Primer on Federalism

This document is a frequently asked questions about federalism. It covers: the nature of federalism, what it is, where it came from; the differences between federalism and other systems, like the unitary state, or decentralized and devolved states; the types of federal systems; the distribution of powers between federal and state governments, including shared powers; and practical aspects of federalism, including how federalism fits with other aspects of the state, like the system of government, or the relative size of a state. In this last section, the application of a federal system in Iraq is considered.