Important Differences Between Horizontal and Vertical Power Sharing

Horizontal Power Sharing

Horizontal power sharing refers to the distribution of power among different organs or levels of government at the same level. In other words, it is the sharing of power between different branches or organs of government that are situated at the same level or rank. This type of power sharing is essential for ensuring that no single branch or organ of government becomes too powerful or dominates over the others.

In a democratic system, horizontal power sharing is achieved by dividing the power among different branches of government, such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary. Each branch has its own distinct powers and responsibilities, and they work together to ensure the smooth functioning of the government. For instance, the legislature makes laws, the executive implements them, and the judiciary interprets them. This distribution of power ensures that no single branch can become too powerful or exert undue influence over the others.

Horizontal power sharing also promotes accountability and transparency in government, as each branch of government is accountable to the other branches. This accountability ensures that they act in the best interests of the people they serve. Overall, horizontal power sharing is a fundamental aspect of democratic government, and it helps to ensure that power is distributed fairly and effectively among different organs or branches of government.

Examples of Horizontal Power Sharing

There are several examples of horizontal power sharing in different countries around the world. Here are some of them:

• Separation of Powers in the United States: The United States Constitution divides the powers of the federal government among three branches: the legislative, executive, and judiciary. The legislative branch is responsible for making laws, the executive branch is responsible for enforcing laws, and the judiciary branch is responsible for interpreting laws.
• Parliamentary System in the United Kingdom: In the United Kingdom, the legislative and executive branches are fused together in a parliamentary system. However, the judiciary remains independent, providing a system of checks and balances on the other branches of government.
• Presidential System in Brazil: In Brazil, the president is the head of the executive branch, but the powers of the presidency are limited by the other branches of government. The legislative branch has the power to override presidential vetoes, and the judiciary branch has the power to review presidential actions and declare them unconstitutional.
• Coalition Governments in India: In India, coalition governments are formed when multiple political parties come together to form a government. In such a system, power is shared among different political parties, and no single party is able to dominate the others.

Types of Horizontal Power Sharing

There are different types of horizontal power sharing, which include:

1. Separation of powers: This is where power is separated among different branches of government. For instance, in the United States, power is separated among the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches of government.
2. Division of powers: This is where power is divided between different levels of government. For instance, in a federal system like Canada, power is divided between the federal government and the provincial or territorial governments.
3. Functional decentralization: This is where power is shared between different departments or agencies of government that have specific functions or responsibilities. For instance, in India, the power to administer education is shared among different departments or agencies of government.
4. Territorial decentralization: This is where power is shared among different regions or localities. For instance, in Spain, power is shared among different autonomous regions.
5. Consociational democracy: This is where power is shared among different ethnic or religious groups. For instance, in Switzerland, power is shared among different linguistic groups.

Objectives of Horizontal Power Sharing

The objectives of horizontal power sharing include:

• Preventing concentration of power: Horizontal power sharing aims to prevent the concentration of power in any one branch or level of government. This is important to prevent abuse of power and ensure that power is distributed fairly among all branches or levels of government.
• Promoting checks and balances: By dividing power among different branches or levels of government, horizontal power sharing promotes checks and balances. Each branch or level of government is able to check the power of the other branches or levels, ensuring that no one branch or level is able to dominate the others.
• Ensuring accountability and transparency: Horizontal power sharing promotes accountability and transparency in government. Each branch or level of government is accountable to the other branches or levels, and this accountability ensures that they act in the best interests of the people they serve.
• Protecting individual rights and freedoms: Horizontal power sharing is important for protecting individual rights and freedoms. By preventing any one branch or level of government from becoming too powerful, horizontal power sharing ensures that individual rights and freedoms are protected.
• Fostering cooperation and collaboration: By dividing power among different branches or levels of government, horizontal power sharing fosters cooperation and collaboration. Each branch or level of government is able to work together to achieve common goals and objectives, ensuring that the government is able to function effectively.

