I was thinking top down as in federal, then individual states, then localities. In the US anyways
Discussion
The US is by far the most politically decentralised Western government, and stronger for it.
My concern is that state and municipal power will be among the first things destroyed in a crisis. Even if only effectively in "core" regions (as perceived by the federally dominant elite faction.)
It could be the intent of a federal government to make sure this is the case so that any residual power or military resides with them only