This work investigates the fundamental definition and operational requirements of a federal system of government. K. C. Wheare, a prominent scholar of constitutional law and political science, utilizes a comparative analysis of established federal systems to construct a rigorous framework for identifying federalism. He argues that federal government exists only when the general and regional governments are each within a sphere coordinate and independent. The text establishes the criteria for evaluating whether a constitution is truly federal in practice rather than merely in form.

Scholars and students of political science frequently cite this text as a foundational reference for understanding the legal architecture of federalism. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which remains a standard requirement for those studying comparative constitutional law.