Features of Horizontal Power Sharing

The following are some of the key features of horizontal power sharing:

• Separation of powers: One of the key features of horizontal power sharing is the separation of powers among different branches of government. In this system, each branch has its own specific responsibilities and functions, and is independent of the other branches.
• Checks and balances: In a system of horizontal power sharing, each branch of government has the ability to check the power of the other branches. This ensures that no branch becomes too powerful, and helps to prevent abuses of power.
• Independent judiciary: Another key feature of horizontal power sharing is the presence of an independent judiciary. The judiciary is responsible for interpreting and applying the law, and is separate from both the legislative and executive branches.
• Limited government: Horizontal power sharing is often associated with limited government, which means that the power of the government is restricted by law. This is designed to protect individual rights and freedoms, and to prevent abuses of power by the government.
• Protection of minority rights: Horizontal power sharing is often seen as a way to protect minority rights. By dividing power among different branches of government, and by ensuring that each branch has the ability to check the power of the other branches, minority groups are better protected from abuses of power by the majority.
• Federalism: Horizontal power sharing is often associated with federalism, which is a system of government in which power is divided between the central government and the governments of individual states or provinces. This helps to prevent the central government from becoming too powerful, and ensures that power is shared among different levels of government.

Vertical Power Sharing

Vertical power sharing is a system of power sharing in which power is shared between the central or federal government and the state or local governments. In this system, the central government shares some of its powers with the state or local governments, which in turn have their own powers and responsibilities.

Vertical power sharing is often associated with federalism, which is a form of government in which power is divided between the central government and the governments of individual states or provinces. Under a federal system, the central government has certain powers that are reserved for it, while the state or provincial governments have their own powers and responsibilities.

Vertical power sharing can also take place in other forms of government, such as unitary or parliamentary systems. In these systems, the central government may delegate some of its powers to regional or local governments, or may allow them to exercise certain powers independently.

Examples of Vertical Power Sharing

Here are some examples of vertical power sharing:

• India: India is also a federal system, in which power is shared between the central government and the state governments. The Constitution of India provides for a division of powers between the two levels of government, with some powers being reserved for the central government, and others being reserved for the states.
• United States: The United States is a federal system, in which power is shared between the federal government and the state governments. The Constitution grants certain powers to the federal government, such as the power to regulate interstate commerce, while reserving other powers to the states, such as the power to regulate intrastate commerce.
• Canada: Canada is another example of a federal system, in which power is shared between the federal government and the provincial governments. The Constitution Act of 1867 grants certain powers to the federal government, such as the power to regulate international trade, while reserving other powers to the provinces, such as the power to regulate education.
• United Kingdom: The United Kingdom is a unitary system, in which power is centralized in the national government. However, the UK government has devolved some powers to the governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. For example, these regional governments have the power to make laws in certain areas, such as health and education.
• Japan: Japan is another example of a unitary system with vertical power sharing. In Japan, the national government has delegated some powers to local governments, such as the power to manage local infrastructure and services.

Types of Vertical Power Sharing

There are two main types of vertical power sharing:

1. Division of Powers: In this type of power sharing, power is divided between the central government and state or provincial governments based on a written constitution or agreement. The central government is responsible for national-level issues such as foreign policy, defense, and currency, while the state or provincial governments have power over local issues such as education, healthcare, and public safety.

Examples of countries with this type of vertical power sharing include the United States, India, Canada, and Australia.

2. Decentralization: In this type of power sharing, the central government delegates power to local governments, but retains the ultimate authority to make decisions. Local governments have some power to make decisions and manage their affairs, but are subject to the laws and regulations of the central government.

Examples of countries with this type of vertical power sharing include Japan, Sweden, and France.

Objectives of Vertical Power Sharing

The main objectives of vertical power sharing are:

• To promote democracy: By sharing power between the central government and the state or local governments, vertical power sharing can promote democracy by giving citizens a voice in decision-making. This can help to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals or groups, and ensure that the needs and interests of diverse communities are taken into account.
• To prevent tyranny: By limiting the power of the central government and allowing for the decentralization of power, vertical power sharing can help to prevent tyranny and abuses of power. This can help to protect individual rights and freedoms, and prevent the central government from becoming too powerful and dominating the states or provinces.
• To accommodate diverse interests: Different regions or communities within a country may have different needs, interests, and cultures. Vertical power sharing can help to accommodate these diverse interests by allowing for local decision-making and tailoring policies to local needs.
• To promote efficient governance: By delegating power to the state or local governments, vertical power sharing can promote efficient governance by allowing for more responsive and targeted policies that are better suited to local needs. This can help to improve service delivery and promote economic development.

