Theme 8

Intergovernmental Relations in Federal Countries

A defining feature of federal systems is the constitutional recognition of at least two orders of government (i.e., federal and regional).  Each order has a direct relationship with the people, and defined powers are ascribed to each order, generally codified by a written constitution, which is usually interpreted by a supreme court or a constitutional court.  However, no matter how carefully powers are assigned between the orders, substantial interaction is inevitable and necessary.  The range of interactions between the orders of government includes consultation, coordination, cooperation, comity, compensation, collaboration, co-decision-making, cooptation, collusion, competition, corruption, confrontation, conflict, command, coercion, control, and confusion, among others.  These facets of intergovernmental relations can occur sequentially, alternately, and simultaneously in a federal system.

Co-ordinators for this theme are Johanne Poirier, Professor, Centre de droit public, Faculté de droit Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium, and Cheryl Saunders, Director, Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies Law School, University of Melbourne.

Confirmed country co-ordinators include:  

Argentina

Walter Carnota
National University of Buenos Aires

Australia

Geoff Gallop
University of Sydney

Austria

Univ.-Doz. Dr. Peter Bußjäger , Landtagsdirektor

Brazil

Maria Hermínia Tavares de Almeida, University of  São Paulo, Intitute of International Relations

Canada

Marc-Antoine Adam, Directeur, Direction de la réflexion stratégique Secrétariat aux affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes

Germany

Roland Lhotta, Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg

India

Professor Mahendra Prasad Singh, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi

Nigeria

Professor Eghosa E. Osaghae, Vice Chancellor
Igbinedion University

South Africa

Derek Powell

Spain

Maria Jesús García Morales, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Titular d'universitat numerari, Àrea de Dret Constitucional (TBC)

Xavier Arbos Marin, Catedrático de Derecho Constitucional, Departamento de Derecho Público
Facultad de Derecho, Universidad de Gerona (TBC)

Switzerland

Professor Thomas Pfisterer and Ursula Abederhalden, University of St Gallen

United States

Tory E. Smith, Brigham Young University, Hawaii

Theme8

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