FEDERALIS

M
Reporters:
FIERLY CASISIMAN
IRISH DIANNE SALAMANCA
WINA JOY TIÑAS
 Lesson Objectives:
• Understand the concept of federalism
• Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of
federalism – it’s strengths and weaknesses, and how
will it affect the government of the Philippines and the
Filipino people.
Federalism is:

The theory by which

political power is divided
between a national and
state government, each
having their own clear
jurisdiction
One of the main themes of Federalism is
decentralisation
 The term Federalism is derived from the
Latin root, “foedus” which means formal
agreement or covenant.

It is a system of government in which power is divided

between a national (federal) government and various
regional governments.
In other words, governance powers are divided and
shared between a general government having certain
nationwide, continent-wide, or worldwide responsibilities
and regional governments with regional powers. This
division of powers is combined with the authority to carry
out those responsibilities on behalf of the people of the
federal body.
 Before we proceed to how
this system works, let’s be
familiar first with the present
system of government that is
operating now – THE
UNITARY SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT
 THE UNITARY SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT
All the powers and authority of the state are vested in the
highly centralized government with the following aspects:
 It has a constitution that outlines the duties, power, and
people of the central government. The LGU has its
uniform laws called local government code.

 The Central government can give power to create lower

levels of government like cities, municipalities, provinces,
and regions. This power can be changed and taken back at
any time.
 THE UNITARY SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT
30%
Of the whole income of of the LGU for
the local government 70%
annual disposal
units or LGU, 70% is to Central Government
be remitted to the
central and 30% is to
be retained to the LGU.
THE FEDERAL SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT
Federal (Central) State (Regions)
Executive Executive

President/Prime Governor / Premier

Minister
Legislative Legislative

Congress/Parliament Congress/Parliament
Unicameral or Unicameral or
Bicameral Bicameral
Supreme Court and State Supreme Court
Lower Federal Courts and Lower State
Courts
Federal Constitution State Constitution
 Monetary Declare war Environmental
protection

Federal Authority
 Laws, Social Justice, Education Tourism Promotion of
and Order Curriculum Culture

State/Domestic Authority
 Three Promises of Federalism
according to Jan Erk
1. Better Democracy
 Federalism gives the citizens the voice to be
heard by the state government and empowers the
local communities where ordinary people, local
political parties, and other democratic
personalities give reactions, and participate in
the decision-making, give honor, and bring
justice to the state government officials who
failed to execute laws, order, and social services.
 Three Promises of Federalism
according to Jan Erk
2. Good Governance
 Participatory
 Consensus-Oriented
 Accountability
 Transparency
 Responsive-Positive Action
 Effective and Efficient
 Equitable
 Inclusive
 Three Promises of Federalism
according to Jan Erk

3. Governance for Cultural Diversity

 This gives autonomy to the diverse
Filipino cultures based on dialect and
religious beliefs, and to manage their
own economic and political affairs in
the government to become more
effective.
Key Characteristics of Federalism
1. Division of Powers – Federalism involves
the division of governmental powers
between a central authority and constituent
political units, such as states or provinces

2. Constitutional Basis – Federal systems

typically have a written constitution that
outlines the distribution of powers between
the central government and the subnational
entities
Key Characteristics of Federalism
3. Autonomy of Subnational Units - States
or provinces within a federal system
possess a degree of autonomy and retain
certain powers that are not delegated to the
central government.
4. Dual sovereignty – federalism involves
the coexistence of two levels of government,
each with its own sphere of authority,
allowing for dual sovereignty.
Key Characteristics of Federalism
5. Supremacy clause- Federal constitution
often include a supremacy clause that
establishes the supremacy of federal laws
over conflicting state laws in areas where
the central government has authority.
6. Inter-governmental Relations-Federal
systems require mechanisms for
cooperation and coordination between the
central government and subnational
Key Characteristics of Federalism
7. Judicial review - federal systems typically
involve a judicial branch with the authority
to interpret the constitution and resolve
disputes between the central governments
and subnational entities.
8. Amendment process - Amendments to
the constitutions in federal systems usually
require a process involving both the central
government and the subnational entities,
 Federalism in the
Philippines:
An Agenda For Empowered Governance; Inclusive
“In the long And
Growth term, the ultimate
Countryside solution to the
Development
chronic problems haunting our country is
Federalism. The Federal system of government
is the key to achieving national peace and
economic prosperity in a diverse society such
as ours with 18 regions, 81 provinces, 144
cities, 1490 municipalities and 42,026
barangays.” - THE DILG CORE GROUP ON FEDERALISM
 Federalism in the Philippines:
An Agenda For Empowered Governance; Inclusive Growth And Countryside Development

