federal district

government

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July 16, 2026

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A federal district is a specific territory set aside as the seat of a central government within a federation. These districts are often distinct from states or provinces and are directly controlled by the national government.1

Several countries have federal districts, which frequently encompass their capital cities. Examples include:
* The Federal District in Mexico, which includes Mexico City.23
* Distrito Federal in Brazil, which contains the capital Brasília.2
* Distrito Federal in Argentina, which includes Buenos Aires.2
* The Federal District in Venezuela, which contains Caracas.2

These areas are crucial for the functioning of the federal government and often serve as centers of political, economic, and cultural activity.3

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Russia
Constitutional framework
Vladimir Putin created seven federal districts above the regional level to increase the central government’s power over the regions (see discussion below). His successor, Dmitry Medvedev, continued this policy: as a part of Moscow’s ongoing efforts to quell separatism and Islamic militancy in the Caucasus, he created an eighth…
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Vladimir Putin created seven federal districts above the regional level to increase the central government’s power over the regions (see discussion below). His successor, Dmitry Medvedev, continued this policy: as a part of Moscow’s ongoing efforts to quell separatism and Islamic militancy in the Caucasus, he created an eighth…
Read More