What form of government grants significant autonomy to its individual states?

A federal system of government is characterized by a division of powers between a central authority and individual states or provinces. In this system, each level of government operates within its own sphere of authority, allowing them to enact and enforce laws specific to their regions while still being unified under a central government. This grants significant autonomy to the states, enabling them to maintain their own legal systems, manage local affairs, and implement policies that reflect the needs and preferences of their residents.

The concept of federalism is evident in many countries around the world, such as the United States, where the Constitution delineates the powers of both the federal and state governments. This structure encourages local governance and can accommodate a diverse range of cultures and social needs within a single nation.

Unitary governments, in contrast, centralize power and authority, with most of the decision-making resting with the national government. A confederation involves a union of independent states that delegate some powers to a central authority, but it usually lacks the strong, enduring framework of a federal system. Oligarchy refers to a form of government where power is held by a small group, lacking the division of power found in federal systems. Each of these alternatives demonstrates a different approach to governance that does not provide the same