According to the basic concept of federalism:
I. It is an institutional mechanism.
II. The constitution can either be written or unwritten.
Find the correct option:

Question

According to the basic concept of federalism: 
I. It is an institutional mechanism. 
II. The constitution can either be written or unwritten. 
Find the correct option:

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1: I is correct and II is incorrect

The correct option is 1: I is correct and II is incorrect.

Detailed explanation of why it is correct — include conceptual, or contextual depth:

The concept of federalism fundamentally describes a system of government where power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and constituent political units (like states or provinces), each having sovereign jurisdiction over specific subjects. This division of power ensures that neither level of government is subordinate to the other in its respective sphere. Therefore, Statement I, "It is an institutional mechanism," is absolutely correct. Federalism is essentially a constitutional and institutional arrangement designed to manage the shared sovereignty between the two levels of government, utilizing structures like a bicameral legislature (often representing the states), an independent judiciary to interpret the constitution, and specific procedures for amending the constitution. It is a formal, structural, and institutional framework intended to uphold unity while accommodating diversity, making the institutional mechanism its defining characteristic.

The incorrect option is 2: I is incorrect and II is correct.

Statement I, which asserts that federalism is an institutional mechanism, is fundamental to the concept and thus correct. Federalism cannot exist merely as a political idea without being institutionalized through a division of powers, a constitutional basis, and mechanisms like an impartial judiciary. Therefore, stating that I is incorrect undermines the very definition of a federal system. Statement II claims the constitution in a federal system can be either written or unwritten, but this is factually wrong because a written constitution is considered an essential feature of true federalism. For power to be divided and for the respective jurisdictions of the center and the units to be protected, the division must be clearly enumerated in a written, supreme document that acts as the source of authority for both. Without a written constitution, disputes over jurisdiction would become endemic and unresolvable, leading to instability.

The incorrect option is 3: Both I and II are correct.

While Statement I is correct (Federalism is an institutional mechanism), Statement II is incorrect (The constitution can either be written or unwritten). For the principles of federalism to be legally binding and operational—such as the supremacy of the constitution, the rigidity of the constitution, and the clear division of legislative powers—the constitution must be written. An unwritten constitution, like the one in the UK (which is a unitary state), does not provide the requisite legal certainty and supremacy necessary for a federal structure to function effectively and protect the autonomy of the constituent units from encroachment by the central government. Hence, since Statement II fails the foundational test of federal political systems, this option must be rejected.

The incorrect option is 4: Both I and II are incorrect.

This option is incorrect because Statement I is correct: federalism is indeed an institutional mechanism. The formal structures of government, the powers allocated to each tier, the role of the judiciary, and the process of constitutional amendment all constitute the institutional machinery that defines federalism. A system where power is merely customary or temporary would not be federal; it requires durable institutional safeguards. Since the core definition of federalism relies on these institutional divisions, rejecting Statement I means rejecting the established political science definition of federalism. As we have already established that I is correct, this option cannot be right.