Freedom and Federalism: Toward an Authentic Federalism in Brazil

The first federal states emerged via the coming together of a number of established polities that wished to preserve their separate identities and to some extent their autonomy.[1] Some features are common to most, if not all, federal systems: distribution of power between central and local governments; a written and rigid constitution; an independent and impartial umpire to decide on disputes between these levels of government; and representation of regional views within the central government.

Opening Statement by Professor Augusto Zimmermann to the Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Family Law System (Public Hearing, 8 July 2020)

The Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Family Law System was appointed by resolution of the Senate on 18 September 2019 and resolution of the House of Representatives on 19 September 2019. The terms of reference of the committee’s inquiry explicitly require the committee to consider the present operation of the family law system in Australia.