Comparative studies examine the constitutional design and actual operation of governments in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, India, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States. Contributors analyze the structures and workings of legislative, executive, and judicial institutions in each sphere of government. They also explore how the federal nature of the polity affects those institutions and how the institutions in turn affect federalism. The book concludes with reflections on possible future trends. Comparative studies examine the constitutional design and actual operation of governments in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, India, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States. Contributors analyze the structures and workings of legislative, executive, and judicial institutions in each sphere of government. They also explore how the federal nature of the polity affects those institutions and how the institutions in turn affect federalism. The book concludes with reflections on possible future trends. Contributors include Rajeev Dhavan (India), John Dinan (United States), Alexander Domrin (Russia), Anna Gamper (Austria), Antonio M. Hernandez (Argentina), Thomas O. Hueglin (Canada), Katy Le Roy (Australia), Wolf Linder (Switzerland), Christina Murray (South Africa), Stefan Oeter (Germany), Ebere Osieke (Nigeria), Cheryl Saunders (Australia), Rekha Saxena (India), and Isabelle Steffen (Switzerland).