Which term describes the system of power shared between national and state governments?

Which term describes the system of power shared between national and state governments?

• A. Confederation
• B. Unitarianism
• C. Federalism
• D. Monarchy

Answer: (C)

Federalism describes a system where authority is shared between national and state governments. In this setup, both levels derive power from the people and can govern the same citizens within their own spheres. The national government handles powers like defense and interstate matters, while states manage local concerns such as education and public safety, with the Constitution outlining which powers belong to each level and providing that national law can take precedence in conflicts. This arrangement differs from a unitary system, which concentrates power in a central government, a confederation where states hold most of the power and the central authority is weak, and a monarchy, which centers on a single ruler rather than how power is distributed across levels.

Federalism describes a system where authority is shared between national and state governments. In this setup, both levels derive power from the people and can govern the same citizens within their own spheres. The national government handles powers like defense and interstate matters, while states manage local concerns such as education and public safety, with the Constitution outlining which powers belong to each level and providing that national law can take precedence in conflicts. This arrangement differs from a unitary system, which concentrates power in a central government, a confederation where states hold most of the power and the central authority is weak, and a monarchy, which centers on a single ruler rather than how power is distributed across levels.