RBSE Class 11 Political Science Notes Chapter 7 Federalism

These comprehensive RBSE Class 11 Political Science Notes Chapter 7 Federalism will give a brief overview of all the concepts.

RBSE Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7 Notes Federalism

→ Meaning of Federalism

• Federal government is an agreement between the Centre and the states and the conditions of the agreement are written in the Constitution.
• According to Hamilton, “Federation is an association of states that form new ones.”
• According to Jellinack, “A federal state is a sovereign state formed out of several states.”
• According to Montesquieu, “Federal government is a convention by which several similar states agree to become members of a large one.”

→ Distribution of Powers in Indian Federalism
The Constitution of India very clearly distributes the power between the Centre and the States. There are three lists of powers between the Centre and the States given in the Constitution :

• The Union List. There are 97 subjects in the Union list. Only the Union government can make laws on these subjects. The main subjects are: Railways, Post and Telegraph, Coinage and Currency, Defence and Foreign Affairs.
• The State List. There are 66 subjects in this list. The state government can make laws on them. The main subjects are: law and order, police, agriculture, irrigation and public works.
• The Concurrent List. There are 47 subjects in the Concurrent list. On these subjects both the Centre and the States can make laws. But if two laws are contradictory, the laws of the Centre will prevail.
• Residuary Powers have been given to the centre by the Constitution.

→ Federal Features of the Indian Constitution:

• The Constitution of India has established two forms of government: Union and State government.
• The Indian Constitution is written and rigid.
• The Indian Constitution establishes a powerful and independent judiciary.
• There is a bicameral legislature in India. 

→ Unitary Features in Indian Constitution

• Division of power in favour of Centre.
• Encroachment over the State list by the Union Government.
• Influence of the Union Executive over the State Executive.
• Unequal Representation of the state in Rajya Sabha.

→ Indian Federation and American Federation.
Federal government has its origin in the U.S.A. In India, federation was adopted after independence. Following are the main differences between Indian federation and American federation.

• In the U.S.A., centre is the creation of states, whereas in India states are the creation of Centre.
• In American Constitution, the word ‘federation’ is used, whereas in Article 1 India is described as Union of States.
• Under American federation, more powers are given to states but in India centre is powerful.
• In the U.S.A., residuary powers are with the states, whereas in India residuary powers are given to the Centre.

→ Reasons for strong centre :

• Need of strong Centre to face the different problems of the country. When Indian Constitution was being prepared, the country was facing many problems such as communal riots, Kashmir problem, problem of refugees, economic problems, etc. Only strong Centre could solve all these problems. Hence, a strong Centre was established.
• Strong Centre needed to face external aggression. Our founding fathers were aware of the fact that Pakistan may create problems by creating disturbances in the state if a weak Centre is established. It was felt that only a strong Centre can meet the external foes. The centre must be very powerful to meet any invasion successfully.
• Responsibility of the Centre to defend and protect every part of the country. It is the responsibility of the Centre to defend and protect every part of India. To meet all these needs, it is essential that the Centre should be made very powerful.
• Communalism. To curb communalism strong centre is needed.