Concept:
- Federations are formed in two different ways, and the route each country took decides which type it belongs to.
- In a coming together federation, independent states join on their own to form a bigger unit. In a holding together federation, a large country divides its power between the states and the national government.
Step 1: Understand what a coming together federation means.
Independent states pool their sovereignty and keep their identity to increase their security. All the constituent states usually have
equal power and are strong compared with the central government.
The United States of America, Switzerland and Australia are the standard examples.
Step 2: Understand what a holding together federation means.
Here a large country decides to divide its power between the constituent states and the national government. The central government tends to be
more powerful than the states, and some states may be given more powers than others.
India, Spain and Belgium are the standard examples.
Step 3: Test options (B) and (C).
Spain and India are both named as holding together federations, because in each case an existing large country shared out its powers. So both are ruled out.
Step 4: Test option (A), England.
England is part of the United Kingdom, which follows a unitary system rather than a federal one. Whatever powers the sub-units hold are given by the central government and can be withdrawn.
Step 5: Confirm option (D).
Switzerland was formed when independent cantons joined together, and the cantons retain strong powers. It is a textbook example of a coming together federation.
Final Answer: (D) Switzerland