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Difficulty: MediumFederal System of Government

During a constitutional convention in a multi-ethnic nation, delegates agreed to divide legislative authority between the central government and regional units to prevent political marginalization of minority groups while preserving national unity. Which of the following factors best accounts for the adoption of a federal system of government in this scenario?

  1. Cultural heterogeneity and fear of political domination among distinct groupsAnswer
  2. B
    The administrative convenience of delegating centrally controlled powers to regional assemblies
  3. C
    The desire of federating units to retain full independent legal sovereignty over the central authority
  4. D
    The central government's reliance on political sovereignty exercised exclusively through national referendums

Answer

Cultural heterogeneity and fear of political domination among distinct groups is the primary reason for adopting a federal system in a multi-ethnic state.
The correct answer accurately identifies cultural heterogeneity and minority protection as central catalysts for adopting federalism. When a nation consists of distinct ethnic or cultural groups, federalism provides a constitutional compromise by guaranteeing sub-national autonomy to allay fears of domination while building national unity.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the core problem described in the stem
The stem describes a multi-ethnic country seeking to balance national unity with minority protection against political marginalization.
Identifying the societal context (ethnic diversity and fear of domination) clarifies the political imperative for federalism.
2
Evaluate the underlying motives for federal constitution drafting
Federalism provides a framework where component units retain constitutional autonomy over regional matters while centralizing shared national responsibilities.
This dual constitutional structure guarantees that distinct cultural/ethnic groups maintain local self-governance without fearing central suppression.
3
Distinguish federal motives from unitary and confederal arrangements
Unitary devolution relies on central delegation, and confederal arrangements retain state sovereignty. Neither matches constitutional federal power sharing designed for heterogeneous states.
Constitutional federalism is specifically suited for heterogeneous populations seeking unity without uniformity.

Key Concept

Reasons for Adopting a Federal System of Government
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Topics

Federal System of Government

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