POSSIBLE STATES.Comparative politics simulationsHow to use this
Menu

← Simulation library / The Shared Country

Federalism

Self-contained introduction

FederalismTerritorial politicsInstitutions

Federalism, authority & territorial diversity

The Shared Country

One river. Three regions. Who gets the final say?

Take the national and regional governments’ perspectives as a flood approaches, clinic budgets diverge and a license is refused. Choose how power is shared, then live with the rules you set.

How it runsSolo simulation
Time to planSelf-paced solo edition · timing not yet measured
What you produceConstitutional choices, government positions and an individual explanation
Just exploring Written notes optionalFor class Required responses

The same political choices in both routes. You can switch inside without starting over. For class asks you to complete any missing required responses. Save a report in either route; your instructor decides what to accept.

Use “Save to this browser” to keep a checkpoint. When you reopen, choose “Restore saved work”. Download a backup before changing devices.

Saving & submission →
A meeting table sits above a collage of mountain regions, towns and a shared landscape.
POSSIBLE STATESTopic: Federalism

What you can explore

  • Distinguish decentralization from constitutionally protected authority.
  • Explain fiscal equalization and the position of minorities within regions.
  • Trace how an earlier allocation of authority shapes a later conflict.

What the model leaves open

Aven is fictional. You construct the government positions yourself; there are no live peers or automated negotiating agents. The solo edition illustrates authority and tradeoffs, not real bargaining behavior. Timing has not yet been measured.

AFTERWARD, THINK ABOUT

When was consultation enough, and when was agreement required?

Teaching this activity Debrief, assessment & assignment draft

Bring it back to the room

  • When was consultation enough, and when was agreement required?
  • Who was a minority within a region rather than within the country?

What to assess

Assess who has authority, which agreement is required, and who bears the cost. A persuasive policy preference alone is insufficient.

Read the complete teaching guide →

Syllabus description, rubric & printable companion →

Make it an assignment.

Edit this text, then copy it into your LMS. These edits stay in this tab.

Syllabus description & discussion prompts
Syllabus description
Take the national and regional governments’ perspectives as a flood approaches, clinic budgets diverge and a license is refused. Choose how power is shared, then live with the rules you set. Students produce constitutional choices, government positions and an individual explanation.
Questions for a discussion board or class debrief
  1. When was consultation enough, and when was agreement required?
  2. Who was a minority within a region rather than within the country?
Open printable teaching companion →