Vertical division of power
Also called: Vertical power-sharing · Topic: Power-sharing: Majoritarianism versus Accommodation · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 1 "Power-sharing"; Class 10, Ch 2 "Federalism"
Meaning
Vertical division of power means power is shared between higher and lower levels of government. In India these levels are the Union, the states, and local bodies such as panchayats and municipalities. The constitution sets out the powers of each level, so one level cannot simply take away the powers of another. Federalism is the main form of this kind of sharing. In India it is built on the Seventh Schedule's three lists, with residuary power (power over subjects not in any list) left to the Union under Art. 248. The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) carried it down to local government.
Example
Belgium gave its regional governments many powers taken from the Centre, and those governments are not under the Centre's control. Sri Lanka refused Tamil demands for this kind of autonomy. India is a "holding-together" federation: the Centre shares power downward to keep a diverse country united.
Don't confuse with
- Horizontal distribution of power: this means sharing power among the legislature, executive and judiciary at the same level. Vertical sharing happens between levels of government.