6.2 Essential Features of Federal System

Wheare's classic catalogue, modernised (cite Nepal at each point): Written, rigid constitution — the division must be documented and entrenched against unilateral change (Nepal: Article 274 — two-thirds of both houses, with provincial consent for boundary and Schedule-6 changes); Division of powers — enumerated lists allocating subjects (Nepal: Schedules 5–9); Supremacy of the constitution and judicial review — inter-level conflicts are constitutional questions decided by courts; Bicameralism with a federal second chamber — provinces represented at the centre (Nepal's National Assembly: 56 members elected through provincial electoral colleges, 8 per province, plus 3 nominated); Dual or multi-level government, each operating directly on citizens — legislating, taxing, administering within its sphere; Residual powers assigned by rule (Nepal: to the Federation — Article 58); Financial autonomy arrangements — taxing powers, transfers, a fiscal commission to advise on revenue sharing (Nepal's National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission, Article 250).