A federal country or system of government is one in which the different states or provinces of the country have important powers to make their own laws and decisions.

Federal also means belonging or relating to the national government of a federal country rather than to one of the states within it.

Major State responsibilities include schools, hospitals, conservation and environment, roads, railways, and public transport, public works, agriculture and fishing, industrial relations, community services, sport and recreation, consumer affairs, police, prisons, and emergency services.

Mayor and council system,  municipal government in which a locally elected c ouncil is headed by a mayor, either popularly elected or elected by the council from among its members. In strict usage, the term is applied only to two types of local governmental structures in the United States.