The Constitutional Politics of Federalism in Latin America

Abstract

This chapter presents the basic structure and functioning of the three largest federations in Latin America – Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico – while offering some comparative notes with the United States. It analyses the origins of the federal arrangements in these countries and the level of fiscal and political autonomy of their subunits, as well as the deep cross-national asymmetries that persist and the political consequences that this generates. A practice of abuse from the centre – most notably in Brazil and Mexico – justified a trend towards subnational and local autonomy and decentralisation, while offering opportunities to foster innovation and participation. However, the countries also face serious difficulties that demand coordinated action from the centre, including poverty, inequality, organised crime, and state violence. Added to this is the overrepresentation of small units, most clearly in Brazil and Argentina, which makes it more difficult to address some of these problems and further weakens the rule of law.