Question: Why do we need to shift from unitary to federal

parliamentary form of government?
1. Existing problem of our country remain unsolved.
2. Criminality situation has become worst.
3. Rampant illegal drug trades that destroy the future of our children.
4. Prolonged conflict with the leftist and rightist groups.
5. Widespread graft and corruption in all levels of the government.
6. Strong dependence to live in Imperial Manila that remain the center of
power and commerce.
7. Unbalanced development between Manila and the regions.
8. Rampant Tax Evasion and Tax avoidance.
9. Favored preference to selected “special” political party mates.
Increasing inequity in socio economic status.
 Federalism in the Philippines:
An Agenda For Empowered Governance; Inclusive Growth And Countryside Development

Question: How will federalism help the country?

 Establishing Powerful Economic Regions

 Local Empowerment allow all regions to self determination as
to address their own problems based on their own
geographic, cultural, social and economic conditions.
 In Federalism, LGU can retain most of their revenue income
collection and use them on programs and policies according
to their needs and create enough opportunities for upward
socio-economic mobility.
Question: How will the power and resources be divided
between federal and regional government?
Shared Powers of Federal
Federal Government: Regional Government: Government and
Regional Government
 National Security  Regional Elections  Health
 Civil, Political, Intellectual  Regional Supreme Courts and  Education
Property and Human Rights Regional Trial Courts  Environment
 Foreign Relations  Licensure of Public Utilities  Social Welfare
 National Elections  Administration and  Energy
 External Trades Enforcement of Regional Laws  Tourism
 Citizenship  Regional Socio Economic  Peace and Order
 Currency Management Planning
/Monetary System Minting and  Regional Finance
Coinage  Regional Infrastructures
 Foreign Affairs, Immigration,
Extradition and National Diplomacy
 Supreme Court
Federal Government Operates Under:
 One Federal Constitution
 One Armed Forces
 One Flag
 One Central Bank
 One Monetary Board
 One Emblem
PROPOSED REGIONAL/STATE GOVERNMENTS:
There shall be as many Federal Regions as there are as many
Techno Linguistic Groups. Cordillera, Bangsamoro and other
Autonomous territories for Indigenous. People will also be
included provided that they satisfy the requirement as provided
by the constitution

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS:

Shall form part of the Regional Government/State Government

THE JUDICIARY:
There shall be a Federal Supreme Court and each Regions will
have its own State Supreme Courts and adopt its own Judicial
System.
Advantages of
Federalism
Advantages of Federalism
1. Promotes Diversity - Federalism allows for diverse
regions or states within a country to govern themselves
according to their unique cultural, social, and economic
characteristics. This promotes diversity and
accommodates varying preferences and needs across
different regions.
Advantages of Federalism

2. Decentralization of Power -
Federalism disperses power between the
central government and subnational
entities, such as states or provinces. This
decentralization helps prevent the
concentration of power in a single authority,
reducing the risk of tyranny or
authoritarianism.
Advantages of Federalism

3. Local Autonomy - Subnational entities

in a federal system have a degree of
autonomy in decision-making, allowing
them to address local issues and concerns
more effectively. This leads to policies and
regulations that are more responsive to the
needs of local communities.
Advantages of Federalism

