• Preface / Table of contents
• Chapter One: An Overview of Federalism
• Chapter Two: Choosing Federalism
• Chapter Three: The Constituent Units
• Chapter Four: Dividing Powers — Who Does What and How?
• Chapter Five: Money and Fiscal Powers
• Chapter Six: Institutions of the Central Government
• Chapter Seven: The Legal Pillars of Federalism
• Chapter Eight: Intergovernmental Relations and Politics
• Chapter Nine: Unity and Diversity
• Chapter Ten: Thinking About Federalism

Forty per cent of the world's people live in federal countries. The 28 countries with federal systems of government are amazingly diverse: they include not only the world's wealthiest nation - the United States of America - but also tiny island-states like Micronesia and St. Kitts and Nevis.

This admirably concise book, written by George Anderson, a leading expert on federalism and head of the Forum of Federations, provides a straightforward, jargon-free introduction to the topic. It is essential reading not only for students and those in government, but for ordinary citizens of the world's federations.