Horizontal Distribution of Power:
(a) Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary.
(b) It allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
(c) Each organ checks the others.
Vertical Distribution of Power:
(a) Power can be shared among governments at different levels - a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level.
(b) The governments at the provincial or regional level are called by different names in different countries.
(c) The division of powers involves higher and lower leads of government.

Horizontal Distribution of Power:
(a) Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary.
(b) It allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
(c) Each organ checks the others.
Vertical Distribution of Power:
(a) Power can be shared among governments at different levels - a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level.
(b) The governments at the provincial or regional level are called by different names in different countries.
(c) The division of powers involves higher and lower leads of government.

Differentiate between horizontal and vertical division of powers

The French and Dutch-speaking ministers are in the central government.  Some special laws require the support of majority of members from each linguistic group.  Hence no single community can make decisions unilaterally.
(a) Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments of the two regions of the country.
(b) Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities(French and Dutch) have equal representation.  The French speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels because the Dutch-speaking community has accepted equal representation in the Central Government.
(c) There is a third kind of government called 'community government'.  It is elected by people to one language community.  This government engages with the cultural, educational and language-related issues.  This kind of governance has prevented a civil strife between the two different linguistic communities.

There are two main reasons for power sharing:
(a) Prudential Reason: A prudential reason for power sharing is that it leads to an avoidance of conflict between social groups.  Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.  In India, seats have been reserved in legislatures for the socially weaker sections keeping in mind this prudential reason for power sharing.
(b) Moral Reason: A moral reason for power sharing is that it upholds the spirit of democracy. In a truly democratic setup, the citizens too have a stake in governance.  In India, the citizens can come together to debate and criticise the policies and decisions of the government.   This in turn, puts pressure on the policies and decisions of the government.   This in turn, puts pressure on the government to rethink  its policies and reconsider its decisions.  This active political participation is in keeping with the moral reason for power sharing.
 

There are two main reasons for power sharing:
(a) Prudential Reason: A prudential reason for power sharing is that it leads to an avoidance of conflict between social groups.  Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.  In India, seats have been reserved in legislatures for the socially weaker sections keeping in mind this prudential reason for power sharing.
(b) Moral Reason: A moral reason for power sharing is that it upholds the spirit of democracy. In a truly democratic setup, the citizens too have a stake in governance.  In India, the citizens can come together to debate and criticise the policies and decisions of the government.  This in turn, puts pressure on the policies and decisions of the government.  This in turn, puts pressure on the government to rethink its policies and reconsider its decisions.  This active political participation is in keeping with the moral reason for power sharing.
 

Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. There were two major communities- Sinhalese and Tamilians. The Sinhalese were in majority, and hence, after being elected to power, the Sinhalese leaders followed a series of majoritarian policies in order to ascertain the supremacy of their community.
(a) In 1956, an act was passed and Sinhala was recognised as the only official language of Sri Lanka disregarding Tamil.
(b) The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
(c) A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
(d) A feeling of alienation was seen among the Sri Lankan Tamils.
(e) The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs.
(f) This was denied by the Sinhala dominated government.
(g) By 1980s, several political organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
(h) These differences in the two different communities pushed Sri Lanka into the state of civil war.
(i) In Sri Lanka, the idea of majoritarianism crumbled the country in a civil war