4. Experimentation and Innovation

Federalism encourages experimentation and
innovation in governance. lIke for example, in
different states or provinces, they can implement
diverse policies and programs, serving as
laboratories for new ideas and approaches.
Successful initiatives can then be adopted by
other jurisdictions or at the national level.
Advantages of Federalism

5. Conflict Management - Federalism

provides a mechanism for managing
conflicts between different regions or ethnic
groups within a country. By allowing for
regional autonomy and self-governance,
federal systems can mitigate tensions and
promote peaceful coexistence.
Advantages of Federalism

6. Checks and balances - Federalism

creates a system of checks and
balances between the central
government and subnational entities,
as well as among branches of
government at each level. This helps
prevent the abuse of power and
Advantages of Federalism

7. Resilience and Stability - Federal

systems tend to be more resilient and stable
in the face of challenges such as economic
downturns, natural disasters, or political
crises. The distribution of power across
multiple levels of government provides
redundancy and flexibility in responding to
emergencies.
Disdvantages of
Federalism
Disadvantages of Federalism

1. Duplication of Effort
- Having multiple layers of
government can lead to duplication of
administrative functions and
inefficiencies. This can result in
increased bureaucracy, higher
administrative costs, and slower
Disadvantages of Federalism

2. Inequality Among Regions

In federal systems, the level of development and
resources available to different regions or states
may vary significantly. Wealthier regions may
have more resources to invest in infrastructure,
education, and healthcare, leading to disparities
in standards of living and access to services
between regions.
Disadvantages of Federalism

3. Coordination Challenges -
Coordinating policies and programs
across multiple levels of government
can be challenging. Disputes may arise
over jurisdictional boundaries,
conflicting regulations, and competing
priorities, hindering effective
governance and cooperation.
Disadvantages of Federalism

4. Potential for Gridlock

- Federal systems often involve a complex network of
checks and balances between the central government
and subnational entities, as well as among branches of
government at each level. While these checks and
balances are intended to prevent the abuse of power,
they can also lead to gridlock and political paralysis,
especially when there is disagreement or stalemate
between different levels of government.
Disadvantages of Federalism

5. Risk for fragmentation - Federalism

may trigger ethnic tensions, especially in
countries with diverse cultural or linguistic
communities. Subnational entities may
prioritize their own interests over the
national interest, leading to fragmentation
and challenges to national unity.
Disadvantages of Federalism

6. Lack of Uniformity

- Variation in laws and regulations between

different regions or states can create confusion and
complexity, particularly for businesses operating
across multiple jurisdictions. This lack of uniformity
may hinder economic integration and
competitiveness.
Disadvantages of Federalism

7. Difficulty in Addressing National Issues

Some issues, such as national security,
immigration, and trade, require a coordinated
national response. In federal systems, balancing
national interests with regional autonomy can be
challenging, making it difficult to address
pressing national issues effectively.
Disadvantages of Federalism

8. Potential for Tyranny of the Majority

In some cases, federalism may result to

inequalities and injustices, particularly if
subnational entities are dominated by a powerful
majority group that marginalizes minority
interests. This can lead to the tyranny of the
majority, where minority rights are disregarded or
suppressed.
Disadvantages of Federalism
9. Emergence of Political Dynasty in
States/Regions
Evaluation:
 Are you in favor in the proposed change in the
form of government from unitary to full-
parliamentary form of government? Why or Why
not?

 How will the change in the government system

affect the lives of every Filipino, the government
officials, and the government processes?
 References:
• https://forumfed.org/what-is-federalism/
• https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/NEWS/pidsdps1729.pdf
• Boadway, R. and F. Flatters. 1982b. Efficiency and equalization payments
in a federal system of government: a synthesis and extension of recent
results’, Canadian Journal of Economics, 15:613‐33.
• https://dilg.gov.ph/PDF_File/reports_resources/dilg-reports-resources-
2017323_186ace8e39.pdf
• https://www.cbcplaiko.org/2018/08/page/2/