Battle by battle we are seeing the federal structure weaken.

A federal structure that is to work will be loose and constructed from the bottom up.

HSBC insists its group operated under a federal structure, with local subsidiaries enjoying varying degrees of autonomy.

Somalia's leadership also must integrate the breakaway district of Somaliland and semi-autonomous Puntland region into a federal structure.

Because of Germany's federal structure, backers of lines crossing more than one state have to apply several times over.

These principles will include provisions for human rights, a federal structure for Iraq and civilian control of the armed forces.

As Severin Carrell writes, Campbell is floating the idea as a step towards creating a new federal structure for the UK.

It has upset southern minority groups, who fear being marginalised in a new federal structure it lays out, dividing their homelands.

The assembly will also decide whether the country is to have a federal structure as demanded by the Madhesis, Sitaula added.

Somalia also must integrate the breakaway district of Somaliland and semi-autonomous Puntland region into a federal structure, ahead of elections scheduled for 2016.

Germany's federal structure means that when projects touch on various states' territory, many local authorities must give the green light before construction can begin.

Separately, the Scottish government has made clear that it wants the BBC to operate under a new federal structure giving greater independence to BBC Scotland.

Somalia's leadership also must integrate the breakaway district of Somaliland and semi-autonomous Puntland region into a federal structure, ahead of national elections scheduled for 2016.

These powers are exercised not by one commune, but by a federal structure of local and provincial communes with a National commune at the top.