Federal republic facts for kids
A federal republic is a country where different states or regions join together to form one larger nation, and the government is run by elected officials, not a king or queen. Think of it like a team where each player (state) has their own job, but they all work together under a coach (the main government).
In a federal republic, power is shared between the central, or "federal," government and the governments of the smaller parts, like states or provinces. For example, the federal government might handle big things like defending the country or dealing with other nations. Meanwhile, local governments might take care of things closer to home, like schools or roads. This way, decisions can be made both for the whole country and for specific areas.
This system is often used in larger countries with many different regions or people. It helps manage the country better because local issues can be decided locally, while national issues are handled by the central government. Most federal republics have a written constitution that clearly explains how this power is shared.
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What is a Republic?
A republic is a type of government where citizens elect people to represent them. These elected representatives then make decisions for the country. The leader of a republic, often called a president, is also elected by the people or their representatives. This is different from a monarchy, where a king or queen inherits their power.
In a federal republic, the sharing of power is called a division of powers. This means that the central government has certain jobs, and the state or regional governments have other jobs.
- The federal government usually handles:
- National defense (the army and navy)
- Foreign affairs (talking to other countries)
- Making money (currency)
- The state or regional governments usually handle:
- Education (schools)
- Building roads and bridges
- Local laws and police
Sometimes, both levels of government share responsibilities, or they might disagree on who should do what. The constitution helps sort out these questions.
Federal vs. Unitary Systems
It's helpful to compare a federal republic to a unitary republic.
- In a federal republic, power is shared, and local areas have a lot of say in their own matters.
- In a unitary republic, the central government holds almost all the power. Local areas have less independence.
Federal systems are often chosen by countries that are very large or have many different cultures and regions. This allows different parts of the country to have some control over their own lives while still being part of one nation.
Countries Today
Many countries around the world are federal republics. Here are some examples:
| Country | Official name | Main divisions | Government type | Head of state | Head of government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina |
Argentine Republic | Provinces (23) and autonomous city (1) | Presidential system | ||
 Austria |
Republic of Austria | States (9) | Parliamentary republic | Alexander Van der Bellen | Karl Nehammer |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Entities (2) and self-governing district (1) | Parliamentary republic | Željka Cvijanović Denis Bećirović Željko Komšić |
Borjana Krišto |
 Brazil |
Federative Republic of Brazil | States (26) and federal district (1) | Presidential system | ||
 Comoros |
Union of the Comoros | Autonomous islands (3) | Presidential system | ||
 Ethiopia |
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia | Regions (10) and chartered cities (2) | Parliamentary republic | Sahle-Work Zewde | Abiy Ahmed |
 Germany |
Federal Republic of Germany | States (16) | Parliamentary republic | Frank-Walter Steinmeier | Olaf Scholz |
 India |
Republic of India | States (28) and union territories (8) | Parliamentary republic | Droupadi Murmu | Narendra Modi |
 Iraq |
Republic of Iraq | Governorates (19) | Parliamentary republic | Abdul Latif Rashid | Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani |
 Mexico |
United Mexican States | States (31) and autonomous entity (1) | Presidential system | ||
 Micronesia |
Federated States of Micronesia | States (4) | Presidential system | ||
 Nepal |
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal | Provinces (7) | Parliamentary republic | Ram Chandra Poudel | Pushpa Kamal Dahal |
 Nigeria |
Federal Republic of Nigeria | States (36) and federal territory (1) | Presidential system | ||
 Pakistan |
Islamic Republic of Pakistan | Provinces (4), autonomous territories (2) and federal territory (1) | Parliamentary republic | Asif Ali Zardari | Shehbaz Sharif |
 Russia |
Russian Federation | Federal subjects (85) | Semi-presidential system | Vladimir Putin | Mikhail Mishustin |
 Somalia |
Federal Republic of Somalia | Federal member states (6) | Parliamentary republic | Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (acting) | Hamza Abdi Barre |
 South Sudan |
Republic of South Sudan | States (10), administrative areas (2) and area with special administrative status (1) | Presidential system | ||
 Sudan |
Republic of the Sudan | States (18) | Provisional government | Abdel Fattah al-Burhan | Osman Hussein |
 Switzerland |
Swiss Confederation | Cantons (26) | Directorial Parliamentary republic | ||
 United States |
United States of America | States (50), federal district (1) and territories (14), nine of which are uninhabited. | Presidential system | ||
 Venezuela |
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela | States (23) and capital district (1) | Presidential system | ||
See also
- Form of government
- List of republics
- Federal monarchy
