Federal state is divided into several smaller, self-governed states or regions.

These
states function almost like independent countries, and may even have their own set
of state-specific laws same-sex marriage may be allowed in some but not in
others, for example but are directly concerned with nationwide issues such as
national defense or foreign policy. Those issues are handled by a central
government, which acts like a governing body of the smaller, state-governing
bodies. The states and the central government follow a set of rules and policies that
define their relationship and what can and cannot be done by both. The federal type
of governance has many advantages. Geoffrey de Q. Walker, Emeritus Professor of
Law at the University of Queensland, explains some of these advantages. One of
these is the right of choice and exit by the citizens. A federation citizen has greater
freedom of choosing and moving to a state that he or she considers satisfactory. In
a sense, movement by citizens in-between states is an act of voting with their
feet, allowing people to compare different political systems in the same country.
Another advantage is the possibility of experimentation. Though experimentation is
definitely not a pleasant word to hear for a leadership role where lives and
resources are at stake, the fact that states have some degree of autonomy allows
the central government to determine which political system, laws, and policies in
effect work positively and maximize welfare. The third advantage according to
Walker, and arguably also one of the most important, is the accommodation of
regional preferences and diversity. This advantage holds much more significance in
larger countries where culture and lifestyles can differ across regions. By these
means, overall satisfaction can be maximized and the winner-take-all problem
alleviated, particularly in policies wherein the populaces opinions are divided. By
not forcing culturally and ethnically different people to make decisions that would
go against their beliefs and opinion, solidarity as a whole federation may be
achieved. However, a federation is not without its blemishes. Because each state
government has its own style of governance, citizens all over the federation will be
experiencing different levels of welfare. The competencies and efficiency of each
state government will also not be the same, potentially creating further disunity. A
policy exercised across different states may differ in magnitude, like penalties for
criminal offenses. Finally, there is always the possibility of disagreement and conflict
between state and central governments over authority and power.