Power-sharing is a vital ingredient of any constitution. Power-sharing ensures that there is an optimum balance between different sections in the society. Each and every state should have some form of power-sharing. The chances of opportunity to every citizen increases. Power-sharing has its own value in a democracy. This ensures the stability of political order.

Forms of power-sharing:

There are different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies which are listed below

Horizontal distribution of power

• Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary.
• Example – India This distribution ensures that none of the organs can exercise and utilise unlimited power.
• Each and every organ keeps an eye on the others.
• This system of arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.

Vertical distribution of power

• Power can be shared among governments at different levels.
• A general central government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or state and regional level.
• Example – India Union Government that is Central government and State Government.

Community government

• Power can also be shared among different socially active groups such as the religious and linguistic groups.
• Example – Belgium

Power-sharing between political parties, pressure groups and movements

• This kind of power-sharing competition ensures that power does not remain in one single hand.
• For longer duration, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.