A federal government is a form of __________.

1. Analyze the question The question asks which general idea a federal government represents. It is about how power is distributed in a state.

2. Explain the concept In a federal system, power is shared between a central (federal) government and component units such as states or regions. In Nigeria, the federal government, 36 states, and local governments each have defined powers under the Constitution. This sharing of power away from a single center is called decentralization.

3. Go through the options

• A. Decentralization: Correct. Power is spread across different levels of government.
• B. Centralization: This is the opposite. It describes a unitary system, where power is concentrated in one central government.
• C. Confederation: This is a loose union of sovereign states, where the central body is weak and the member states keep most of the power. It is related to federalism but is a different system. Federalism is not "a form of" confederation.
• D. Revolution: This is a sudden, often violent change of government and has nothing to do with the structure of government.

4. Answer A federal government is a form of decentralization, which is option A.

5. Exam tip Link each system to its keyword:

• Unitary → centralization
• Federal → decentralization (power shared)
• Confederation → very weak center

If a question says "division of powers" or "power sharing," think federalism and decentralization.