A federal state is one that brings together a number of different political communities with a common government for common purposes, and separate "state" or "provincial" or "cantonal" governments for the particular purposes of each community. The United States of America, Canada, Australia and Switzerland are all federal states. Federalism combines unity with diversity. It provides, as Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister, said, "A general government and legislature for general purposes with local governments and legislatures for local purposes."

External Link

[parl.gc.ca on How Canadians Govern Themselves - Federal State]