A federal city is a city that serves as the seat of government for a federation, meaning it is not part of any state or province. Instead, it operates independently and is directly governed by the federal government. Examples of federal cities include Washington, D.C. in the United States and Canberra in Australia. These cities are designed to provide a neutral ground for political activities and to symbolize the unity of the federation. They often host important government institutions, such as the capitol building and various federal agencies, making them central to the functioning of the national government.