What is federalism?

• A. A system that divides power between national and state governments.
• B. A system where the central government holds all political power.
• C. A system with no central government.
• D. A system in which cities hold most authority.

Answer: (A)

Federalism is the division of power between the national government and state governments, so authority exists at two levels rather than just one. In the United States, the Constitution assigns certain powers to the national government (like defending the country and regulating currency) and reserves others to the states (like running schools and local policing), with some powers shared or overlapping. This structure lets the national government handle nationwide concerns while letting states tailor policies to local needs, maintaining balance and preventing too much power from concentrating in a single place. The option described—power divided between national and state governments—fits this idea exactly. The other scenarios describe a system where the central government dominates, or where there is no central government, or where cities hold most authority, none of which reflect federalism’s dual layers of sovereignty.