The USA and India are federalist states which mean powers are shared between the central (or federal) government and regional (state) governments. This arrangement allows for a balance of power in that each level of government can work independently in some areas while taking up shared responsibility on others.

In America, the Constitution gives specific powers to the national government (e.g. defence, foreign policy, commerce between states) and reserves all other powers to the states. In terms of education, transportation and public safety, these matters are dealt with by individual states who have their own constitutions, legislatures and courts. The Tenth Amendment confirms such separation by saying that all powers not granted to Congress or denied to it by the Constitution belong either to the States or to the people.

India’s federal system established under its constitution is more centralized but still divides powers among central and state governments. There are three lists provided for in the Constitution: Union List, State List and Concurrent List. Even if there is much control exerted by the national authorities over local governance especially on issues concerning national interests; state governments still handle police forces as well as agriculture and public health issues.