Definition

Noun: A district that is established separately as the seat of government for a federation. It is an area, not part of any constituent state or province, under the direct control of the national government for administrative purposes.

Usage

The term "federal district" is used to refer specifically to the designated administrative capital region of a federal country. * The federal district is where the nation's most important government buildings, such as the parliament and presidential palace, are located. * Washington, D.C. is a well-known example of a federal district.

Examples

• The country's constitution designated a special area as a federal district.
• Laws in the federal district are made directly by the national legislature.
• Residents of the federal district often have different voting rights compared to residents of states.

Advanced Usage

• Capital as a federal district: Many federations choose to place their capital city within a federal district to avoid giving preferential status to any one member state.
• Administrative autonomy: A federal district typically has a unique administrative status, governed by federal law rather than state law.

Variants and Related Words

• Federal territory: A broader term that can include areas under direct federal control that are not necessarily the seat of government.
• Capital district: A near-synonym often used interchangeably with "federal district."
• District of Columbia (D.C.): The proper name of the federal district of the United States, serving as a prime example.

Synonyms

• Administrative capital district
• Capital territory

Related Phrases

• Seat of government: The location of a government's central administration; a federal district is created to be the permanent seat of government.
• Federal enclave: A general term for any piece of land under federal jurisdiction that is surrounded by state territory; a federal district is a type of federal enclave.

Noun

1. a district set apart as the seat of government of a federation