In federal system of government , the component units

In a federal system of government, the component units, also known as states or provinces, have their own governments and derive their powers from the constitution. These units have some degree of autonomy and are not subordinate to one another, but rather work together with the central authority in a shared system of governance. While the powers of the central government are defined by the constitution, the component units have powers to make laws and policies that are relevant to their specific needs and circumstances. However, the powers of the component units are not equal to those of the central government as some functions are reserved for the central government such as national defense and foreign policy.