Features of Vertical Power Sharing

The main features of vertical power sharing are:

• Delegation of power: In vertical power sharing, the central government delegates some of its powers to state or local governments. This allows for decision-making and policy implementation to take place at different levels of government.
• Division of power: In vertical power sharing, power is divided between the central government and state or local governments. This ensures that no single government entity has absolute power, and that power is distributed more evenly across different levels of government.
• Written constitution or agreement: Vertical power sharing is often based on a written constitution or agreement that outlines the powers and responsibilities of the different levels of government. This helps to ensure that power is shared fairly and that all levels of government have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
• Checks and balances: Vertical power sharing often involves a system of checks and balances to ensure that no level of government abuses its power. For example, the central government may have the power to veto state or local laws that are deemed unconstitutional, while state or local governments may have the power to challenge central government policies in court.
• Decentralization: In some forms of vertical power sharing, power is decentralized to local governments rather than just to state or provincial governments. This can help to promote more localized decision-making and policy implementation, and can help to better address the needs and concerns of local communities.

Important Difference Between Horizontal and Vertical Power Sharing

Here is a table comparing the features of horizontal and vertical power sharing:

Key Differences Between Horizontal and Vertical Power Sharing

Here are some key difference between horizontal and vertical power sharing:

1. Scope of Power Sharing: Horizontal power sharing involves sharing of power among different organs of the government, such as the executive, legislative and judiciary. In contrast, vertical power sharing involves sharing of power between different levels of government, such as the central government and state or local governments.
2. Balance of Power: In horizontal power sharing, each branch of government has a separate and independent role to play, and each branch checks the power of the other branches. This ensures a balance of power and prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful. In vertical power sharing, the central government may have more power than state or local governments, which can lead to a power imbalance.
3. Nature of Power: In horizontal power sharing, power is shared in a way that is equal and democratic. All branches of government have the same level of authority, and decisions are made based on consensus and compromise. In vertical power sharing, the central government may have more power and authority than state or local governments, which can lead to decisions being made based on the interests of the central government rather than the interests of the people.
4. Type of Government: Horizontal power sharing is typically found in democratic governments where power is shared among different branches of government. Vertical power sharing can be found in both democratic and non-democratic governments, where power is shared between different levels of government.

Similarities Between Horizontal and Vertical Power Sharing

Here are some similarities between horizontal and vertical power sharing:

1. Both Horizontal and Vertical Power Sharing are Forms of Power Sharing: Horizontal and vertical power sharing are both forms of sharing power among different entities, whether it be between different branches of government or between different levels of government.
2. Both Promote a System of Checks and Balances: Both forms of power sharing promote a system of checks and balances. In horizontal power sharing, each branch of government checks the power of the other branches to prevent abuses of power. In vertical power sharing, state or local governments check the power of the central government to prevent it from becoming too powerful.
3. Both Require Cooperation and Compromise: Both horizontal and vertical power sharing require cooperation and compromise to be effective. In horizontal power sharing, the different branches of government must work together to make decisions that benefit the people. In vertical power sharing, the central government and state or local governments must work together to make decisions that benefit their constituents.
4. Both Can Promote Democratic Decision-Making: Both horizontal and vertical power sharing can promote democratic decision-making by involving multiple entities in the decision-making process. This can ensure that decisions are made based on the interests of a wider range of stakeholders rather than just the interests of a single entity.

Conclusion Between Horizontal and Vertical Power Sharing

In conclusion, both horizontal and vertical power sharing are important forms of sharing power among different entities in a government. Horizontal power sharing involves sharing power among different branches of government, such as the executive, legislative, and judiciary, while vertical power sharing involves sharing power between different levels of government, such as the central government and state or local governments.

Horizontal power sharing ensures that no one branch of government has too much power, promotes a system of checks and balances, and promotes democratic decision-making. Vertical power sharing ensures that power is shared between different levels of government, promotes a more decentralized form of government, and allows for decision-making that is more responsive to local needs and interests.

Both forms of power sharing require cooperation and compromise to be effective and promote a more democratic and inclusive form of government. However, they also have some important differences in terms of the scope of power sharing, balance of power, nature of power, and type of government. Ultimately, the effectiveness of horizontal and vertical power sharing depends on the specific context and needs of each government system.