymmetric, as seen in some federations designating greater powers to certain units. State governments also serve as laboratories for policy, as evidenced by the Australian controversy over same-sex marriage, where the Commonwealth Parliament has explicit constitutional power over marriage legislation. The legacy of state governments includes their role in preserving regional identity and providing a check on central authority, while also being subject to ongoing legal and political disputes over the boundaries of their powers.
Did You Know?
- In the United States, the 10th Amendment reserves to the states all powers not granted to the federal government nor prohibited to the states.
- South Africa is usually considered a unitary state but its government system possesses a strong similarity to a federal one.
- In Nigeria, powers not given to the states belong to the federal government under the Constitution of Nigeria.
More in Government & Public Administration 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced